The article "Computer Science Degrees – To Do or Not To Do" highlights the advantages of a computer science degree. This article also portrays that why CS degree remains one of the most sought after degree amongst IT aspirants.

1. Computer Science Degrees – To Do or Not To Do
If you’ve been trying to decide whether or not a computer science degree is worth investing your time,
money, and effort into, here’s some food for thought:
According to the Computing Research Association, the number of new students in computer science
programs continues to increase every year. A survey conducted by the association revealed that the total
enrollments in CS departments across the country rose by 10 percent from 2009 to 2010.* What’s even
more heartening is the news that this is the third consecutive year that total enrollments in computer
science departments have increased—a far cry from the decline that the post-dot com era was witness to!
Does this indicate that the honeymoon between IT giants and popular offshoring destinations is over? The
answer, quite simply, is no. But the trend does signify the revival of interest in computer science and other
information technology programs amongst American teens, and more importantly, it also indicates that
there is a demand for home-bred IT professionals in the country.
The computer science field, where the only constant is the constant evolution of technologies, requires
talent to drive innovation of the kind that people like Steve Jobs achieved and inspired. And that kind of
innovation can only come from the kind of deep technical skills that can only be developed with a solid
academic background.
Benefits of Computer Science Degrees
If you’re still sitting on the fence as far as getting a computer science degree is concerned, maybe what
will help you hop over is the knowledge that there are several advantages to entering a computer science
program.
To start with, a computer science degree can open up a world of exciting career opportunities for
graduates. Whether it’s programming or network administration, game development or mobile
technologies, information security or tech support—the career possibilities for a CS graduate can be wider
than you might imagine.
The degree also ranks amongst the top-paying undergraduate programs in the country. According to the
2011–12 salary report published by payscale.com, computer science graduates can begin their careers
with an average starting salary of $56,600. By the time they reach mid-career, their salary may be close to
a hundred thousand dollars.** But no one will pay you that much if the skills you bring to your job position
are not valuable to an organization looking to grow.
Additionally, those who graduate with computer science degrees may find it easier to pursue opportunities
to move into managerial and leadership roles. It may not be hard to find an IT job with just a certificate,
but the kind of problem-solving, communication, and strategic thinking skills that are expected of tech
leaders can only be developed through a sound IT education.
And finally, the mind-boggling growth of social media and mobile applications has created very interesting
work opportunities for IT professionals, working for companies of all shapes and sizes that are interested
in pursuing the avenues social media and mobile computing can open up for businesses.
IT’s Business As Usual
Gone are the days when the professional world was divided into geeks and non-geeks. The geeks were
people who lived in their own zone, seldom mixed with the “others,” and spoke in a language that was
beyond the comprehension of ordinary minds.

2. In today’s business environment, there’s a seamless integration of technical and non-technical
departments of an organization, and IT guys are an important part of the corporate team. They are
expected to be business savvy, effective communicators, and customer-oriented in their outlook. Most of
all, they are expected to be involved team players and demonstrate the ability to collaborate with others at
various levels. A solid, well-rounded education that a degree program can provide can help you develop
those strengths.
Source:
*cra.org/resources/crn-archive-view-
detail/undergraduate_cs_degree_production_rises_doctoral_production_steady/
** payscale.com/best-colleges/degrees.asp