When you are looking to further your education, it is important that you choose a field with growth potential, an industry where the number of available jobs is going to increase instead of decrease, and a program that will give you the tools that you need to be competitive in today’s job market. Few potential job fields available today offer more opportunity for success than the computer science industry and its related fields. By getting your online computer science degree, you can ensure that your skills will be in demand for years to come.
Careers in the computer science field have increased year after year for almost two decades, as computers become more and more prevalent in our society. While computer scientists in the past dealt almost exclusively with mainframes and some desktop computers, the field today is wide open – smart phones are essentially handheld computers, and modern gaming consoles such as the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 have more in common with today’s computers than yesterday’s arcade machines. As the lines between telephone, television and computer become blurred, those with experience in computers will have an advantage in their career. That’s where getting an online computer science degree can be of the most benefit to you.
Starting salaries for those looking to complete an online computer science degree are impressive indeed. In 2007, the average starting salary for someone with an education in computer science was $47,000 a year. In 2009, only two years later, the average starting salary had jumped to over $52,000 a year. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, even in these tough economic times. As more businesses try to do more with less, the ability of a company’s information technology group to automate and simplify as many processes as possible makes them an extremely valuable commodity. In a world where computers take over jobs that people once did, knowing how to build and program those computers becomes the most recession-proof job you can have.
Getting an online computer science degree also gives you the chance to explore specialization in a specific field in the world of technology development. By becoming specialized in a certain aspect of computer science and information technology, you can increase your value to potential employers exponentially. Database administration is one example of a field in which you can find a lot of financial success and job security, as maintaining access and protecting the data of a company’s transactions with its customers is vital to a firm’s short-term and long-term success. Keeping a company’s information safe and secure is an important task, and for many, a career in network security, using an online computer science degree as their starting point, proves to be a source of both financial reward and job satisfaction.
Whether you are looking to change careers after realizing your current job has you going nowhere, or are just out of school and looking for an education path that pays dividends immediately, look into getting your online computer science degree. It is a decision you will never regret.