Online Degrees
Where Are the Software Engineers?
By: Samantha Sebring
The technology industry is on a slow but steady rebound. The
demand for qualified IT professionals has gone up over the last
several, but many students have given up computer related majors in
response to the Dot Com bust. Many industry professionals fear that
there will be a crippling shortage of qualified personnel to fill
tech jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
(http://www.bls.gov), computer software engineers will be one of
the fastest growing occupations over the next 7 years.
To help meet this demand, students seeking a career in computers
will need at least a bachelor's degree in computer software
engineering.
Computers and info rmation technology is a part of our daily lives,
and new technology is being developed at a fast pace. Computer
training is needed to help expand new computer software systems and
to include new technologies and applications. The skills needed for
careers in IT change all of the time reflecting changes in
technology and the growing needs of companies. Computer software
engineers research, design, develop, and test operating
systems-level software, compilers and network distribution
software. They work with medical, industrial, military,
communications, aerospace, business, and scientific and general
computing applications. Software engineers set operational
specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements
Computer software engineers need the skills to create functional
and technical design qualifications for software development. They
must also have solid programming skills, and be familiar with data
types, syntax and control structures. Along with the ability to
correctly analyze info rmation, software engineers also need to be
able to fix multifaceted application glitches and be able to
produce quality requirement specifications, design documents and
test plans. Problem solving and working as a team are also
necessary parts of working as a software engineer. Now is the time
to earn a degree in a computer-related discipline, as it is
required for most software engineering positions. Growth in the
technology field will be driven by the rapid growth in the
technology sector. Demand for careers as a computer software
engineer is expected to grow as computer applications continue to
expand.
At this time, many companies are experiencing difficulty finding
qualified programmers and software engineers. The USA grants only
about 6% of the world's engineering degrees, behind China, the
European Union, Japan, Russia and India, according to the latest
figures from the National Science Foundation ( http://www.nsf.gov/
). This trend showing a decline in interest in computer science
majors comes at a time when companies and groups representing U.S.
technology professionals continue to debate whether there is an IT
skills shortage requiring foreign workers to fill industry
needs.
Graduate degree programs have not yet experienced the decline of
computer science majors. Many U.S. graduate programs are dependant
on foreign students who come here for Computer Training.
Approximately 45% of computer engineering students are non-resident
aliens. Enhanced security regulations in regards to student visa's
may account for the lack of students applying for computer
programs.
When the industry does rebound, there will most likely be a
crippling shortage of qualified personnel to fill tech jobs.
Student s with a love of technology should still continue to pursue
a degree in computer science, as the need for these persons will
continue to rise. The current shortage of qualified computer
science engineers for hire in the United States is a problem that
is reflective of a decline in Computer majors. Though the glamour
of stock options and tech firm perks may be over, the need for
qualified personnel is still present. Students with a love of
technology should still continue to pursue a degree in computer
science, as the need for these persons will continue to rise.
Visit us today for more information on software engineering degrees
----- About the Author Samantha Sebring is an inhouse writer for Online Degrees Today.com. She has been writing distance learning education pieces since 2005.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
