If you've spent the early part of the 2000s frozen in a block of ice then you missed it. Computers are taking over the world. This is music to the ears of computer geeks and specialists. A degree in computer science ensures you will always have a job opening as more firms rely on more technologies and more business focus their efforts on the Web.

Here's some more good news for computer science majors: There are plenty of computer science scholarships available. Many are offered by the tech firms that have turned into big business in recent years. They are looking back to help out the next generation of programmers, innovators and designers.

Your college's computer science department will award their own scholarships of varying amounts. The most impressive computer science scholarships, though, are usually offered by private corporations.

The big names in the tech world, companies like Sun Microsystems, Google and Hewlett Packard, endow many computer science scholarships. These scholarships are available to students across the country. On a local level, tech companies often provide awards through area colleges. Many business support local computer science programs that provide them with interns and qualified graduates.

In the 2006-2007 school year Microsoft awarded $500,000 in college scholarships. The money was split among four basic types of scholarships; general scholarships and scholarships for underrepresented minorities, women and students with disabilities. Competition for the awards can be tough, as they are any student in North America could be eligible.

The computer science scholarship news is even better for women. Women planning to study computer science in college are eligible for loads of scholarships created just for them. Private businesses, schools and non-profits support computer science scholarships to encourage more young women to enter the field. Any young women interested in math and science should take advantage of these scholarships as they prepare for college.