Media contact: Peter Kilduff, Director of University Relations
(860) 832-1791; Kilduff@ccsu.edu

CCSU approved to prepare students for rapidly growing, well-paying jobs in Connecticut’s hi-tech industry by offering new degree in Computer Engineering Technology

            The State‘s Board of Governors for Higher Education (BOGHE) has approved licensure for Central Connecticut State University’s School of Technology to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering Technology (CET).  CCSU is Connecticut’s first regional comprehensive public university to offer the four-year CET degree.

            “The CET program will prepare students to acquire a wide range of skills needed to adapt themselves to the rapidly growing components of hi-tech industry,” said Valerie F. Lewis, Connecticut’s Commissioner of Higher Education.

            “Students will work with state-of-the-art wired and wireless network communication technology, engineering design, advanced PC operating systems, internet technologies, and computer programming,” Dr. Z.B. Kremens, Dean of CCSU’s School of Technology, added.

            According to the Department of Higher Education (www.ctdhe.org): Gateway Community College, Manchester Community College, and Capital Community College offer two-year associate’s degrees in Computer Engineering Technology.  CCSU’s B.S. in Computer Engineering Technology program will help students graduating from community colleges in the state to transfer credits easily to study for the four-year degree.

            The new degree program is administered through the Department of Computer Electronics and Graphics Technology in CCSU’s School of Technology.  Dr. Karen C. Tracey, department chair, noted:  “We expect this program to help meet the need for highly paid, high-demand positions, such as system administrators, network administrators, system designers, quality control engineers, and software developers.

            “Graduates should also find positions as information technologists, lab technicians, system maintenance engineers, system testers, and related positions. We anticipate there will be numerous advance program choices for undergraduate students who plan to continue on to graduate studies,” she said.

            “The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which projects industries with the fastest wage and salary employment growth for the periods of 2000-2010, projects the Number One growth industry to be in computer and data processing services with an average annual growth of 6.4% (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.t03.htm),” Tracey noted.  “Some 5,190 people are now employed in this field in Connecticut, and these high demand fields have the potential of 367 annual job openings with an average annual salary of $62,230. According to the Connecticut Labor Department, the top six fastest growing occupations are within computer engineering related fields (www.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/misc/fastest.htm).”

            Dr. V. Rajaravivarma, professor of computer electronics and graphics technology at CCSU, who was instrumental in developing the program, said:  “The new CET program offers an engineering technology curriculum that will provide an understanding of the fundamental principles, techniques and tools of physical sciences and mathematics.  There will be hands-on education in engineering technology principles and techniques, as well as sensitivity to problems arising from the interaction of technology with society, such as ethics, economics, the environment, aesthetics, and other considerations.”

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