Thanks, in part, to the Internet, our understanding of and reliance on computers keeps increasing at a phenomenal rate. The world got along just fine before computers, but now, most of us simply don't know what we would do without them. The world is hooked. We check email, chat with friends, play video games, do our taxes, and plan vacations all from our PCs. But computers can do so much more. They can save lives, predict economic conditions, forecast the weather, and take us to space. Computer science focuses on the mathematical algorithms that allow these amazing innovations to take place.

Just as its name implies, a computer performs computations. These computations help scientists, doctors, and economists solve pressing problems in the world. How long will the next hurricane last? Is there enough food to sustain a growing population? How quickly will this medicine start working. Using complex software and programs, men and women like yourself can explore uncharted waters without getting their feet wet.

If you want to enter this field, a degree in computer science is your best bet. Of course, some computer scientists get a degree in mathematics, computer programming, or data management instead. Because the world of computing is expanding at such a fast rate, there really is no set path for career entry. Certification in any number of computer-related disciplines is often sufficient.

Presently, we have only scraped the tip of the iceberg. There are problems out there waiting to be solved every day. Suffice to say that there are few careers that are as secure as computer science.