Computer Science and Technology
If you are interested in using your technical knowledge, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills in your career of choice, exploring opportunities in technology and engineering-related industries and sectors may be of interest to you. These industry areas are growing and innovating rapidly – opportunities that are unheard of today may be top options in a few years. Broadly speaking, employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 15 percent from 2021 to 2031.
Computer science at Wellesley encompasses the broad application and theory of ideas relating to hardware and software. As an outcome, those studying computer science should leave with a broad understanding of how computing and technology applications work so that they can build computer applications of the future. Since technology is present in any and all industries and disciplines, the application of technical knowledge can be found in numerous career opportunities.
At Wellesley, courses in Computer Science, Data Science, Media Arts and Sciences, and through the Wellesley Engineering Laboratory (We-Lab) may lead you to a career in computer science or technology. However, anybody with the necessary skills and interests can pursue a career in this field, regardless of major.
General Career Advice
Those with a technical skills can apply their knowledge in a number of sectors: government, industry, academia, nonprofits, and research. Regardless of your desired career path, each student should plan to pursue opportunities that provide valuable experiences and skills - such as campus involvement, research, internships, volunteering, and community engagement. Not only are these great experiences to add to your resume, but they can also help you determine what type of work environments, activities, projects, and “X factors” are a good fit for you.
For networking opportunities with Wellesley students and alumnae, check out the Beyond Wellesley section of the CS department website.
Pursuing a Graduate Degree in Computer Science
If you are considering pursuing a graduate degree in computer science, there are plenty of great resources out there to help you start asking the right questions. Check out the Graduate School resource page in Handshake for a broad overview about graduate school, including the application timeline, asking for references, and financing your education.
When looking for computer science graduate programs, you will need to do some in-depth research about those programs to gain a better understanding of their admissions requirements, the focus of their degree, research areas of the faculty, and the curriculum for the degree. While there are both objective and subjective factors that go into deciding what type of graduate degree or graduate program to pursue, some questions to start with include:
- What are the research specialties/areas of the faculty?
- What research projects do the current graduate student work on?
- What are facilities, laboratories, libraries, etc. like?
- What are the outcomes of the graduates - academia, research, industry, government, or other professional areas?
- What is the quality of life for a Master’s or PhD student?
If you are looking for an in-person consultation about graduate school, a good place to start would be by meeting with Alexis Trench, who is the Career Community Advisor for Technology, Engineering, & Physical Sciences. Additionally, you should plan to speak with the faculty in the computer science department as they are a fantastic resource with personal experience.
For a sample list of graduate programs that Wellesley students have enrolled, visit the CS department website.
Knowledge and Skills
Due to the rapid evolution of technology, keeping up to date with skills and emerging trends is vital to career and professional development. Utilize online resources to learn new skills or refresh existing ones:
Career Resources and Professional Organizations
Organizations on Campus
- Wellesley CS Club
- WHACK: Wellesley Hackathon
- Robogals
Computer Science Career Resources
Professional Organizations
- Association of Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology (ABI)
- National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Computing Research Association (CRA-W)
- Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Internships & Fellowships
Job Boards & Interview Resources
- Uncubed - Uncubed connects people to innovative companies.
- VentureFizz - VentureFizz is Boston’s most trusted source for tech and startup jobs, news, and insights
- Cracking the Coding Interview
- Google Technical Development Guide
- HackerRank
- Leetcode
Updated June 12, 2023.
