2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
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Table of Contents
2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Introduction / Message from Associate Director …………..………….…………………………………………….. 3 Executive Summary …………………………..…………………………………………………………………………. 4 KSU General Post-Graduation Summary ……………………………………………………………………………. 6 College of Computing and Software Engineering Results….………………………………………………….….. 8 Department of Software Engineering and Game Development …………………………………………………10 Department of Computer Science ……………………………………………………………….…………………… 16 Department of Information Technology
………………………………………………………………………………21
Qualitative Data …………………………………………………………………………………………………………25
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Introduction
2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Dear Kennesaw State University Faculty, Staff & Administration: Each semester, the KSU Department of Career Planning and Development assesses the postgraduation career status of graduates. The purpose of the survey is to provide the KSU community with a glimpse of the career paths of our students at the time of their graduation. We collect information regarding employment status, graduate school attendance, and experiential education participation. On the following pages, you will find the results for the 2016-2017 graduating class. The college reports are separated by departments and majors for ease of reading. In at least one case, a major that was offered on the former SPSU campus has been combined with the appropriate major on the Kennesaw campus. Also, note that the data collection method changed mid-year—for the Summer and Fall ‘16 graduations, surveys were collected at the day of graduation. For the Spring ‘17 graduation, surveys were collected with the petition to graduate. We hope this information will encourage the KSU community to continue to support the efforts of the Department of Career Planning and Development, as well as assist in providing evidence for learning outcomes as designated by the various accrediting bodies. While this data is not a comprehensive First Destination report, it is a snapshot of the graduating class at the time of graduation or at the time they petition to graduate. Thank you for taking the time to review the attached. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. Sincerely,
Lori Trahan, PhD Associate Director Department of Career Planning and Development Kennesaw State University 470-578-6555 ltrahan@kennesaw.edu
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Executive Summary of Findings (Overall)
At KSU, “success” means that our students are able to follow any path they may choose, whether that next step is employment, pursuit of further education, or any other goal they may define for themselves. According to this definition, 74.4% of the 2016-2017 survey respondents are successful.
KSU students reported a 59.6% rate of participation in Experiential Education programs (a decrease of 4.2% from 2015-2016).
Selected Highlights:
Highest rates of students reporting they were “Employed” at graduation (percentage of graduates from that college): o Graduate College (84.1%) o College of Architecture and Construction Management (76.9%) o College of Business (74.6%)
Highest rates of students reporting they were “Employed in Field of Choice” at graduation (percentage of overall graduates) o College of Business (28.4%) o Graduate College (24.3%) o College of Humanities and Social Science (18.8%)
Highest rates of students reporting they were “Employed in Field of Choice” at graduation (percentage of graduates from that college): o Graduate College (77.8%) o College of Architecture and Construction Management (69.2%) o College of Education (68.6%)
Highest rates of students reporting they were “Attending a Graduate Program” at graduation (percentage of graduates from that college): o College of Science and Mathematics (27.2%) o College of Humanities and Social Sciences (13.9%) o University College (8.6%)
Highest rates of students reporting they participated in Experiential Education during their studies at KSU (percentage of graduates overall): o College of Humanities and Social Science (28.2%) o College of Business (22.2%) o College of Health and Human Services (16%)
Highest rates of students reporting they participated in Experiential Education during their studies at KSU (percentage of graduates of that college): o College of Health and Human Services (84.6%) o College of Education (65.5%) o College of the Arts (61.5%) o College of Architecture and Construction Management (61.5%)
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Executive Summary of Findings (CoCSE)
Highlights for College of Computing and Software Engineering:
64.5% of graduates were employed at time of graduation 54% of graduates were employed in their field of choice at graduation 3.5% of graduates intend to pursue graduate education 38.5% of graduates indicated they had participated in an Experiential Education opportunity
By Major:
Highest numbers employed at graduation: o BS-Software Engineering (84.6%) o MS-Software Engineering (83.3%) o MS-Information Technology (83.3%) o MS-Computer Science (71.4%) Highest numbers employed in field of choice at graduation: o MS-Information Technology (77.8%) o BS-Software Engineering (69.2%) o MS-Software Engineering (66.7%) Highest numbers pursuing graduate education: o BA-Applied Computer Science (25%) o BS-Information Technology (7.5%) Highest participation in Experiential Education: o BS-Computer Science (54.6%) o BA-Applied Computer Science (50%) o BS-Information Technology (32.5%)
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General Results Summary
2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
– Results based on survey respondents
KSU Department of Career Planning and Development Post-Graduation Survey During the 2016-2017 academic year (Summer 16, Fall 16, & Spring 17 semesters), KSU graduated 5972 students total (including graduate degrees and certificates).
