COD celebrates first Computer Science 3+1 Program graduates

College of DuPage is looking forward to future success stories following the recent first class of graduates from its 3+1 Computer Science program from Lewis University. Announced in 2012 and launched in fall 2013, the program allows students to earn a baccalaureate degree through Lewis on COD's campus.

Five students were included in the first graduating class and interest continues to grow in this thriving field, said COD Computer Information Systems Assistant Professor Sam Shamsuddin.

"The perception is that jobs in IT are still largely outsourced, which is simply not true," he said. "The theory is that outsourcing created many issues and companies have shifted focus. Now as the industry grows, so does the demand for skilled local workers."

With a quality education and hands-on experience prior to graduation, College of DuPage 3+1 students have a distinct advantage in the job market, Shamsuddin said.

"Our students come to COD and quickly learn how diverse jobs are within the computer science field," he said. "They can branch off into a number of specialized areas, including IT support, software development and web design. Many of our classes are filling up quickly and we've had several requests to add more sections to keep up with demand."

Students in the program are required to complete an Associate in Applied Science degree in Computer Information Systems or Computer Internetworking Technologies through COD. From there, they continue taking course toward their baccalaureate degree through Lewis University, but on COD's campus and at a reduced tuition rate. For program alum Kyle Newman, the 3+1 opportunity has made all the difference in his career path.

"I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I first started going to college," he said. "COD is great for that since you can really find out what you like before you go all in. For me, I found computer science."

With classes he enjoyed and faculty who motivated him, Newman said he felt prepared for the Lewis instructors and said the fact that the entire program was housed on COD's campus made the transition seamless.

"The first three years of the 3+1 program were all great at COD. I can't think back to a Computer Science class I didn't like," he said.

Lewis instructors were engaging and patient, he recalls. With only an AP Statistics credit to his name, Newman credits Lewis Assistant Math Professor Greg Manning with his success in three math classes, including Discrete Math and Calculus.

"As a whole, the 3+1 program prepared me fully," said Newman, who now works full time at COD. "It provided me with the hard and soft skills needed. I also credit working as a student employee in the Academic Computing Center with my success, as it helped me hone and develop my critical thinking, customer service and work ethic."

College of DuPage is an accredited community college that serves more than 29,000 students each term. The college, which grants nine associate degrees and more than 170 certificates in 100 areas of study, is the second largest provider of public undergraduate education in Illinois.

Visit www.cod.edu for more information on the 3+1 Computer Science program.