While other programs at colleges across the nation have seen a decline in the past two years, computer science programs have seen a 14 percent increase nation-wide.
Richard Chapman, professor in computer science, said enrollment in computer science programs generally follows patterns of the economy, and Auburn is on the high end of the curve.
"When people see opportunity in a field, they flock to it," Chapman said.
Barrett Hoover, junior in mechanical engineering, said he chose engineering because he sees the need for engineers.
"Engineering applies to every part of our lives now," Hoover said. "Everything that is designed is designed by an engineer. Engineering is a field that will continue to grow."
An article published in 2009 by Techweb stated enrollment of U.S. students in computer science had increased for the first time since the dot com bust.
"We've seen this three times in computer science," Chapman said. "In the mid-1980s, when PCs became available to the public, another in the late '90s with the Internet and now after the economy has bottomed out."
A major reason for this increase is because of the multitude of technical jobs available to students graduating with a computer science degree, said James Cross, professor in computer science,.
"Jobs are across the entire spectrum," Cross said. "Anything from entry level work to very technical, it could be a network administrator or software technician."
Techweb's article said U.S. employers complained about falling U.S. student enrollment in computer science.
The article stated people can be optimistic about the field of computer science, as more and more students are seeking advanced degrees in computer science.
In December 2009, an article published by The New York Times stated a re-vamping of high school computer courses will increase enrollment in the programs. According to the article, too many high schools focus on using the software--not how it works.
Robert Reich, professor at University of California, stated in the article that new technology would be the focus of most jobs in the modern economy.
The Auburn computer science program has seen increases similar to the recent national trends.
Chapman said Auburn attracts students because of the many options available in computer science and software engineering.
Auburn also has a wireless engineering program, an opportunity students may not find elsewhere in the nation. The degree is available to those hoping to work with mobile software development, such as cell phone technology, Chapman said.
Enrollment in the program dropped from 900 to 300 after the dot com bust, and it has begun to increase in the last year, Champan said.
Hoover said he thinks the increase in the program's popularity can be attributed to computers permeation of popular society.
"It is an obvious choice for our generation because we have grown up around computers," Hoover said.
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