It's ironic. America introduces the Internet to the world, and it's the Internet that is accelerating the ability of people in countries like India and China to improve their education and successfully compete for jobs previously based in America.
China and India each year turn out many times the number of engineering and computer science graduates that America does. Can we maintain our leadership in computer science innovation? That's where you could come in.
There are seven broad areas of research and work that a computer science degree can prepare you for, according to MIT's Laboratory of Computer Science. They are:
- Networks and Systems. Researches issues in connection with mobile and context-aware networking. Builds and investigates high-performance, practical software systems for parallel and distributed environments.
- Architecture. Develops architectural innovations by directly compiling applications onto programmable hardware, by providing software controlled architecture for low energy, through better cache management, and easier hardware design and verification.
- Software. Improves the performance, reliability, availability and security of computer software by improving the methods used to create such software.
- Theory. Studies the theoretical underpinnings of computer science and information technology, including algorithms, cryptography and information security, complexity theory, distributed systems, and supercomputing technology.
- Interfaces and Applications. Develops technology that facilitates direct user interaction, including computer graphics and conversational interfaces using spoken dialogue, and to explore roles computer science can play in user- and patient-centered applications.
- Computer Science and Biology. Research that combines computer science and biology.
- The Worldwide Web. Leads the Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its operability.