2936 students completed the Post-Graduation Survey. Completion Rate: 2936 / 5972 = 49.2% EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Employed = 64% (6.8% increase in the number of students reporting they were employed at graduation from 20152016)
o Employed in field of choice at graduation – 48.3% o Employed but not in field of choice at graduation: 15.7%
Seeking Employment = 25.3% (10% decrease in the number of students reporting they were seeking employment at graduation from 2015-2016)
Not Seeking Employment = 0.78% (32% increase in the number of students reporting they were not planning to seek employment at time of graduation from 2015-2016)
Graduate School = 8.7% (13.9% decrease in the number of students reporting they will be attending or applying to a graduate program from 2015-2016)
o Admitted to a graduate program – 1.6% o Applying to a graduate program – 7.1%
Other = 0.89%
Employed Students 70
Percentage
60 50 40
34.6
30 20 10 0
7.8
2.8
2.4
7.9 0.58
2.6
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience):
Across all KSU majors = 59.6%
*This is a 4.2% decrease in the number of students reporting they participated in Experiential Education from 2015-2016.
OVERALL PARTICIPATION ACROSS ALL KSU MAJORS (1749) = 59.6%
Experiential Education Participation 100
Percentage
ï‚·
75
63.7
66.1
2012-2013
2013-2014
58.3
62.2
59.2
2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
50 25 0
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
College of Computing and Software Engineering General Results Summary
– Results based on survey respondents
KSU Department of Career Planning and Development Post-Graduation Survey (Summer 16, Fall 16, & Spring 17) During the 2016-2017 academic year, COCSE graduated 460 students (including graduate students). 200 students completed the Post-Graduation Survey. Completion Rate: 200 / 460 = 43.5%
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Employed = 64.5% (1.7% increase from 2015-2016) o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 54% o Respondents reporting other employment – 10.5%
Seeking Employment = 31% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program = 3.5% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 3.5%
Other = 1.5%
Employed Students 70
Percentage
60 50
44
40 30 20 10
5.5
0.5
3.5
0.5
5
5.5
0
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience): ï‚·
Across all COCSE majors = 38.5% (24.1% decrease from 2015-2016)
COCSE Experiential Education Participation Percentage
100 80 50.7
60 40
38.5
38.2
20 0 2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
*Comparison data for 2012-2014 not available
Department of Software Engineering and 9
2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Computer Game Development COMPUTER GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT – Completion Rate: 17 / 36 = 47.2%
Employment status: Employed = 23.5% (12.6% decrease from 2015-2016) o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 23.5% o Respondents reporting other employment – 0%
Seeking Employment = 64.7% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program = 0% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 0%
Other = 11.8%
Employed Students 70
Percentage
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
11.8 5.9
5.9 0
0
0
0
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Percentage
Employment Status Trend 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
64.7
62.5 47.6 38.1
37.5
23.5 11.8 0
0
2014-2015 Employed
Seeking Employment
0 2015-2016 Graduate School
0
0 2016-2017 Not Seeking Employment / Other
*Employed = Employed in field of choice & NOT in field of choice *Graduate School = Accepted into a program & planning on applying to a program
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience):
CGDD majors (6/17) = 35.3% (7.3% decrease from 2015-2016)
CCGD Experiential Education Participation Percentage
100 80 60 40 20
38.1
35.3
2015-2016
2016-2017
0
0 2014-2015
*Comparison data from 2012-2014 not available
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (BS) – 11
2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Completion Rate: 13/ 32 = 40.6%
Employment status: Employed = 84.6% (17.2% increase from 2015-2016) o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 69.2% o Respondents reporting other employment – 15.4%
Seeking Employment = 15.4% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program = 0% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 0%
Other = 0%
Employed Students 70
61.5
Percentage
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
15.4 7.7 0
0
0
0
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Percentage
Employment Status Trend 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
84.6
76.5
72.2
22.2
17.6 5.9
0
2014-2015 Employed
Seeking Employment
15.4 5.6
0
0
2015-2016 Graduate School
0
2016-2017 Not Seeking Employment / Other
*Employed = Employed in field of choice & NOT in field of choice *Graduate School = Accepted into a program & planning on applying to a program
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience): 
SE majors (5/13) = 38.5% (37% decrease from 2015-2016)
Software Eng. (BS) Experiential Education Participation Percentage
100 80 60
61.1 41.2
38.5
40 20 0 2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
Comparison data from years 2012-2014 not available
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
