In general, so far, I have noticed that computer systems department in New York City College of Technology does provide the basic knowledge; the education, however, is focused on the fundamental understanding of how everything runs. Courses that I had experience to take were basic and lacked, even on this basic level, the practical or applying studies. While researching the job space demands I found that, all of the jobs require the presence of the practical experience and much less of the ads include having the degree as a requirement. After researching, I have came to the conclusion that experience and practical skills are more important than even complete degree certificate. The priority of the nowadays job employment in IT fields are circling around practical knowledge and experience.
In order to make our department succeed in giving a student individualism and practice, the department should go in the direction of some of the best schools of studies in computer science. In the USA, we have many universities that provide very decent trainings and degree practices, which benefit to student’s individual development of the practical or applied studies. While I was researching, I have used a website U.S. News & World Reports under the education section. The website provides best ranking schools that are successful in the computer systems or computer science.
The main idea I have researched consisted the subject of any other unique classes, additional engagements and awards, as well as resources that would be giving the student more applied studies over the fundamental theories. For instance at the Stanford University, we can find the specified computer systems laboratory, which is also something I would suggest for the NYCCT to implement. This will also benefit students to practice and have laboratory experience, become more individual and have potential to grow practical experience.
Looking at University of California Berkeley, I found something called Self-Paced center  where students can choose to learn what they really want. For instance another programing language, or take another oriented engineering course. Where students can have benefits by getting tutorials and individual interest information. In addition, the university provides numerous research areas that fit interests of the students. On top of this, the university works with some top computer companies and, therefore, makes it easier for graduates to display their potentials to the work community.
Another good example is Carnegie Mellon University. It is also one of the best schools of computer science. The university provides numerous awards to these motivated student who have succeed in the field of developing and creating new work. This way department of computer science encourages students to apply their abilities in the direction of the research and increase their academic level.
Washington University has a class called “Hardware Design and Implementation” which is also something the department of our college misses. Again, we are focusing here more on the virtual and basic site of the computer disciplines. However, by following the example of Washington University, the department should also take care of the hardware knowledge, very physical layer of the computer systems technologies. Keeping in mind that this is a very practical knowledge base. Moreover, the course outline includes the laboratory hardware and hardware for experimentation.
At Georgia Institute of Technology, for instance, in the department of computer science, they have a special program which is called Threads. Threads program is a unique approach towards giving the students “breadth and depth” in their education, as it is explained by their Senior Associate Dean Charles Isbell. The program lets student to choose their most likable classes and approaches, and develop themselves in that particular area. This is a very good example of how NYCCT could give students more freedom over their interests and potentials. This is the way in which student could get more individualism in their education here at City Tech.
The computer science department at University of Illinois provide classes that are very specific. For instance, if a student is interested in Android development, there is such class. There is such specialized area. However NYCCT lacks such experiences in our department.
One of the most common advancements that these schools have is that they provide a career growth. They have numerous programs of master and doctoral degrees. For instance, at NYCCT students in the CST have this ceiling over them, which stops them from further growth. The department provides only degree up to bachelors programs. Meaning is that these other universities let their students project their careers and see some greater aspects for the future. In the NYCCT, however, students have to transfer for that purpose.
These universities give their students more classes available, which contributes to their experiences not only by providing fundamental knowledge. In addition, I would like to point out that getting practical knowledge is not a group or teamwork. It is mainly individual approach of each student, the ways he or she approaches to the problems and the way a student responds to the tasks in the field of CST; it is based on the personal experience with these problems. Therefore, I would like to suggest for our college to focus more on the individual development. Provide for the mighty student resources in order to give them more opportunity, make their experience more independent and more concentrated in their own abilities. Follow the examples of the universities and their approaches listed above.
Overall, many of the universities have greater support for their students. These universities set their priorities to make student valuable and active asset into the future. They are more open to the worldwide communities and national or even global projects, like University of Wisconsin, which participated in the CloudLab researches. Taking as another example University of Michigan, which provide such specialized subjects as Artificial Intelligence and Computer Architecture. Comparing to these schools NYCCT needs to provide to their students of CST department the ability to choose what they like the most and develop with it. Implementing programs like Thread from Georgia Institute, make available new higher programs and insert broader spectrum of courses provided. In general, give more materials, physical space and providing more resources to grow for their students individualism and practical knowledge.
References:
- U.S. News & World Reports – website with rankings.
- Stanford University – website of the specialized laboratory.
-  University of California Berkeley, their Self-Paced center, and  research areas.
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Washington University with the course “Hardware Design and Implementation”.
- Georgia Institute of Technology, the specialized program Threads.
- University of Illinois
- University of Wisconsin
- University of Michigan
- NYCCT
