By Emmett Steele | 3rd year Journalism student
Most people have played with Lego at least once or twice, and some will remember it prominently from their childhood. Spending hours putting blocks together, taking them apart, and building them back up again to create something new.
According to Leslie Hoang, a student in the Computer Systems Technology – Software Development program at Mohawk College, coding is like playing with Lego for adults. “If you like computers, building Legos and never-ending growth and learning, this program is for you,” says Leslie.
Computer Science programs at Mohawk teach students the important role that software engineers play in our increasingly digital world. “I’m very passionate about coding,” says Roopa Karanam, a student in the Computer Systems Technology Software Development program at Mohawk. “It always fascinates me how we can create things just by writing some lines of code, that can solve real-world problems.”
Students enrolled in these programs are continuously acquiring new skills and learning the foundation of computer science. “We get to learn with really competent teachers,” says Leslie. “They make learning coding easy. They make you want to learn and attend class because you know you’ll walk out with a new tool.”
Through experiential learning, the skills that students have learned are challenged and put to the test in real-world work environments. “Co-op is the aspect of my program that I like most,” says Roopa. “We learn how to put to use the knowledge we gained in our in-class semesters, such as the best practices of coding and documentation.”
Leslie is thankful for the experience he’s gaining through his co-op. “Software development is a career path where learning never stops,” says Leslie.
According to Elizabeth Martin, Associate Dean of the Electrical and Computer Engineering programs, students in these programs will have no trouble turning their work experience into paying jobs. “If you look at the top 10 jobs in Canada right now, 8 out of those 10 jobs are related to computer science,” says Martin. “If you’re looking for a career that’s going to have stable industry growth and immediate job opportunities when you graduate, any choice that has to do with computer science right now is a strong choice.”
“I meet with our industry partners regularly, and every time we meet with them, I hear them say they can’t find enough qualified people for the jobs they want to fill,” continues Martin. “If you complete the program and put your heart into it, there is a job waiting for you at the other end.”
If you would like to learn more about the Computer Sciences programs available at Mohawk College.
