For Half, Degrees In Computing, Math, Or Stats Lead To Other Jobs 174
dcblogs (1096431) writes The Census Bureau reports that only 26% of people with any type of four-year STEM degree are working in a STEM field. For those with a degree specifically in computer, math or statistics, the figure is 49%, nearly the same for engineering degrees. What happens to the other STEM trained workers? The largest numbers are managers at non-STEM businesses (22.5%), or having careers in education (17.7%), business/finance (13.2%) and office support (11.5%). Some other data points: Among those with college degrees in computer-related occupations, men are paid more than women ($90,354 vs. $78,859 on average), and African American workers are more likely to be unemployed than white or Asian workers.
What about those of us who aren't sure anymore? (Score:5, Informative)
My degree is in Computer Engineering, with some Master's work in Comp Sci...
And these days I mostly work system accreditation. That is, certifying that a given system is secure. I do relatively little of the tech work, but push a lot of paper.
Re:~50% have no degree... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:STEM is the new liberal arts degree (Score:4, Informative)
In today's technological world, STEM education is performing a very similar role.
Yes, and to be blunt, I also think that in the past 20 years the rigor of the liberal arts degrees has been greatly reduced, making them even less valuable than they otherwise would have been.
For instance, math or compsci either one, you're going to learn about deductive and inductive proofs, which are highly valuable reasoning skills that will serve you well throughout life. In the old days, a philosophy course would have exposed the liberal arts major to a version that, while somewhat less rigorous, would have been greatly beneficial. These days that same student is likely not to be exposed to that at all, and worse may have his critical-thinking skills permanently damaged by the inane bullshit of deconstructionism.
Re:STEM is the new liberal arts degree (Score:4, Informative)
I don't know what you consider "high level math", but if it is the same thing I am thinking of, I totally disagree with you.
I've been in the industry for over a decade, and have used the calculus and statistics required for my CS degree precisely never. And honestly there are hardly any professions that need either of these disciplines. Yes you should know some VERY BASIC statistics but the idea that everyone needs a university-level course in it is flawed.
IMO in CS degrees, the time spent on these courses would be much better spent on more algorithms courses and courses on actual development practice, both of which are VERY lacking with people coming out of university nowadays.. theyre' all hot-shot python hackers but have no idea what the difference between a linked list and an array list is.
Re:What about those of us who aren't sure anymore? (Score:5, Informative)
It's all the documentation on the system. Because it's not just enough to say "yes, we've secured it", we have to write it down.
It's all paper trails, man.
Re:Incomplete data (Score:4, Informative)
> First, why analyze the percentage of computer and math degree holders who hold an IT job? Why is a mathematics degree automatically equivalent to a CS degree?
Computer Science is ultimately a branch of mathematics. That much should be obvious to anyone that's been through a decent University program.
Re:STEM is the new liberal arts degree (Score:4, Informative)
Let's match anecdote for anecdote: I've been in the industry for nearly 25 years, and I've used calculus quite a few times and statistics (beyond just mean/stddev type stuff) fairly regularly. Also a wild FFT and/or DCT has appeared a few times here and there. I'll readily admit my career has been a little different than most, including a near decade long stint at a NASA-funded research lab, but I've also had some of that stuff rear its head in odd places you might not expect, like doing predictive analysis programs for a manufacturing company, or programs to optimize course scheduling for college students. These tasks could not have been completed without at least exposure to more advanced mathematics.