MASTER OF SCIENCE, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING – Completion Rate: 6 / 21 = 28.6%
Employment status: Employed = 83.3% (16.7% decrease from 2015-2016) o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 66.7% o Respondents reporting other employment – 16.6%
Seeking Employment = 16.6% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program = 0% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 0%
Other = 0%
Employed Students
Percentage
100 80
66.7
60 40 16.6
20 0
0
0
0
0
0
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Percentage
Employment Status Trend 100
100
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
83.3
16.6 0
0
0
2014-2015 Employed
Seeking Employment
0
0
2015-2016 Graduate School
0
0
0
2016-2017 Not Seeking Employment / Other
*Employed = Employed in field of choice & NOT in field of choice *Graduate School = Accepted into a program & planning on applying to a program
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience): 
MSSE majors (1/6) = 16.7% (49.8% decrease from 2015-2016)
MSSWE Experiential Education Participation Percentage
100 80 60
50 33.3
40
16.7
20 0 2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
Comparison data from 2012-2014 not available
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Department of Computer Science Applied Computer Science (BA) – Completion Rate: 4 / 6 = 66.7%
Employment status: Employed = 50% o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 50% o Respondents reporting other employment – 0%
Seeking Employment = 25% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program = 25% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 25%
Other = 0%
Employed Students 70
Percentage
60 50 40 30
25
25
20 10 0
0
0
0
0
0
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience):
ACS majors (2/4) = 50%
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Computer Science (BS) – Completion Rate: 77 / 149 = 51.7%
Employment status: Employed = 62.3% (0.8% increase from 2015-2016) o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 51.9% o Respondents reporting other employment – 10.4%
Seeking Employment = 32.5% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program = 3.9% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 3.9%
Other = 1.3%
Employed Students 70
Percentage
60 50 40
39
30 20 10 0
7.8 0
5.2
0
3.9
6.5
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Percentage
Employment Status Trend 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
64.4
61.8
62.3
32.5
30.9 23 8
6.9
5.7
2014-2015 Employed
3.9
1.6
2015-2016
Seeking Employment
1.3
2016-2017
Graduate School
Not Seeking Employment / Other
*Employed = Employed in field of choice & NOT in field of choice *Graduate School = Accepted into a program & planning on applying to a program
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience): 
CS majors (42/77) = 54.6% (4% decrease from 2015-2016) 80
Percentage
100 80 60 40
Percentage
CS Experiential Education Participation 60 40
46
20 0 47.1
42
38
40
56.9 2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
54.6 2012-2013
20 0 2013-2014
2014-2015
2016-2017
Comparison data from 2012-2014 not available
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
MASTER OF SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE – Completion Rate: 7 / 39 = 17.9%
Employment status: Employed = 71.4% (31.7% increase from 2015-2016) o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 57.1% o Respondents reporting other employment – 14.3%
Seeking Employment = 28.6% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program =0% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 0%
Other = 0%
Employed Students 70
Percentage
60 50
42.9
40 30 20
14.3
10 0
0
0
14.3 0
0
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Percentage
Employment Status Trend 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
75
71.4 54.2 41.2 28.6
25
0
0
2014-2015 Employed
Seeking Employment
4.2 2015-2016 Graduate School
0
0
0
2016-2017 Not Seeking Employment / Other
*Employed = Employed in field of choice & NOT in field of choice *Graduate School = Accepted into a program & planning on applying to a program
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience): 
MSCS majors (2/7) = 28.6% (14.4% increase from 2015-2016)
MSCS Experiential Education Participation Percentage
100 80 54.2
60 40
28.6
25
20 0 2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
Comparison data for 2012-2014 not available
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Department of Information Technology INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – Completion Rate: 40 / 71 = 56.3%
Employment status: Employed = 60% (6.4% decrease from 2015-2016) o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 42.5% o Respondents reporting other employment – 17.5%
Seeking Employment = 32.5% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program = 7.5% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 7.5%
Other = 0%
Employed Students 70
Percentage
60 50 40
40
30 20 10 0
0
0
0
2.5
7.5
10
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Percentage
Employment Status Trend 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
64.1
60
60 36.7
32.5
28.3 11.3 0
3.4
2014-2015 Employed
Seeking Employment
7.5 0
0
2015-2016 Graduate School
2016-2017 Not Seeking Employment / Other
*Employed = Employed in field of choice & NOT in field of choice *Graduate School = Accepted into a program & planning on applying to a program
