These skills strengthen local community, national innovation, and opportunities for youth. Computer Science and Applications - not computer literacy - underlies most innovation today, from biotechnology to cinematography to national security. This ability to innovate with technology is also important for students' future success and ability to make a difference in a global society.

Jobs are plentiful, interesting, and flexible. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that computer science and application-related jobs will be among the fastest growing and highest paying over the next decade. Job prospects have remained strong despite economically challenging times. Computer scientists also enjoy a wide range of career options since all industry sectors today involve computing (e.g., the arts, film, finance, health care, journalism, manufacturing, music, security).

• Five of the fastest growing occupations are computing occupations.
• By 2016, there will be 1.5 million computing-related jobs available.
• Computing-related jobs are among the highest entry-level salaries of any bachelor's degree.