Going to school is one of the best ways to train for an entry-level position in computers. Although you can learn a great deal on your own or through on-the-job training, a degree or certificate often is a requirement for obtaining a job.
It convinces potential employers that you’ve had formal training in certain areas and that you’ve met the standards of a particular institution. In other words, it legitimizes your claim that you know something and are willing to work hard.
Although it is often a year or longer before new employees begin to produce a return for a company, most firms prefer their new employees to arrive on their first day as fully equipped to do useful work as possible.
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Some companies offer training programs for new employees to familiarize them with the company, the particular industry m which it competes, or the details of a specific project.
Many types of schools beyond high school offer some type of education in computers. These include four-year colleges and universities, two-year community colleges, and technical institutes. Course offerings vary widely among such schools. Also, some schools emphasize theory, while others focus on the more practical aspects of computing.
Computer Information Systems :
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The computer information systems (CIS) curriculum often is coordinated by a college or department of business. The primary emphasis is on directly providing services for end users, and many of the computer courses have a “business applications” flavor.
These courses often include an introduction to computers, microcomputer fundamentals, COBOL programming, a second programming language such as BASIC or FORTRAN, systems development, database processing, and management information systems.
Most schools also offer training in a variety of optional subjects, such as decision support systems, telecommunications, office automation, expert systems, and EDP auditing. Because the degree program is coordinated by the business school, students must also take several business courses.
These courses can be particularly helpful to anyone aspiring to be a systems analyst or manager. Most graduates of these programs assume entry-level work as applications programmers or programmer/analysts.
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Two associations of computer professionals- the Data Processing Management Association (DPMA) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)- have proposed model curricula for the CIS area.
These curriculam propose such things as specific core and elective CIS courses as well as required business courses. Many schools adhere to one or the other model, while some have developed curriculam independent of these models.
Computer Science :
The computer science curriculum often is coordinated by a college or department of computer science, mathematics, or engineering. The training provided is much more technical than that offered in a computer information systems program, because the primary emphasis is on software design.
Graduates of these programs often find jobs as systems programmers, with responsibility for designing compilers, operating systems, and utility programs. They are also sought for the design of sophisticated software packages such as database management systems.
A surprising number of graduates of these programs, however, take positions as applications programmers. Usually these students have prepared themselves by cross- registering for business oriented courses such as COBOL, database Processing, and systems development.
Some have even taken an accounting course or two, since accounting generally is considered the language of business.
Of course, cross-registration works both ways: Computer information systems majors often enroll in computer science courses, such as assembly language programming and operating systems, which enable them to sharpen their technical skills.
Computer Engineering :
Some schools also support a computer engineering curriculum. This degree program is intended primarily to prepare students to design computer hardware systems. Graduates of such programs usually are sought by hardware manufacturers.
Computer Operators :
In addition to their other computer offerings, community colleges and technical institutes typically provide practical training in computer operations. Students enrolled in these courses often plan to become computer or data-entry operators.
These courses involve a great deal of hands-on, practical training, enabling students of quickly move on to entry- level positions in government and industry.
Many schools periodically have their curricula reviewed by representatives from national and local companies. This ensures both that curricula remain up to date and that graduates are being trained with marketable skills.
Although there is no consensus about which specific type of academic training is best for entry-level programmer or analyst jobs in business, many companies prefer graduates with a strong technical and/or business background, a desire to learn the ins and outs of a particular organization, and an ability to identify with user needs.