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience): 
IT majors (13/40) = 32.5% (21.7% increase from 2015-2016)
Information Technology (BS) Experiential Education Participation Percentage
100 80 60 40
43.4 26.7
32.5
20 0 2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
Comparison data for 2012-2014 not available
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
MASTER OF SCIENCE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – Completion Rate: 36 / 106 = 34%
Employment status: Employed = 83.3% (19% increase from 2015-2016) o Respondents reporting a job within their field of choice – 77.8% o Respondents reporting other employment – 5.5%
Seeking Employment = 16.7% Not Seeking Employment = 0% Attending a Graduate Program = 0% o Respondents reporting that they have been admitted to a graduate program – 0% o Respondents reporting that they will be applying to a graduate program – 0%
Other = 0%
Employed Students 70
66.7
Percentage
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
5.5
2.8
2.8
5.5 0
0
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Percentage
Employment Status Trend 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
83.3 70 62.5 37.5 30 16.7 0
0
2014-2015 Employed
Seeking Employment
0
0
2015-2016 Graduate School
0
0
2016-2017 Not Seeking Employment / Other
*Employed = Employed in field of choice & NOT in field of choice *Graduate School = Accepted into a program & planning on applying to a program
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION (practical work experience): 
MSIT majors (6/36) = 16.7% (23.7% decrease from 2015-2016)
MS-IT Experiential Education Participation Percentage
100 80 60 40
42.5 21.9
16.7
20 0 2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
Comparison data for 2012-2014 not available
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
QUALITATIVE DATA Employer Information The Department of Career Planning and Development asks students who are employed in the field of choice for the name of the company for whom they will be working. Below are the names of the employers. If an employer name has a number behind their name, that particular employer was mentioned by that number of students as having hired them. Employer names without a number were listed by one (1) student only. Majors not listed had no students reporting data in this category. Applied Computer Science Part-time employers NueMD
Computer Game Design and Development Full-time employers HiRez Studios Manhattan Associates
Computer Science Full-time employers 10 Education Applied Systems AT&T AutoTrader.com Breckinridge Cisco Dalton Wholesale Floors GA Tech Research Institute Georgia Pacific
Part-time employers Brian Jocks
LendingPoint Manhattan Associates Meditech NCR (2) Rakuten Inc. SAP (2) Secure Works Send Solutions (3) The Home Depot (3)
Valens Software
Information Technology Full-time employers Bridge 2 Solutions GetUWired Gwinnett County Government Homrich Berg
IU School of Medicine LVI Norfolk Southern OnePath 25
2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
Optiv Ryan LLC Savant CTS ServIT
State Farm Syniverse The Home Depot Windstream US Air Force
Volunteer/Service Organization
Software Engineering Full-time employers Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Sombrero Pegasystems, Inc. (3) Profisee, Inc. Shaw Industries
Master of Science, Computer Science Full-time employers Driven Technology Liaison Technology Veristar
Master of Science, Information Technology Full-time employers AAA Board of Regents Cisco Systems, Inc. City of Alpharetta Dell Secure Works GA Tech Research Institute (2) Gordon State College (2) Homestar Financial
Alston & Bird LLP Icon Clinical Research Kennesaw State University Middle Georgia State University Payscape Southern Company University of Georgia UPS
Master of Science, Software Engineering Full-time employers AT & T Emory University SAP Tata Consultancy Services
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
QUALITATIVE DATA CONT. Graduate School Information The Department of Career Planning and Development asks students who have been accepted to a graduate school for the name of the school and program they are going to complete. Below are the names of the graduate schools and programs (if listed). If graduate school name has a number behind their name, that particular graduate school/program was mentioned by that number of students as having accepted them. School/program names without a number were listed by one (1) student only. Majors not listed had no students reporting data in this category. No students in the CoCSE indicated a response for which graduate program they are attending
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2016-2017 Graduation Survey Report Department of Career Planning and Development
QUALITATIVE DATA CONT. Other The Department of Career Planning and Development asks students to tell us what they will be doing after graduation if none of the provided options match their plans. Below is the list of information students provided in the “Other” category. If an option has a number behind their name, that particular option was mentioned by that number of students as being the option they are pursuing. Options without a number were listed by one (1) student only. Majors not listed had no students reporting data in this category.
No students in the CoCSE indicated a response for “Other”
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