Women Who Code

As unemployment drops, many new college graduates are often finding it harder to get a job right after school. However, there is one professional field where the demand is quickly growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2020 there will be nearly one and a half million computer science jobs available in the U.S.

The University of Denver is answering the market demand by offering unique classes and degrees in Emergent Digital Practices. “This covers basically audio and game design, 3D modeling, all the fun creative stuff,” says Hanna Pardee, an undergrad in computer science at the Daniel Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science. She’s also an example of a growing national trend, showing women in western countries use the internet 17 percent more than their male counterparts.

Susanne Sherba, a teaching associate professor in the department of computer science says DU class sizes in this emerging field of study are perfect for individual attention. “The students and faculty have a lot of interaction. I get to know my students. I get to know about their personal lives. I get to know their goals. And I’m able to assist them.”

Sadie Roy says coding is like a puzzle you get to create. The computer science student is particularly excited about DU’s classes in security. “That’s one of the reasons that I chose DU, because they offer classes in security and I’m able to learn more about it so that I can say I have my focus in security and so that way I feel more prepared when I go on to my career.”

This fall, DU is launching a new one-year master’s program in cybersecurity. It is designed to help meet the demand for skilled employees, which is expected to grow 121 percent in the next 5 years. For more information on the program, click here.