- Northeastern University College of Computer and Information Science
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Northeastern University College of Computer Science and Information Science Established 1982 Type Private Dean Larry Finkelstein Academic staff 28 Undergraduates 468 Postgraduates 265 Location Boston, MA, USA
42°20′20″N 71°5′25″W / 42.33889°N 71.09028°WCoordinates: 42°20′20″N 71°5′25″W / 42.33889°N 71.09028°WWebsite www.ccs.neu.edu The College of Computer and Information Science ("CCIS") is one of the eight colleges of Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. The College offers Bachelor of Science ("B.S."), Bachelor of Arts ("B.A."), Master of Science ("M.S."), and doctoral degrees in computer science ("CS"), as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees in interdisciplinary, computer-related fields. Some 200 masters and 65 doctoral candidates are enrolled in the College.[1]
Contents
History
Founded in 1982, Northeastern's College of Computer and Information Science was the first college in the United States devoted to computer science.[2] The College is also among the first to offer an information assurance degree program. Originally located in Northeastern's Cullinane Hall, CCIS is now housed in West Village H.
Academic Programs
In addition to a traditional computer science curriculum, CCIS offers numerous other information science programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Computer Science
The computer science program at CCIS focuses on the fundamentals of computer program design, software design, computer networking, computation theory, and other technical computer-related subjects.[3]
Undergraduate Degrees
The CS program offers both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees. While both require a core curriculum of computer science, mathematics, science, and humanities coursework, the B.A. candidates are required to take more humanities coursework than B.S. candidates. The B.S. is thus the more technical of the two degrees, with the B.A. aimed at giving students a social science context with which to frame their understanding of computer science.[3]
Graduate Degrees
Both Master of Science and doctoral degrees are offered in the CS program.
Candidates for the M.S. in Computer Science can choose from the following concentrations:[4]
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer-Human Interaction
- Database Management
- Graphics
- Information Security
- Networks
- Programming Languages
- Software Engineering
- Systems
- Theory
The Ph.D program prepares students for research careers in government, industry, or academia. Candidates are required to take coursework in computer systems, principles of programming languages, advanced algorithms, and computation theory.[5] Electives in these and other subjects are also available. Candidates are given a maximum of five years to complete this coursework and their doctoral thesis.[5]
In 2010, CCIS's graduate program in computer science was ranked 61st in US News & World Report's list of the "Best Computer Science Graduate Schools."[6] The publication also ranked the graduate program 15th on its list of "Best Programming Language Programs."[7]
Information Science
Information science--the interdisciplinary study of how humans use information technology--combines a technical understanding of computer science and system design with the behavior context of the social sciences. Coursework covers the fields of information architecture, information system design and development, programming design, database design, and social informatics, among others.[3] A two-semester senior capstone project, designed to integrate the many skill sets developed in the program, is required. Currently, only the B.S. of Information Science is offered, though it may be offered in conjunction with another degree.[3]
Information Assurance
CCIS began offering the M.S. in Information Assurance in 2006, and is now recognized by the National Security Agency as both a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research.[8] Masters candidates take coursework addressing the various technical, policy, and criminal justice-related issues involved in information assurance, preparing them for careers as corporate and government information executives. In the 2011-2012 school year, the information assurance program will begin offering the Ph.D in Information Assurance, designed to be an interdisciplinary program with a focus on information assurance policy and research.[9] Ph.D in Information Assurance candidates take a core curriculum of computer networking, network security, hardware and software security, information security risk management, and information assurance policy.[9] Elective coursework is then taken in one of three areas of concentration (or "tracks"), namely:
- Network/Communication Security
- System Security
- Policy/Society
Candidates for the Ph.D in Information Assurance have a maximum of five years to complete their required coursework and doctoral thesis.[9]
Health Informatics
In partnership with Northeastern's Bouvé College of Health Sciences, CCIS offers the M.S. in Health Informatics, providing health-care and IT professionals with the technical and managerial skills necessary to lead health informatics projects.[10] In addition, the program offers intensive, eight-month graduate certificates in three health informatics specialties, including:
- Management and Exchange
- Health Informatics Privacy and Security
- Health Informatics Software Engineering
Dual Degree Options
CCIS offers two dual degree options within its own programs, namely:
- B.S. in Computer Science and Information Science
- B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science
The combined B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science substitutes four master-level courses for their undergraduate equivalents. Students then have only to take four master-level electives to complete the program. This allows a student to graduate with both degrees on either a five year track, or a six year track with co-op experience.[11]
In addition, the College partners with other colleges at Northeastern to offer the following joint degrees:
- B.S. in CS or IS and Business
- B.S. in CS or IS and Cognitive Psychology
- B.S. in CS or IS and Environmental Science
- B.S. in CS and a science degree (mathematics, physics, biology)
- B.S. in CS and an arts degree (game design, interactive media, music technology, or digital art)
Notable Faculty
CCIS employs several faculty well-known as experts in their fields, including:
- William Clinger, expert on, and contributor to, the Scheme programming language
- Richard P. Gabriel, famed expert on the Lisp family of programming languages
- Matthias Felleisen, author and co-author of several computer programming textbooks
- Mitchell Wand, author of Essentials of Programming Languages
Student Groups
The following student groups and organizations are part of the CCIS community:
- Association for Computing Machinery(ACM)[1]
- Undergraduate Experimental Systems Group (Crew)
- Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society (UPE)[2]
- Organization for Women in the Computing and Information Sciences (CISters)
Cooperative Education within CCIS
Students at CCIS have the option of participating in Northeastern's Cooperative Education Program ("Co-op program"). The Co-op program allows students to take semester-long internships with public and private-sector organizations, exposing them to the real world application of the skills and knowledge taught in their academic major. Nearly two-thirds of CCIS's graduating students are offered full-time positions by the companies for at which they worked a co-op.[12]
Companies that participate in this program range from small startups to large enterprises including Google, Microsoft, John Hancock, and Amazon.com. The college has been able to achieve 100% placement in the past 7 years for all students who choose to go on 5 year co-op program.
References
- ^ "Graduate Degree Programs". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/graduate/degreeprograms/index.html. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
- ^ "About the College". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/about/index.html. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
- ^ a b c d "Undergraduate Degree Programs". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/undergraduate/degreeprograms/index.html. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "M.S. in Computer Science". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/graduate/degreeprograms/mscompsci.html. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- ^ a b "Ph.D in Computer Science". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/graduate/degreeprograms/phdcompsci.html. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
- ^ "Best Graduate Computer Science Programs". US News & World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings/page+3. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
- ^ "Best Graduate Programs in Programming Languages". US News & World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-programming-rankings. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- ^ "Centers of Academic Excellence--Institutions". National Security Agency. http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/institutions.shtml. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ a b c "Information Assurance Doctoral Program Overview". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/graduate/degreeprograms/iaphd/overview/index.html. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "Health Informatics Master's Degree and Certificate Programs". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/graduate/degreeprograms/mshi/index.html. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "The Combined BS and MS in Computer Science". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/undergraduate/degreeprograms/index.html#BSMSCS. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "Cooperative Education". Northeastern University. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/co-op/index.html. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
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