Back to school for technology careers. University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene now offering computer science degree.
The University of Idaho in Coeur d’Alene is now offering a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science.
Students can enroll in the long sought-after program. Fall semester classes are scheduled to begin Aug. 29 and students have already signed up, said Dr. Rick Sheldon, Department Chair of the University’s college of engineering.
“All the pieces to make this program a reality are falling into place,” said Sheldon. “We’ve wanted a computer science degree in Coeur d’Alene for years. Next spring we hope to have more than 30 students enrolled.”
The University of Idaho is helping lead the charge to provide a professionally trained workforce as technology sector jobs continue to grow across the Inland Northwest through an array of initiatives.
“The Bureau of Labor statistics tell us that the majority of the available Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) jobs that we hear so much about are actually in Computer Science,” said Dr. Charles Buck, who manages the University’s facilities in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Sandpoint. “Partnering closely with NIC, our new CS Bachelor's degree courses at the U of I CDA will position northern Idaho students to fill those great jobs with the growing tech industry in our region.”
Kootenai County has an estimated 1,700 people employed in technology sectors and the Idaho Department of Labor has identified technology as a core sector for future growth in this region.
“With this CS program, our tech awareness programs for kids, and Idaho Department of Labor-funded cybersecurity workforce training efforts, the University of Idaho will positively impact our economy,” Buck said.
Sheldon said the Idaho Legislature was instrumental in funding the program earlier this year and North Idaho College will provide a pipeline of students for the program.
“It was a huge team effort from so many people, including North Idaho College, Charles Buck and the administration in Moscow,” Shelton said. “It was tremendous.”
In addition to the new computer science degree, the University of Idaho is developing a new program with the Department of Labor, the STEM Action Center and state lawmakers to place computer science students with regional businesses. It’s being modeled after the largest cooperative education program in the world — Waterloo University in Canada.
“It has had a $4-5 billion impact on the economy,” said Sheldon. “It’s the MIT of Canada. The institute has students working at Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Google and Apple. Those students placed all over North America.”
Sheldon cautions there is still much work to be done, including adding more class offerings during the summer before the program is tentatively launched in 2017.
“It will essentially add another year to the degree program, but those internship opportunities are incredible,” said Sheldon. “Coeur d’Alene is where it will get started. We have this opportunity. Apple, for example, is demanding three times the amount of computer scientists than we are currently producing.”
Part of that effort to bring the degree to Coeur d’Alene was working with the business leaders in North Idaho. John Shovic, who co-founded bankcda and several other businesses here, was one of them.
He believes the new degree will open new career opportunities, including in medicine, biotechnology, and mechanical engineering.
“There are so many different things you can do as a computer scientist in today’s world,” said Shovicin his new role as special faculty appointee at NIC this fall and adjunct professor for the University of Idaho. “There is a whole spectrum of jobs out there because you will be building new things.”
Shovic points to the ever-increasing numbers of computers in products. These computers are small, relatively cheap and are integral in making things like toasters, washing machines, air conditioning units, and coffee makers work.
“Most people don’t realize it, but there are between 60 and 75 computers in their homes,” he said. “In a new car, there are more than 20 computers. All of these computers need software in order to make them function. This is why computer scientists are so important.”
“Computer engineers are writing software for products that are used in other products,” Shovic said. “By 2020, there will be 20 billion computers in the world, all talking back and forth to each other. Right now, they’re developing a computer that will go in a milk carton and tell you when the milk has gone bad.”
By MARC STEWART
Staff Writer