Stability in a Wild, Wild World

CSUN’s College of Computer Science and Engineering prepares students for jobs that can weather economic storms.

Enrollment at CSUN’s College of Engineering and Computer Science remains strong. Among the strongest undergraduate programs are Computer Science and Engineering Management Technology. All the graduate programs have experienced significant growth over the past few years, particularly the new Construction Management program and the Engineering Management program.

Dr. Houssam Toutanji, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science explains: “While national trends show rising demand for technology-driven and management-focused education, we believe the strength of our programs also reflects the quality of our faculty, the relevance of our curriculum and the college’s strong partnerships with industry. Students are seeking programs that offer both technical expertise and leadership skills, and our college is well positioned to meet that demand. Currently the College has close to 5,600 students.”

One reason for the growth, says Dr. Toutanji, is the promise of job placement. “Our graduates secure excellent positions throughout California and beyond, even during economic downturns. While many industries have slowed hiring, tech and engineering companies continue to seek talented professionals. Companies such as NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Medtronic, Northrup and Amazon start actively recruiting our students as early as sophomore year.” 

“It’s a testament to the quality of education within our college, which is based on hands-on learning,” says Dr. Toutanji. “This promise of job security is definitely an attraction to students because these specialized skills are essential and often difficult to find and replace. You always need engineers to design buildings, build roads and maintain the critical infrastructure. You need computer scientists to design apps and develop the technical capabilities that AI systems cannot duplicate. You need engineers to ensure access to clean water and safe housing and sustainable energy solutions. So, the kind of analytical thinking and creative problem solving fostered in our program gives our graduates a strong safeguard in this job market.”

One CSUN student who hopes to jump right into the job market is Anton Sobota, a senior in the Mechanical Engineering program, and a transfer from Pasadena City College. His focus—indeed his passion—has been building cars. 

For Sobota, the biggest draw to CSUN was its automobile-building program. “I chose CSUN because of the Formula SAE project,” says Sobota, who grew up in Altadena. “There are only a few schools in Southern California that participate, and Northridge was the best fitting one for me.” Twenty-five or so students involved in the 2025 Formula SAE project are heading to a competition in Brooklyn, Michigan, from May 14 through 17, where they hope to best their 12th-place finish last year and seventh-place finish in 2021. 

Sobota agrees that the hands-on approach is a major attraction to the CSUN program. “Everyone who graduates has to participate,” he says. Projects include human-powered vehicles, mini satellites, an intelligent ground vehicle, an unmanned aerial vehicle and smart prosthetics. 

Dr. Toutanji also believes CSUN produces reliable and loyal workers, who value their opportunities, and ensures their skills will remain valuable in the years to come: “The human touch our graduates provide will continue to be irreplaceable across industries, setting them apart in an increasing automated world.”