Date: February 17, 2006
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534 8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
“We live in a supply and demand society. It is essential for the educational institutions that serve society to be proactive; to be prepared to meet the demands of the future,” explained Dr. Yun-Yau (Steve) Shih, Professor of Computer Science at Governors State University in University Park.
Shih and his colleagues at GSU are reviewing and redirecting the computer science degree program offered at the university to reflect the increased demand for degreed computer scientists
“Years ago, if you learned computers, even on your own, people would hire you. Now the industry is more mature. They are not just looking for skill, but the knowledge to adapt and contribute long term. They want to see a degree,” said Shih.
“While there has been a growth in outsourcing jobs to other countries, many U.S. companies and certainly the government are averse to sending sensitive work outside their control. On a smaller scale, every field needs a computer and will need the services of a computer specialist, not a technician, to ensure that the computer systems used meet their needs. The demand will only increase.”
Shih sites the November, 2005 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor and Statistics Employment Projections for 2004-2014. Positions for computer systems analysts requiring a Bachelor’s Degree are expected to increase by 31.4 percent. Jobs for computer software engineers, also requiring a Bachelor’s Degree, are expected to increase by 48.4 percent.
While GSU has offered a Bachelors of Science Degree in computer science since 1984 and a Master’s Degree since 1990, the elective components of both degrees are being modified to offer course work in areas requiring special expertise. This will enable students to take classes in related fields to enhance their degree and qualifications.
“We are working toward becoming a center of technical collaboration,” explained Shih. “Because the market is so good we are also looking to place qualified interns in private businesses and at research facilities.”
Proposed, expanded course offerings might include a variety of different computer related subjects that meet the new demands of the workplace. Courses that generate knowledge and skill in such subjects as computer forensics, forensic science, computer security, and computer generated special effects are currently being investigated and developed at GSU. Proposals will be reviewed by the appropriate university committees for approval.
“Broadening student options will enable them to choose courses that better suit the demands of the job market,” added Shih.
For more information about the computer science program at Governors State University, call (708) 534-4520 or visit www.govst.edu.
