As artificial intelligence increasingly transforms the technology landscape, computer science students at Northeastern University are adjusting their educational paths and career expectations. Ruchi Alavilli, a second-year computer science major, describes her longstanding passion for coding, which she first explored while playing Minecraft. She values the accessibility of computer science, stating, “All you need is a laptop and internet.”
The demand for skilled professionals in this field has been significant, with many graduates previously assured of job placements shortly after graduation. However, according to the Associated Press, the unemployment rate for computer science graduates has risen to approximately 7.1%. This increase is attributed to software companies employing AI-driven agents to perform coding tasks previously done by humans. In contrast, the overall unemployment rate for recent graduates stands at 5.2%, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Garima Chauhan, also a second-year computer science student focusing on AI, expressed apprehension about job prospects in the evolving industry. “It was very intimidating going into it, not really knowing if I would come out of college even with a job in the degree that I wanted to work in,” she said. Many of her peers, including Alavilli, have noted how AI tools have become commonplace in their work environments. Alavilli mentioned that while AI agents assist in creating product demos, “when it comes to the more complex tasks, vibe coding is not going to cut it.”
Despite the shifting job market, students maintain a degree of optimism. Chauhan emphasized that new job opportunities exist in the AI sector that were unavailable in the past, perceiving this shift as “additive rather than subtractive.” As a response to these industry changes, Northeastern’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences has adjusted its curriculum, integrating AI into foundational courses such as Program Design and Implementation.
Laney Strange, an associate dean at Khoury, noted a need for future graduates to acquire relevant skills in a changing workforce. “A lot of companies don’t need students or recent graduates to write individual lines of code the way that they used to,” she explained, underscoring the importance of high-level skills, including technology design and product evaluation.
Fourth-year student Harsh Singh, currently completing a co-op at Wayfair, has witnessed AI’s impact on the industry first-hand. He recognizes the importance of AI experience for employability, stating, “Irrespective of how the industry is playing it, if it’s something that an employer desires, it is helpful for students to have experience in.” However, opinions on classroom integration of AI vary among students. Singh advocates for thoughtful use of AI in education, especially in foundational courses that develop critical thinking skills. Conversely, Chauhan pointed out inconsistencies in how professors embrace AI in their teaching, with some discouraging its use while others incorporate it into their syllabi.
