Computer and information technology careers are among the fastest growing in the nation and the best paid, but it can be difficult to figure out what kind of education you need for the many different kinds of jobs available.

Wichita State University will try to help 200 Wichita high school students sort out which degrees lead to which jobs at the first WSU Computer Career Day being held in the Rhatigan Student Center today (Tuesday, March 26).

High schoolers will hear from Wichita State faculty, students and industry professionals from a dozen different companies about how they found their way into their respective fields. The event features panels focused on nine different career tracks: software development, computer hardware engineering, network architect, cybersecurity, database management and data analysis, web design, video game design, multimedia graphic artist and IT Specialist. Each student is able to select three of nine panels to attend. The event also features lunch with the panelists and an information fair.

Students are coming from Wichita’s Northeast, Heights, Northwest, South, Southeast and West High schools. The 200 students come from more than 1,000 Wichita high school students currently enrolled in computer-related career and technical education (CTE) courses, which included classes in programming, hardware support, networking and routers, digital graphic design, web design, information security and IT support. Organizers said the event was limited to Wichita Public Schools for its trial year but may expand to include other schools in the future.

The event is being led by the College of Engineering, in partnership with the Barton School of Business, the College of Fine Arts and WSU Tech, Undergraduate Admissions, and the Career Services Center.
“We wanted an event broad in scope that could introduce students to all the options at Wichita State, which offers seven different degrees that lead to computer-based careers,” said Polly Basore Wenzl, youth outreach coordinator for the College of Engineering.

Computer Science and Computer Engineering degrees are offered by the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department in the College of Engineering. These degrees are appropriate for students who aspire to work software development, network management, and hardware design and computer science research.

Also within the College of Engineering is the Engineering Technology—Cybersecurity degree, sponsored by the Engineering Technology (ET) Department. This degree is appropriate for anyone who wants to work in information security, network security or cyber-defense in the military.

The Barton School of Business offers the Information Technology and Information Management Systems bachelor’s degree, appropriate for careers in computer systems administration, database management and data analysis.

The College of Fine Arts hosts the Applied Arts in Media Arts bachelor’s degree, appropriate for people who want to work in computer animation, videogame design or other multimedia graphic arts careers.
Finally, WSU Tech offers associate degrees in both Digital Marketing and Information Technology, which provide preparation for careers as web designers and IT support specialists, respectively.

“Not only are these careers extremely different, they have wildly different math requirements – with some degrees requiring only algebra while others require advanced calculus and beyond,” Wenzl said. “We want to help students to find the degree that is right for them.”

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The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.