Dr. Mark Van Gorp Assistant Professor/Co-Chair, Computer ...

Dr. Mark Van GorpAssistant Professor/Co-Chair, Computer Information SystemsWhat was your college major?My undergraduate degree included a major in mathematics coupled with a computer scienceminor and a secondary education teaching certificate.Did this major lead you to your current career?My computer science minor and teaching certificate spawned an interest in teaching computerscience and/or developing educational software. This interest was further refined bysubsequent jobs in computer programming and education as well as eventual attainment of anM.S. in computer science and a Ph.D. in education. I am currently teaching courses in computerscience and information systems.What are the characteristics that your most successful students possess?The most successful students are good problem-solvers, detail-oriented, highly ethical, goodcommunicators, value quality work, and desire to learn more.

Name three things a student should know when exploring this career.This career is challenging and rewarding. Hard-work is needed to successfully completeacademic work, but this work normally results in higher than average salaries when comparedto other careers. The job outlook normally remains strong as society continues to advancetechnologically. A combination of solid technical, communication, and business skills leads tocareer advancement.What skills will a student learn when pursuing this career?Technically, students will learn how to use programming and database languages to performtasks and solve problems. They will learn how to analyze, design, implement, and test solutionsfor selected real-world problems. Students will become better critical thinkers andcommunicators as they manage projects.For a student needing part-time employment while in college, what types of jobs provide thebest experiential learning opportunities?There are a number of internships available in computer information systems, especially forthose students who may be in their second year. Jobs that help students refine skills incustomer support, business knowledge, and technical problem solving are great. For example,working at a help desk, performing entry-level programming tasks, or even working withcustomers at a technical store are all helpful.If a college student is unable to find related work experience in this career field, how do yousuggest he/she prepare for the workplace?Any job that would enhance skills pertaining to communication, customer service, problemsolving,and technical knowledge are all valuable.Is there a selection process for entering this program?No, there is no selection process.November 2010