by Erin Hasinger
ComputerSchools.com Staff Writer
September 24, 2006
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city and also one of the nation's biggest, sporting a metropolitan area that is home to more than 5.8 million people and spanning three states. The City of Brotherly Love is one of the country's most historically significant and was one of the nation's capitals in its early years. It is home to the Liberty Bell as well as the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Philadelphia's economy is varied and thriving, and bears a heavy concentration of government and financial organizations, providing a wealth of employment opportunities.
Employment
According to the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Development, computer occupations are growing in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Through 2012, tremendous growth is expected for occupations such as network systems and data communications analysts, forecasted for a 55% increase in positions. Other staggering projections have been made for computer software engineers of applications, at 38%, database administrators, at 36%, and computer systems engineers of systems software, at 31%
Computer graduates might find employment opportunities with such companies as Vanguard, MBNA, and Dupont. Some of the area's other major employers include the City of Philadelphia and the School District of Philadelphia.
Education
Computer students will find a wide variety of educational programs to choose from here, including a bachelor degree program in information technology at the University of Phoenix.
The Art Institute http://ai.computerschools.com/artinstitutes/ offers programs in animation, graphic design, multimedia, game design, web design, while DeVry University offers a bachelor degree in computer information systems.
Drexel University has undergraduate- and graduate-level degree programs in information systems, information technology, and systems engineering. La Salle University also offers computer science, information technology, and digital art and multimedia design.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Philadelphia's students have a number of financial aid programs offered by the state of Pennsylvania to state residents. Administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), grant and scholarship programs include the Pennsylvania State Grant, which awards as much as $3,000 to students with financial need.
Other programs include scholarships such as the SciTech Scholarship, which awards students as much as $3,000 per school year. Students pursuing a science or technology major are eligible for the scholarship, and must agree to complete at least one year of work in Pennsylvania for every year the scholarship is received. Another scholarship awarded to technology students is the Technology Scholarship, which awards $1,000 annually to students studying a non-four-year technology program. For this scholarship, as well, students must agree to work for one year in the state of Pennsylvania for each year they receive the scholarship.
Summary
Philadelphia has a lot to offer any prospective computer student, including terrific educational options, an excellent employment outlook, and a plethora of things to do, including art, sports, and an exciting nightlife. Philadelphia is a sound choice for both one's education and career.
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