By Jenny Pedraza, Marketing Communications

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for computer science professionals will increase as much as 36 percent between now and 2012. In correlation to an increased demand, the field also boasts some of the highest starting salaries. CareerBuilder.com named five computer science professions to its top 10 list of high paying, high growth professions.

With projections like this, it may seem confusing that since the year 2000, universities, including the University of West Florida, have experienced a decline in the number of students choosing to study computer science. The slump is largely blamed on the incorrect perception that careers in the field are being outsourced overseas.

"Computer Science got a bad rap," said Sharon Simmons, assistant professor, Computer Science. "Currently most of the outsourcing that's occurring is because employers can't find enough people here to fill their positions."

Sikha Bagui, assistant professor, Computer Science, echoes Simmons' belief, stating that the only jobs that are being outsourced are those that require routine tasks and minimal problem-solving ability - positions that people in the U.S. aren't likely to miss. She also said that the field is currently at the end of an employment down-cycle, and demand for trained computer science professionals will continue to increase.

College students are beginning to realize the field is still very much in demand. Beginning just this year, enrollment in UWF's Computer Science program jumped 14 percent, bringing enrollment to 463. The graduate program saw a 50 percent increase in enrollment this year, following the program's revision aimed at providing graduate students with a more flexible and modern environment. The UWF Computer Science program currently utilizes a lab with various operating platforms and will eventually be a principle occupant of the brand new UWF Science and Technology building, a state-of-the-art facility slated to be completed in August of 2009.

Graduates of UWF's Computer Science program find employment within the region or anywhere throughout the U.S. Typical computer science positions include programmers, software engineers, Web developers, database administrators or network specialists. The department's relationships with regional businesses and encouragement of internships and co-ops aid students when searching for permanent positions. UWF graduates have secured employment with Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, Gulf Power and Home Depot. Starting salaries in the field range from $50,000 locally to close to $90,000 nationally.

"Ultimately our computer science graduates are problem solvers who are able to work within a huge network of variables and parameters in an increasingly global society," said Leo ter Haar, chair of the UWF Computer Science program. "People like to joke that we're training students to essentially have the capabilities of a hacker - except we're preparing them to work for companies who want savvy computer scientists on their side."

The UWF Computer Science program offers undergraduate degrees in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems and Interdisciplinary Information Technology, with minors in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems and Internet Technologies. Graduate specializations include Computer Science and Software Engineering. Certificate programs in Information Technology, Database Systems and Web Development are also offered.

For more information, visit the Computer Science program's Web site or contact ter Haar at (850) 474-2542 or e-mail lterhaar@uwf.edu.

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