Guide to Engineering

Computer Science


What is Computer Science?

Computer Science is the study of the theory, design, and applications of digital computers and information-processing techniques.

What do Computer Scientists do?

We have seen computers transform from large-scale computation machines, active only in high-end businesses, to the PC's found in many homes and schools. They have changed the way we live our lives and carry out our daily functions in nearly every imaginable way. Computers are becoming more and more important every day. What does this mean? It means we need people who know how to use them. We need people who can not only apply current technology, but improve upon it. Today's largest and fastest growing companies are looking for people who can do just that.

Computer Science at UIUC

The Department of Computer Science at UIUC has led the revolution that has redefined the meaning of computing for the last fifty years and will continue to do so for the next fifty years. UIUC students and faculty members have designed and built the world's fastest computers, created the user interfaces that made the World Wide Web and distributed collaboration possible, invented compilation techniques for automatic program parallelization, co-founded the field of computer arithmetic, and explored the operating system and processor architecture models that underlie modern computer systems.
The Computer Science department provides students with the skills necessary to join the work force in any aspect of the computing industry. The initial stages of the program resemble that of most engineering curriculums, consisting mostly of fundamental math and physics classes providing a solid foundation for any engineer. These first two years also include fundamental Computer Science courses, giving the student a broad understanding of the many areas covered in the curriculum. The main areas of study are:

A student will also choose an area other than computer science, and complete an application sequence in that field. This sequence is chosen from one of the many fields in which computers are used. The student will learn how computers can be applied to perform otherwise impossible tasks and offers exposure to other engineering fields.

Career Opportunities

After obtaining a degree in Computer Science, an overwhelming number of opportunities present themselves. Companies come from all over the world come to campus to hire Computer Science students. These companies include Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Netscape, Motorola, and IBM. Students are also well-prepared for graduate study.

Why Computer Science?

The field of computing is rapidly changing, creating opportunities that require a base of both theoretical and practical skills. Graduates of Computer Science at UIUC possess the skills necessary to succeed in this dynamic, consumer driven industry.

Department Contact Information:

Department of Computer Science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
3270 Digital Computer Laboratory, MC-258
1304 W. Springfield
Urbana, IL 61801

Telephone: 217-333-4428
Fax: 217-333-3501
Email: admin@cs.uiuc.edu
Web page: http://www.cs.uiuc.edu

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