Apart from studying law or medicine, many of the most lucrative job fields available to college graduates are found in the so-called STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, fields.
While it makes for a great acronym, STEM has grown somewhat beyond its original focus.
Given the role that computers now play in all manner of scientific research and real world engineering, it is not unreasonable to suppose that some training in computer science may now be just as important to STEM graduates as the dreaded calculus classes have always been.
Knowing a little bit about network architecture, online security, and even a fair amount of programming cannot help but produce a more rounded and job ready graduate.
Many fields require a more than basic understanding of such things as CAD, or Computer Assisted Drawing, in order to bridge the gap between the theoretical field of innovation and the real world need to illustrate and convince non-STEM managers of the viability of some project.
In addition, today’s workplaces are much more collaborative and global in nature than ever before.
Modern STEM workers must be able to successfully interact with colleagues who may be half a world away.
STEM graduates devoid of computer training are as obsolete as slide rules and pocket protectors.