Correction: In a previous version of this article, the headline misidentified information systems majors as information science majors.
Dive Brief:
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A new job index report found information systems (IS) graduates tend to be more diverse than their computer science peers.
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The Temple IS Job Index, from Temple University, also found IS grads are just as in-demand as computer science grads.
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According to the study, minorities and women are better represented in IS compared to computer science.
Dive Insight:
The difference between IS and computer science is that most IS programs are part of business programs, while computer science tends to standalone.
The 2015 graduating class in IS was 34% female, compared to just 20% in computer science. Among MIS graduates, 37% are Asian, which is four times higher than the number of Asians that received bachelor’s degrees in computer science.
The job index is based on data from 30 universities across the U.S.
Diversity in tech is an ongoing challenge. A May U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission analysis found that Silicon Valley still has a long way to go to achieve diversity. Among the top 75 Silicon Valley tech firms, whites made up 47% of the workforce, Asian Americans 41%, Hispanics 6% and African Americans 3%. Women accounted for just 30% of the workforce at the 75 firms, EEOC found.
With the high demand for computer science and engineering professional to enter the workforce, alternative majors may work as a future source for potential employers.
A report earlier this week found many of today’s computer science grads receive high starting salaries and multiple employment offers.The National Association of Colleges and Employers estimates the average salary for graduates with computer science degrees at $61,321 this year, second only to engineering graduates, at $64,891. The association said 2015 computer science grads also have the highest full-time employment rate within six months of graduation.
