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Computer Science
Computer scientists and engineers
have revolutionized society and created the computer
and telecommunications industries that are so important
to human life and the world’s economy. As a
result of this revolution, expertise in computer
science is essential in many new areas, including
computer and network service and consulting companies,
financial institutions, health industries, natural
science and medical research labs, and other contexts
where intensive manipulation of information is
important. Opportunities for computer scientists and
engineers have expanded greatly, both in specialized
fields as well as in numerous interdisciplinary options
in which computer science expertise is combined with
advanced degrees in business, communication,
engineering, law, medicine, and science. For students
whose goal is such a career, the computer science
program affords the flexibility to obtain a minor, or
even a second major in a relevant discipline.
Students in our undergraduate
program in Computer Science (CS) not only gain a solid
foundation in the theory and design of modern computing
systems, but also are exposed to a variety of
applications in lab assignments as well as in
independent, credited projects. The curriculum is
designed to keep students up-to-date with the current
technology. For example, the principles of programming
and Internet applications are taught using Java to our
freshmen. In later years we offer a rich set of
electives and required courses covering the breadth of
computer science – computer architecture,
databases, network security, graphics, artificial
intelligence, robotics and vision, programming
languages, machine learning, software systems, theory
and algorithms.
Students are encouraged to get
“hands on” experience in the research labs
associated with the department, as well as to explore
cross-disciplinary connections. Those opportunities
include the following but are not limited to:
Robotics Research with the Departments of
Electrical and Systems Engineering and Mechanical
Engineering and Applied Mechanics; Cognitive Science
Research with the Departments of Linguistics,
Psychology, and Philosophy; Management and Technology
with the Wharton School and Artificial Intelligence
with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Program Educational Objectives: The educational objectives of the
undergraduate program in Computer Science are to enable
students to:
• Gain the ability to
identify, formulate, and solve challenging computer
science problems;
• Develop professional
skills that prepare them for immediate employment or
graduate study in computer science and related
disciplines;
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• Develop the ability to
understand and apply the scientific foundations of computer
science, including relevant mathematical foundations;
• Prepare for
leadership roles along diverse career paths including
career paths that require a combination of skills in
computer science and other disciplines;
• Develop an
understanding of the social and human context in which
their computer science contributions will be utilized;
and
• Learn to communicate
their ideas and to effectively collaborate with other
members of research and development teams.
The Bachelor of Science in
Engineering Degree in Computer Science requires a total
of 40 course units (cu’s) as follows:
• Six Mathematics
courses
• Four Natural Science
courses
• Fourteen Computer
Science courses
• Six Technical
Electives (two of which must be Computer
Science/Engineering Courses)
• Seven Social
Sciences and Humanities courses
• Three Free Elective
courses
Computer and Telecommunications
Engineering
The Computer and
Telecommunications Engineering major is a uniquely
crafted degree program with three primary components:
Computer Systems, Electrical and Systems Engineering
and Telecommunications. With the increasing global
prevalence of computer systems and networks has arisen
a sustained, increasing demand for engineers who can
analyze, design, and use computer hardware and software
in environments ranging from embedded processors on
chips, to small homogeneous systems of a few computers
located in close proximity, to very large,
heterogeneous systems of computers networked over a
widespread geographical area. This is the province of
computer engineering. The Internet is just the latest
manifestation of the global explosion in
communications. Most generically, telecommunications
engineering is concerned with the flow of information
between several end points. A voice connection, a
remote database access, computer communications, and
videoconferences, whether they be wired or wireless,
are all examples of telecommunications links. To enable
two or more end users to communicate, several things
must be resolved: 1) the communicating parties must use
the same language; 2) they must agree on how to conduct
themselves during the information flow; and 3) they
must be able to signal the beginning and the end of
communication. The technology and protocols which
enable an efficient resolution of these issues
comprises the field of telecommunications and networks.
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