by Erin Hasinger
ComputerSchools.com Staff Writer
September 18, 2006
Known for its contributions to American country music, Nashville is a fast-growing city with exciting nightlife, ample outdoor recreation, and of course, opportunities to perform and enjoy all kinds of music nearly every where one turns. The city thrives on a varied economy that includes publishing, health care, and automobiles, and in recent years, it has seen the technology industry grow by leaps and bounds, affording a promising outlook for prospective computer professionals.
Employment
According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the computer industry is a hot one for jobs. Through 2014, all listed computer occupations are forecasted for incredible growth, including as much as 74% for network systems and data communication analysts. Computer software engineers of system software are projected for growth of 59%, while database administrators are expected to see gains of 52%. Major growth is also predicted for jobs such as computer systems analysts (40%) and computer software engineers of applications (48%).
Nashville is home to dozens of big name and Fortune 500 companies that require a fleet of information technology professionals to keep business running efficiently. Employment opportunities are possible with some of the city's largest employers, including the State of Tennessee, which is Nashville's largest employer with more than 20,000 on the payroll. Gaylord Entertainment is another major employer, while those with a penchant for wireless communication should check out Asurion.
Education
Nashville is home to many colleges and universities that offer a variety of computer programs. Students can choose the University of Phoenix for programs in e-business and information technology, or the International Academy of Design & Technology for an associate's degree in computer networking or a bachelor's degree in network design and administration.
At ITT Technical Institute, students can earn a bachelor of applied science degree in data communication systems technology, information systems security, and software engineering technology. Associate of applied science degrees are also available in information technology for computer network systems, software applications and programming, and web development.
Students can study computer science at renowned Vanderbilt University as well as at Belmont University.
Computer programs are also available from Fisk University, Lipscomb University, Nashville State Community College, and National College of Business and Technology.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation is a government-formed non-profit entity that oversees several grant and scholarship programs for Tennessee residents, including Tennessee Student Assistance Awards, which offers grants to students enrolled at least half-time in a public or eligible private institution.
The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program is a blanket program for many programs, including the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, which offers up to $3,800 to students with academic merit.
The General Assembly Merit Scholarship offers a $1,000 supplement to the HOPE Scholarship for students with extremely high academic achievement.
The Aspire Award is also a supplement to the HOPE Scholarship and provides $1,500 to students with financial need in addition to academic merit.
The Lottery Scholarship Program also includes the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant, which is aimed at students enrolled in a diploma or certificate program at a Tennessee Technology Center. The grant provides up to $1,500.
Another program is the Tennessee HOPE Access Grant, which awards up to $2,650 to students who meet minimum academic achievement standards and who also have qualifying financial need.
Summary
Nashville certainly is the nation's country music capital and an iconic southern city, but it is also a hotbed for technology. The job market shows no signs of slowing down, and students with all kinds of interests are sure to find the right program here. Nashville is a great choice for any computer student.
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