It is more important than ever that students put what they’re learning in the classroom into practice outside the classroom. Joining student groups, taking advantage of external partnerships, studying abroad — and more — all are helping students in the School of Computer and Data Sciences (SCDS) graduate with the real-world experience they need to succeed in the workforce.
Here are seven ways students can get hands-on experience, with examples of opportunities available to students through SCDS, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and more broadly the University of Oregon.
1. Student organizations in SCDS
Join a student organization! Student organizations are an important element of the college experience. They help students develop technical skills, enhance their knowledge through workshops, compete and win prestigious competitions as a team, and receive mentorship from industry partners.
SCDS is home to multiple student groups offering students plenty of opportunities to connect with their fellow peers and engage outside of the classroom.
Interested students can check out the groups currently hosted or start their very own.
2. Capstone course in SCDS
Take a capstone course! Capstones are culminating projects and are great resume enhancers. Often arranged with partners in the public or private sector, capstones give students experience solving real-world problems. Some students even take on personal projects with mentor support and have pursued a wide variety of domains like boosting accessibility for low vision individuals or indie game design.
At UO, a capstone in computer science means working alongside partners like the Pacific Northwest National Lab or Pipeworks game studio. Similarly, the capstone in data science gives students the chance to pursue a project based on their interest and career goals. After developing deep knowledge of theory and techniques through their coursework, participants get to work with a set of data from start to finish, developing questions and/or goals, preparing the raw data for analysis, applying analysis and visualization techniques to the data, and communicating the results of the project.
The results are a valuable example of a student’s work that they can show to employers or even continue developing on their own.
3. Career and internships seminar in SCDS
Learn how to be a success during an internship! The value of landing internships and early-career opportunities is well documented, but it can be complicated to acquire these competitive opportunities. SCDS offers the Career and Internships Seminar to help students build their resumes and portfolios, learn about job search strategies, prepare for interviews, learn about negotiation and practice navigating recruiting events. In addition to class sessions and resources, the seminar also hosts recruiters and participates in UO Career Center recruiting events to help students find the perfect match.
4. Internships in computer and data sciences
Do an Internship! Internships are an important way for students to gain experience while they’re in school. Internships also offer students the opportunity to learn about what kind of workplace and what kind of jobs they might be interested in — or not interested in. Additionally, students can receive credit for internships to help get them closer to graduation as they work.
There are many resources available to students interested in seeking internship opportunities. The SCDS Internships Database provides a centralized database of internships across the school. Students have access to the career website Handshake; support from the career center, student organizations and faculty advisors; numerous career fairs; and Global Education Oregon's GlobalWorks Internship program, which pairs students with an organization for a quarter-long internship abroad.
5. Research in computer and data sciences
Research experiences are great resume builders! Research experiences are extended engagements with a professor in their lab. Undergraduate students will work on cutting-edge scientific problems as part of a team of faculty, doctoral students, master’s students and other undergraduates. Faculty members in SCDS regularly recruit doctoral and master’s students to conduct research.
The best way to connect is to learn about the work a professor is doing and reach out.
6. Conferences for computer and data sciences
Students regularly attend conferences to present their work, gain extra education and network. Often, there are UO resources to support things like travel. These opportunities can be invaluable for a student’s professional development and can even lead to job opportunities later.
7. Study abroad opportunities in computer and data sciences
Study abroad! It is an amazing opportunity to learn to interact effectively with people of different cultures.
The UO offers 20 study abroad programs, many of which satisfy major or minor requirements. See especially studying abroad which satisfies computer science major or minor requirements. Students can also enroll as an exchange student at a top international research institution for any part of the year. As the world becomes increasingly global, it is important for students to be open to international opportunities.
For students interested in any of these opportunities, a great first step is to talk with a trusted professor or advisor. The UO Career Center offers career coaching along with numerous other resources, and there is information available for advising in both computer science and data science.
Additionally, CAS has a career development lab that supports students, including scholarships for experiential learning opportunities.
The expectations students face for career preparation are only growing, but SCDS is leading the way in helping students to find the right opportunity, land the job and hit the ground running in their careers.
— By Evan Ney, College of Arts and Sciences