The Computer Science curriculum prepares students for careers in all areas of the software industry as well as for graduate studies in computer science, software engineering and other related fields. Students have also found a computer science major to be excellent preparation for careers in law, medicine, business administration, industrial engineering, biomedical engineering, and other technical and non-technical fields.Computer science is a rapidly changing discipline. The lifetime of a particular computer system or software package can be very short. The computer science curriculum is designed to prepare students to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. The department’s courses emphasize fundamental concepts and techniques that will last longer than present technology.Computer science majors complete a core of basic computer science courses that includes the study of algorithms, data structures, database concepts, computer architecture, web development, programming languages, analysis of algorithms, operating systems, and software engineering. Majors also complete important courses in closely related fields, e.g., discrete mathematics, digital logic design, and probability and statistics. The major requires students to study all aspects of the science of computing, including hardware, software, and theory.Courses in advanced database systems, compilers, computer graphics, machine learning, deep learning, art and science of debugging, cyber security, cybercrime & digital forensics, data privacy & protection, network security, natural language processing, human computer interaction, algorithmic game theory, software construction & evolution, project management, game development, computer networks, computer vision, web-based information systems, and cryptography are available as advanced electives.Computer science majors choose from two tracks — Researcher – Theory, Applications, & Research, and Developer – Software Development, Industry, & Practice. The Developer track is aimed at students interested in computer science applications in industry. The Developer track provides coverage of core software engineering including software requirements, software architecture, software design, and software quality assurance, A three-term senior project provides valuable practical experience in the specification, design, implementation, and documentation of large software systems.The Researcher track is aimed at students interested in graduate school or research-heavy careers. The Researcher track introduces students to the research method and provides opportunities for students to practice and engage in the scientific research process. Students take courses in great papers in CS, linear algebra, and theory of computation. Students in the Researcher track focus on questions in the forefront of modern computing while understanding the underlying theory behind computing. The Researcher track culminates in a senior research capstone, that provides valuable experience in formulating research questions and engaging in the process of scientific discovery under the guidance of a faculty supervisor.Programming assignments and large projects are part of most computer science courses. These assignments familiarize students with the wide variety of tasks performed by software professionals. Programming assignments include system specification, system feasibility studies, system design, system maintenance studies, and user interface design in addition to system implementation (i.e., coding), testing (verification and validation), and documentation. Students can specialize in any sub-domain of computer science (like Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, or Data Science) while preparing for a career as a Software Engineer or a Computer Scientist by choosing the developer or researcher track.
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