Computer Information Sciences | MCIS | IWU

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER INFORMATION SCIENCES

Welcome!

Whether you have made the decision to study computing or are still considering this as one of several options, we are glad you are here! We want to help you understand not just what will happen in your courses during your time at IWU, but potential career paths for your journey after graduation.

The following pages contain a description of careers in computing and their connection to the programs available in our department: COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS MA JOR Using computers to solve problems in a related discipline COMPUTER SCIENCE MA JOR Analyzing computational problems and using computers to solve them COMPUTER SCIENCE MINOR Identifying ways computers can help solve problems in a related discipline

Mission T he C o m p uter I nfo r m ati o n S ci ences De pa rtme nt will pre pa re stud ents acad em i cal l y and s p i r i tually for a na ly tica l ca re e rs by deve loping cur rent co m p uter ex p erti s e, techno logica l re se a rch skill, a nd a C hristcentered ab i l i ty to hel p p eo p l e d eve lop syste ms- ba se d solutions to re a l wo r l d p ro b l em s .

JOE HOFFERT | Associate Professor of CIS ANDRE FONTELES | Assistant Professor of CIS MELVIN ROYER | Division Chair, Professor of Mathematics 765-677-1703 MISTI.BEAL@INDWES.EDU INDWES.EDU/UNDERGRADUATE/DMCIS

Job Market Projections, Wages and Satisfaction COMPUTINGRELATED POSITIONS TAKE RANK!

TOP

10

BEST JOBS OF 2019 #1 DATA SC IE N T IST #2 STATISTIC IA N #3 UN IVER S ITY PR O F ES S O R # 4 O CCUPAT I O N AL T HER API ST # 5 GENETIC CO U N S ELO R # 6 MEDICAL S ERV I CES MANAG E R #7 IN FORMAT IO N S E C UR ITY A N A LYST

Computers are not limited to desktops or mainframes. They are now used everywhere: coffee makers, cars, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, video games, watches, telephones, and toys are just a few examples. The computing industry is probably the fastest growing segment of our economy and will continue to be so for a long time. All over the world, there is great need for a prepared work force with the scientific and technical skills required to perform effectively on the job.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in computer and information technology occupations to add more than 500,000 new jobs from 2016 to 2026, a growth rate of 13%, which is nearly twice the average overall job growth of 7%. Cloud computing, big data and cyber security will drive most of the demand for workers in information systems, and growth rates well over 20% are expected in specific jobs such as Information Security Analyst and Software Developer over this decade.

#10 ACTUARY

Wages reflect this demand, with the median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations at $86,320 in May 2018, over twice the overall median annual wage of $38,640.

careercast.com/jobs-rated/best-jobsof-2019

bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/ home.htm

#8 MATH EMAT IC IAN #9 OP ER ATIO N S R ES EA R C H A N A LYST

CAREER

opportunities

Some career opportunities for students majoring in Computer Science and Computer Information Systems include:

C O MPUTE R SC IE N C E

C O MPUTE R IN FO R MATIO N SYSTE MS

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT Software Engineer Systems Software Developer Software Project Manager Mobile/Applications Developer Human/Computer Interface Specialist

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Web Developer

✓ ✓ ✓

NETWORKS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Network Architect

✓

Network Administrator Information Technology Manager

✓ ✓ ✓

SYSTEMS & SECURITY Systems Architect Information Security Analyst Systems Analyst Database Administrator

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Systems Administrator

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

ACADEMIA, RESEARCH & EDUCATION Computer Research Scientist* Data Scientist* College Professor* Data Analyst *Graduate/professional degree usually expected

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓

THE FUTURE OF COMPUTING

With A Degree In Computing, You Could...

ADVA NC E R O B OT I CS Advance the state of robotics to create real helpmates for our evolving workplace.

IM PR OV E H EALT H Build models of biological systems from cells to the immune system.

DEV ELOP VI D E O GAM E S Lead development for video games.

IM PACT C L I M AT E CH AN G E Improve climate modeling to help us more deeply understand human-caused changes.

DE SI GN SM A RT E R CA RS Design ever-more intelligent vehicles that make our roads safer.

CAREER

Mobility

Since the computing profession is developing very rapidly and talented professionals are in high demand, there is a good deal of career mobility. In reality, many of these jobs could easily be done by graduates of either major.

Regardless of which computing job you choose, you will be more than just a computer user. In fact, you will learn how to create the applications that others will use. You will not focus, for example, on how to use your phone apps “correctly”, but rather on how to create and update the software and apps that tomorrow’s phone owners will use.

What about a job developing video games? These jobs certainly exist, but game software is becoming more complex as games become more immersive and interactive. Games are created by teams of developers specializing in areas such as networking between computers and across the internet; artificial intelligence to give realistic game interaction; and graphics, sound, and animation to make the game look and sound authentic. These areas and many more require a solid foundation the computing degrees at IWU will offer to you.

WILL I ENJOY IT? START

IS THE TREASURE HERE?

Do you enjoy using algorithms to solve problems? For example, suppose a robot is trained to locate and capture a treasure hidden in a dungeon. The robot follows the algorithm in the flowchart to the right:

YES

CAPTURE THE TREASURE

YES

MOVE ONE SQUARE FORWARD

NO CAN YOU MOVE FORWARD? NO TURN RIGHT

WALL

WALL

WALL

WALL

WALL

WALL

WALL

WALL WALL WALL WALL

WALL WALL

WALL WALL

WALL WALL

WALL

WALL WALL

WALL

WALL

WALL

WALL

WALL WALL

WALL

WALL

Will the robot manage to capture the treasure?

