Computer Science and Information Systems

Faculty: Professors Nikolopoulos, Wang (Chair); Associate Professors Ali, Baniya, Byerly, Hawkins; Assistant Professors Abdelfattah, Khairunnesa, Mahmud, Mandava; Lecturers Brennan, Williams; Assistant Professor in Residence Du.

The department offers baccalaureate degree programs in Artificial Intelligence,  Computer Science and Computer Information Systems (with concentrations available in a) Artificial Intelligence,  b) Computer Game Technology,  c)  Data Science,  and d) Software, Web, and Computer Security), and Data Science. Minors in Computer Science and Information Systems, Data Science, and Computer Game Technology are also offered.

Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science (4+1) programs in Computer Information Systems and Computer Science are also available.

Computer science is the study of theoretical and algorithmic foundations used in computer systems. Students are trained to analyze requirements, design, develop, and test software systems, devise new innovations and applications in computing, and solve scientific, engineering, and business problems requiring computer applications.

Computer information systems is a discipline that focuses on information technology and its applications, i.e., on methods, technology, and tools to generate, process, modify, store, retrieve, and distribute information. Computer information systems has a wide variety of applications, but the mathematical requirements are not as rigorous as they are for computer science because there is less focus on theoretical and algorithmic foundations.

Computer science and computer information systems graduates are employed by a variety of industries and non-profit organizations as software engineers and/or developers, system administrators and/or developers, system analysts, network administrators, Web developers and/or technologists, software test engineers, and database administrators and/or developers.

For students not majoring in the department, we offer three minors which can be tailored to the individual’s goals and needs.

Students intending to take only one course in the department should enroll in CS 101 Introduction to Programming or CS 141 Introduction to Python Programming if they desire a detailed treatment of a programming language, CIS 300 Computers and Society if they desire a general discussion of computers and their impact on society, or CS 111 AI for All - Artificial Intelligence for Life, Society, and Disciplines.