Education: Computer science graduating class of 2007 smallest this decade

ComputerWorld ^ | 2008-05-08 | Patrick Thibodeau

[rabscuttle385]

March 5, 2008 (Computerworld) Enrollments in computer science programs, which plunged after the dot-com bust, may have leveled off, according to new data from the Computing Research Association (CRA). The group follows year-over-year enrollment and graduate trends at 170 Ph.D.-granting institutions.

But this leveling is happening only after the number of bachelor's degree graduates has apparently hit a trough. In the 2006-'07 academic year, only 8,021 students graduated with computer science degrees from these schools -- the lowest number of graduates this decade.

By contrast, in 2003-'04 -- the high point of this decade -- 14,185 students were awarded bachelor's degrees in computer science, according to CRA data.

[rabscuttle385]

‘Chic Geek’: Computer Science Major Rebounds
New national data show that what has been a traumatic decade for computer science departments is finally starting to turn around. For the first time since 2000, the number of newly declared undergraduate majors at doctoral-granting computer science departments is up.

[Anti-Bubba182]

I wonder how, ‘off shoring’ and H-1B visas affect this.

[I_Like_Spam]

Wages have successfully been depressed in this field with a lot of computer scientists from the subcontinent and elsewhere in the developing world. Makes it a whole lot less appealing to Americans to enter the field.

[rabscuttle385]

I wonder how, ‘off shoring’ and H-1B visas affect this.

The common perception that there are no jobs in the computing industry due to off-shoring is erroneous. Sure, low-level jobs are moving (programming is an example), but the job market in areas such as Northern Virginia is still quite hot.

[rabscuttle385]

Wages have successfully been depressed in this field with a lot of computer scientists from the subcontinent and elsewhere in the developing world.

Maybe in some areas, but almost all of my friends who graduated with CS degrees last May are doing fine in the $65K range.

[speekinout]

I sure don’t recommend Computer Science degrees to young people. The technology changes so fast, and companies only hire people who are current in the latest. It’s a lifelong education enterprise, usually on your own time. Older workers don’t fare very well.
It makes a far better minor than major in college, although it is fine if you’re going to a technical school instead of college.

[Radix]

I dropped out of my MIS program back in the 80s.

We were doing COBOL and Gates and MS were introducing DOS.

I never really had a chance at making a living in that field.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Wages have successfully been depressed in this field with a lot of computer scientists from the subcontinent and elsewhere in the developing world. Makes it a whole lot less appealing to Americans to enter the field.

---

That is a fact. The outsourcing of these jobs has reduced the number of Americans in the field....and reduced, via non-market forces, the wages of those Americans still in the field

A number of people I know have left the computer-related fields because of the loss of jobs and lowering wages. Eventually, this draws fewer younger Americans into the computer field

[Jack Black]

Let’s here your take on this. Robots taking over this field too??

[Jack Black]

Since when is programming a “low level job”. In the mid 1980s I had friends making over $100,000 programming. I’m sure many still do, for a while. Will the last programmer in America please turn out the lights.

[BlazingArizona]

Sure, low-level jobs are moving (programming is an example)

Leaving for Americans, what tech jobs exactly? PHBs? Regulatory compliance officers? Marketing? Salesdroids?

[BlazingArizona]

Will the last programmer in America please turn out the lights.

[Yanks out source build server power cord...]

[Etoo]

>>Let’s here your take on this.
>>Robots taking over this field too??

H1Bs and outsourcing.

[Etoo]

>>We were doing COBOL and
>>Gates and MS were introducing DOS.

Umm COBOL is a language, DOS is an operating system.

[Amelia]

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[Etoo]

[Will the last programmer in America please turn out the lights.]

Sorry, I don’t do hardware. ;o}

[Etoo]

ba dump ump.

[kalee]

ping

[Radix]

"Umm COBOL is a language, DOS is an operating system."

Yeah, I left the field. I was just learning COBOL, and MS was already out there with DOS. I was a pygmy in the field of computers regarding languages and operating systems.

I could not keep up with the Industry. I ain't that bright, but maybe I am a little bright.

[Nick Danger]

Robots taking over this field too??

No, what the robots are doing is reading the articles.

Had you done so, you'd have learned that stupid people — thinking that the dot-com bust of 2000 meant an eternal decline in IT jobs leading inevitably to zero — took up other majors like Underwater Basketweaving and Queer Studies. Those who figured, correctly as it turns out, that a one-year drop in IT jobs did not represent an eternal trend, and who majored in Computer Science anyway, are now looking at double-digit job growth in their field, plus a labor shortage caused by the idiots who are now out looking for jobs as basket weavers.