COMPUTER SCIENCE / INFORMATION SCIENCE

 

Mission Statement

 

The Department of Computer and Information Sciences is dedicated to the promotion of an academically exciting and progressive intellectual climate, characterized by a superior program of instruction, peer-recognized scholarship, effective support services, and productive professional community involvement. In particular, the Department is committed to offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs observing national standards, maintaining and expanding course offerings to keep pace with the rapid development of computer theory and computer technology. In recognition of its leadership position in the computer and information sciences, the Department supports the need for instruction in computing as required by other University programs and advocates faculty participation in collaborative computer-related projects involving other professionals or colleagues. The vitality of the Department is enhanced by encouraging ongoing faculty research and development, ultimately serving the instructional mission of the Department and providing both Northeast Florida and the nation with a wellspring of knowledge and wisdom for the computer and information sciences.

 

In the accomplishment of this mission, the curricula in the Computer and Information Sciences degree program are centered on the following guiding principles:

        provide the mathematical underpinning necessary for the study of the discipline.

        provide the foundation necessary for problem analysis, algorithm development, and the application of computer programming.

        provide appropriate laboratory experiences throughout the program's hardware and software-oriented courses.

        provide a curriculum having both breadth and depth which emphasizes concepts, meeting the guidelines of CSAB.

        provide an introduction to the professional, ethical and societal issues associated with the practice of computing.

        provide a general background in liberal education, including a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of written and oral communication skills.

        provide opportunities to combine written, oral, and technical skills in CIS coursework.

        provide a balanced mix of theory and practice in coursework, preparing students for a lifetime as practitioners in a rapidly changing field.

        provide opportunities for students to develop and apply collaborative skills in CIS coursework.

        provide a science requirement supportive of the discipline.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

 

Upon completing a program focused on the principles enumerated above, students will be able to:

 

Content/Disciplinary Knowledge & Skills

         demonstrate knowledge of algorithms and applications that use modern programming languages in multiple environments.

         understand the ethical and social responsibilities of CIS practitioners.

         demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a collaborative setting.

 

Critical Thinking Skills

          develop algorithms and applications using modern programming languages in multiple environments.

 

Communication Skills

          communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical settings.

 

Assessment Approaches

 

A number of direct and indirect assessment measures will be employed to assess mastery of the expected student learning outcomes. For example, direct assessment measures will include the completion of system requirements analyses documents, system design documents, a functioning assembler and a functioning language translator. Indirect measures may include employer or alumni surveys, student perception surveys and graduate school placement rates.

 

Career Opportunities

 

For information on the many career options available to Computer and Information Sciences majors, go to What Can You Do with a Computer and Information Sciences Major at http://www.unf.edu/dept/cdc/majors/computerinformation.html

 

For More Information

 

To learn more about the UNF Computer and Information Sciences department and majoring in Computer Sciences, go to http://www.unf.edu/ccec/cis/

 

 

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