I'm really interested in IT and I'm considering pursuing this at UCSD. Can anyone here speak to what the IT programs are like there? How are the classes and professors? What about internship opportunities? Grateful for any info!
UCSD does not directly offer an Information Technology (IT) undergraduate degree but it has majors closely aligned with your interest. The most relevant one would be Computer Science under the Jacobs School of Engineering. The courses under this major dive into various IT-related topics like databases, web and mobile applications, software engineering, and system design which are crucial concepts and skills needed within IT roles. Other similar majors include Management Science and Cognitive Science with a specialization in Human-Computer Interaction. Selecting the right major will depend on exactly what aspect of IT you're most interested in.
The professors at UCSD are high caliber, with many having practical industry experiences and are recognized researchers in their fields. This provides students with not just theoretical knowledge, but also an understanding of how these concepts can be applied in the real world. It's a good idea to take advantage of office hours to discuss your queries or just have an intellectual discussion.
UCSD's location in San Diego is a bonus as the city is home to numerous tech companies, offering a plethora of internships and job opportunities. The Career Center at UCSD also does a great job equipping students with the tools they need to secure these internships, like resume building, interview prepping, and hosting career fairs. They also have a service called Handshake that lists job and internship opportunities.
Moreover, there are various clubs on campus like the Computer Science and Engineering Society (CSES), Triton Engineering Student Council (TESC), and Virtual Reality Club that can enrich your academic experience. These clubs offer meetups, hackathons, guest speaker sessions etc which will aid you in developing skills that are not covered in class.
I hope this gives you an idea of how UCSD can support you in your pursuit of an IT career. Best of luck with your college decision process!
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