Computer Science Major A Computer Science degree will prepare you for graduate school or careers such as software or systems design, software engineering, project management, research, or data science. You will have coursework in traditional computer science areas as well as supporting coursework in mathematics. In contrast to Computer Information Systems, Computer Science is a more theoretical and advanced degree and is designed for students wanting to work fully within the computing industry, including in design and research positions. However, the curriculum for the Computer Science and Computer Information Systems majors are essentially the same during the freshmen year and a decision between them may be delayed until the student becomes familiar with the department.

All students complete an internship experience. The curriculum finishes with a two-semester course sequence in which students develop a software system for an external client from start to finish.

100%

JOB PLACEMENT AFTER COLLEGE Internal Survey

KEY

courses DATA STRUCTURES OBJECT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES ALGORITHMS COMPUTER NETWORKING CONCURRENT/PARALLEL COMPUTING

ALUMNI SPOTLIGH Nichole Lehman

MAJOR: COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS GRAD YEAR: 2016 CAREER: USER EXPERIENCE DESIGNER “I’ve worked with the client through the discovery process and created wireframes with the client and business analyst to help produce user stories.”

(Nichole is now working as a UX designer at the same company where she interned.

She also volunteers her web design skills with a Ugandabased organization doing infrastructure development).

Dylan Stai

MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE GRAD YEAR: 2018 CAREER: TECHNICAL CONSULTANT “Currently, I am a technical consultant at Appirio, a company that implements Salesforce for its clients. This means that much of what I do is not out of the box or things that have been done before.

I do not necessarily get to follow cookie-cutter implementations for my projects but rather have to figure out how to do new things by using little parts of what I have picked up here and there. All of this is to say why I am grateful for my time at IWU. I might have not left as the best programmer, but I did leave feeling like I could figure stuff out.

I felt capable of research and my ability to ask questions to be able to interact and understand what my clients need and want.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

T TJ Collins

MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE GRAD YEAR: 2011 CAREER: MACHINE LEARNING RESEARCHER “As I entered graduate school at University of Southern California, I worried about how well-trained I would be compared to my peers from other institutions and other countries. I quickly discovered that IWU had provided me with a knowledge base and skill-set that allowed me to distinguish myself from my peers and excel in my studies. If you wish to become a researcher and continue your education in graduate school in a technical field, find research projects in your area of study and get involved in them as soon as possible, even if you feel that you don’t have the necessary technical skills yet.”

(TJ is now working for Apple Corporation designing machine learned models to improve decision-making in Siri.)

Tyler Thompson

MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE GRAD YEAR: 2016 CAREER: ENTR EPRENEUR, GAME DEVELOPER “My time at Indiana Wesleyan was formational in establishing my career. I use the concepts and techniques taught in many computer science courses on a daily basis, including Agile development, code reviews, and best practices for programming.

My involvement with the Association for Computing Machinery as president taught me valuable interpersonal skills that helped me to launch a business. As a game developer, the education provided by the core computer science coursework has been essential in writing good code. Data structures, introduction to software engineering, and objectoriented programming were particularly important.”

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU GRADUATE TO START TRANSFORMING THE WORLD. MAKE POSITIVE, REAL-WORLD CHANGE NOW.

Computer Information Systems Major A Computer Information Systems degree will prepare you for careers such as web or applications software development, systems analyst, systems administrator, network architect, or information security analyst. Since CIS majors may work in an industry or area of commerce that is not computer specific, they take a sequence of courses in an area of specialization such as Business, Communications, Graphic Design, Internet Development, or a custom-designed emphasis track in another discipline. In contrast to Computer Science, Computer Information Systems is a broader and more applied degree for students who may end up working in either computing or a related area.

However, the curriculum for the Computer Science and Computer Information Systems majors are essentially the same during the freshmen year and a decision between them may be delayed until the student becomes familiar with the department.

All students complete an internship experience. The curriculum finishes with a twosemester course sequence in which students develop a software system for an external client from start to finish.

Computer Science Minor The Computer Science Minor is primarily designed for students in quantitative majors such as Math-Interdisciplinary, Physics, Chemistry, Business Administration, Graphics Design, or Media Communication where computers are heavily used. The curriculum consists of essentially the first two years of the Computer Science major.

Student Internships IWU students typically earn their internship credit as part of a paid summer job. Students frequently report that the internship was one of the most valuable parts of their education, and the internships have frequently led to an offer of a permanent job.

PAST

placements Some of the companies and organizations where students have had successful internships include: Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg VA

E-gineering, Indianapolis IN

Moser Consulting, Indianapolis IN

Rolls Royce, Indianapolis IN

INdigital Telecom, Ft Wayne IN

Genoa Healthcare, Seattle WA

The Slanted Shed, Marion IN

North American Signs, South Bend IN

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington DC Vectren, Evansville IN

Beacon Health Systems, South Bend IN

Tippmann Group, Ft Wayne IN

Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs CO

Marion Design Company, Marion IN

Transportation Research Center, Lima OH

STA RT YOUR J O U R NEY AS A WIL D CAT TO DAY !

/indwes

@indwes

parent.indwes.edu

@indwes

blog.indwes.edu

INDWES . E D U / CA L L ED ADMISSIONS@INDWES.EDU | 866-468-6498 4201 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET MARION, INDIANA 46953