Future plans for education and career - Essay Example

Future Plans for Education and Career The purpose of this paper is to provide general, background information on the A.S. Degree that I have been pursuing in computer science. This will be accomplished through providing an overview of the work environment as well has highlighting many of the degree requirements. After this point an explanation of my post graduation plans will be conducted followed by an interview with a person in my field with regards to their work experience. The specific work environment that I expect that I will be working in is working as a computer programmer for a firm that is subcontracted to provide programming solutions for major firms.

The actual work environment could be described as a both traditional and or less traditional. In this regard I expect that I would be working traditional hours with like minded and talented people in an office setting. However where this job differs from other working environments is that most programming firms that I have been exposed to typically have a more relaxed approach to the work environment such as casual attire and relaxed approach normal workplace interactions. There are five aspects about this field that interest me, the first of which is that assuming programmers are skilled and can manage reasonable workloads it has been my experience that they enjoy a high level of job security.

As a second point, the field is always changing and I personally believe that this makes the job tasks very interesting. Moreover, programmers need to deal with a multitude of different clients that need a multitude of different solutions which also keep the work content fresh. Building on this precious point it that programmers often get to work with some of the most sophisticated equipment on the market. As a final point, it could be argued that programmers are well compensated for their work.

List the course numbers and titles for all the prerequisites you must take prior to entering the degree program. Many of the electives may have prerequisites (depending on the content). As these classes have not been selected yet there may be indeed be no prerequisites for these courses. Moreover, it is my intention to be a full time student. ENC 1101 FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I •Prerequisites: Score of 83 on writing component of CPT or equivalent score on other state-approved entry test or minimum grade of C in ENC 0012 and ENC 0012L or ENC 0012C or EAP 1640 or ENS 1441; also, score of 83 on reading component of CPT or equivalent score on other state-approved entry test or minimum grade of C in REA 0002 and REA 0002L or REA 0002C or EAP 1620 or ENS 1421.

MAC 1105 (Formerly MAC 1102) COLLEGE ALGEBRA • Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in either MAT 0025C or MAT 1033C or appropriate score on an approved assessment. COP 2220 C PROGRAMMING • Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in COP 1006 COP 2224 3 3 0 C++ PROGRAMMING • Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in COP 2220 COP 2830 3 3 0 SCRIPTING LANGUAGES • Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C in COP 1006 and COP 2822 or department approval ENC 1102 (Formerly ENC 1136, EH 152) 3 3 0 FRESHMAN COMPOSITION II • Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in ENC 1101 or ENC 1101H or IDH 1110 CIS 2910 4 4 0 IT CAPSTONE • Prerequisite: Departmental approval The GPA Requirement for this degree program is 2.

0 based on selective enrolment. Moreover the estimated cost of this degree program based on the costing sheet provided will be between 12 and 16 thousand dollars per year which will be twinned with a Pell Grant which is a program that could pay over five thousand dollars based on an assessment of my needs and the relative costs of attending school. The two most likely jobs that I might be able to pursue after completing a programming degree wold be either a programmer or a software developer. On a personal level, I feel more inclined to pursue a degree that is geared towards programming because I believe that this career path could lead to a variety of different careers down the line.

I believe that a strong background in programming could eventually lead to positions that are not only lucrative but also personally rewarding. Even though outsourcing is a serious concern for the future of programming it is my belief that it is my understanding that the job outlook is far greater in this field than many other professions. Moreover, qualified experienced programmers are often well compensated. However it is my belief that initially after graduation my compensation would most likely be in the mid forty thousand dollar range annually however the prospects down the line tend to be very promising.

As with any technical degree I may need to pursue other technical certifications down the line such as macromedia mx certification or certification as an internet webmaster. Over the internet I conducted an interview with a mid level programmer at Chenega Corporation which specializes in software and web development solutions for the government and military. The interviewee was employed as a “Computer Programmer I” in Gaithersburg, MD. Yet owing to security clearance declined to be identified.

The proffered method of communication was through email contact. 1. What experience or knowledge is required to do your job? Most basic programming skills are required but what is also necessary is to be able to translate the requirements of senior management into a workable solution. 2. How do Valencia's Competencies (think, value, communicate, act) apply to this career? Most employers are looking for a well rounded individual and not just an 'Egg Head'. So it is valuable that the program produces graduates that have studied a number of other subjects as well. 3. What types of projects, assignments or deadlines must you meet each day (What is a typical day on the job)?

Effectively every single day 'micro' deadlines are set to ensure that people stay on target. By breaking major projects into manageable tasks it is easier to ensure that all the different parts come together. 4. Does your job require overtime and what is your work schedule? He had not as of yet been required to complete any overtime although he indicated that it is a strong possibility in the near future. 5. What is a typical entry level salary range for this field? That depends heavily on the company, whether or not the job is full time or part time, job requirements etc.

Although the man indicated that it was somewhere in the 40,000-55,000 range. 6. What preparation or courses did you find necessary or helpful upon entering the job? What was your major in college? He indicated that C++ programming was important and his major was in computer science. 7. Can you suggest some ways a student could obtain this necessary experience? Any number of ways. Such as volunteering for non-profits, taking on internships, participating in school competitions etc. He suggested that we should be creative. 8. What is the biggest challenge you encounter?

This is a very 'Sink or Swim' environment. Although people want you to succeed they are not there to hold your hand. 9. If you were entering this career today, would you change your preparation in any way to facilitate entry? Not really. 10. What advice would you give someone thinking about this career? There is no easy money. This is a hard job and yo are expected to work hard. 11. 12. In terms of five characteristic of this person's job that interests me, I would have to indicate that this sort of work environment is fast paced, results driven, challenging, constantly evolving and provides an environment where I would be exposed to people that wold challenge me to perform at my best level.

This paper identified ultimately what my requirements are as well as my expectations are to work as a programmer. Ultimately it is my belief that in order to complete this program and achieve gainful employment, and the industry may be rough but I believe that a career in this field could also be quite rewarding. I don't have any reservations about pursuing a career as a programmer and probably the best takeaway point that I gained was to learn that this is not 'easy' work. Programmers must work hard.