INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / MARCH 21, 1989

 

 

CIS Graduates Have

Imagine graduating from col-
lege with a two-year diploma
and having a wide range of
choice jobs to select from --
some paying as high as $50,000
a year,

It sounds too good to be true,
but in the computer systems
field there are more jobs than
there are graduates to fill them.

"I have never seen the job op-
portunities so good," says John
Blackwell, co-ordinator of
Douglas College’s two-year
Computer Information Systems
diploma program.
© “Last year I received three job
offers for each of my top grads.
Without question, now is the
time to be going into the com-
puter field," says Blackwell.

 

"A few years ago, all across
North America there were wait-
ing lists of students hoping to
get into the crammed-full Com-
puter Information Systems
programs. But now, enrollment
is down for two-year and four-
year programs, while job
opportunities are soaring,” says
Blackwell.

“When computer courses first
came out they were popular; but
now that the mystique of com-
puters has worn off, students’
interests are shifting to ad-
ministration and management
De ourses,” says Blackwell.

 

 

Choice of Jobs

But, the demand for computer
graduates continues in the rapid-
ly growing industry.

"Now, especially, with the
development of the microcom-
puter, there has been a real
revolution and expansion, and
there doesn’t seem to be any end
in sight," says Blackwell.

"Computers are a new and
developing field, and graduates
have the latest in the training
and knowledge that employers
need."

The average starting wage of
1988 Douglas College Com-
puter Information Systems
graduates hired last year was
$24,000 yearly. Six graduates
were hired at $30,000 and
another at $50,000. His salary
has since jumped to $63,000.

The two-year Computer Infor-
mation Systems includes
courses in general business
skills, accounting, marketing,
management and communica-
tions, with specialized courses
in computer skills, programming
languages, data base and data
communications.

Graduates can apply for jobs
as programmers or systems
analysts, microcomputer user
support, technical support, com-
puter operators and computer
marketing support trainees.

What also makes placing
Douglas College Computer In-
formation Systems graduates a

 

success is their involvement in
the College’s Co-op Education
program, says Blackwell.

As part of the course, students
spend time working in a com-
puter-related job with a local
business firm. This gives stu-
dents hands-on experience and
enables employers to observe a
prospective employee in the
workplace.

One of the major assets a
prospective Computer Informa-
tion Systems student can
possess is the ability to think
logically, said Blackwell.

Logic, combined with good
study habits and reliability
makes for an ideal graduate.

The two-year diploma credits
are transferrable to Simon
Fraser University, University of
British Columbia and University
of Victoria if a student decides
to pursue a four-year computer
science or business degree.

The enrollment deadline for
Computer Information Systems
at Douglas College’s New
Westminster campus is June 1,
and is on a first-come, first-
served basis.

For specific information on
the two-year diploma program,
contact John Blackwell at 520-
5400, local 4349. To register,
contact Admissions at local
5478.