Computer Science 2009-2010
Overview
Union’s computer science program offers numerous choices at every level. The department offers five introductory courses, open to all students, that focus on different application areas: media computation, robotics, artificial intelligence, game development, and computational science. Mid-level and upper-level courses on the theory and practice of computer science cover a wide range of topics, including gaming, web programming, natural language processing, computing theory, programming languages, operating systems, software engineering, databases, computer graphics, robotics, human-computer interaction, and parallel computing. We also offer a non-major course on programming for the Web.
The major in computer science provides a solid foundation in fundamentals of computer science that prepares students for employment and for graduate school. Computer Engineering, offered jointly with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is an ABET-accredited engineering major that combines software and hardware design. Options for combining computer science with other subjects include the interdepartmental major, the CS minor, the digital media minor, or the new minor in computational methods for natural sciences and social sciences. Our digital art program, developed in cooperation with the Visual Arts department, allows students to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork with computers, and incorporate computers and sensor technology into their artwork. We also contribute to the computation track of the Neuroscience major.
All majors in the department do an individual or team capstone project in which they pose a problem or question of their own choosing, and then work toward a solution or answer, in consultation with one or more faculty members. The project may include participation in faculty research, an industry-sponsored design project, or work on a topic of special interest. These projects may lead to honors theses, and may be combined with internships with employers or summer research fellowships at Union.
Many students go on to master’s programs in computer science or business administration after completing their undergraduate degree. Some pursue part-time graduate study sponsored by their employers, and some enter full-time programs at graduate schools such as RPI, Rochester Institute of Technology, Duke, MIT, Yale, the University of Virginia, and the University of Cambridge. In general, our CS graduates find jobs with a broad spectrum of leading computer companies including IBM, Cisco, and Microsoft. Others work in information systems for companies such as General Electric, GlobalSpec and FactSet or take on a variety of challenges with consulting firms such as Cambridge Technology. Still others work for small start-up companies, many in the Schenectady area, which provide internship opportunities for our students.
The department members and their main areas of interest are:
Valerie Barr
Professor and Chair
Ph.D., Rutgers University
Software testing, verification and validation of language processing systems, gender and science
Aaron Cass
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts
Software engineering, software design, human-computer interaction
Chris Fernandes
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Northwestern University
Database mediation, human-computer interaction, computational biology
David Hannay
Professor
Ph.D., RPI
Automata theory, management information systems, computer architecture
David Hemmendinger
Professor
Ph. D., Yale University
Programming languages, algorithms, concurrency, history of computing, hardware specification and verification
John Rieffel
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Brandeis University
Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Complex Systems Design
Lance Spallholz
Instructor
M.S., Union
Applications programming, system administration
Kristina Striegnitz
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Saarland University and University Henri Poincare Nancy 1
Natural language processing, multimodal interfaces, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction
Andrea Tartaro
Visiting Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Northwestern University
Human-computer interaction, assistive technology, instructional technology
Our program is supplemented by a number of cross-listed courses. Those on computer networks, digital logic design, and microprocessors are taught by members of the Electrical and Computer Engineering department; digital art courses are taught by Visual Arts faculty members; bioinformatics is team-taught with a member of the Biology department.
In addition to teaching, faculty members conduct research in their areas of interest or engage in consulting. These activities provide numerous opportunities for student projects, independent study options, and funded summer research opportunities.
Computer science students may become members of the Phi Beta Kappa national honors society or of Sigma Xi, the national scientific research society.
Virtual Union is a student group that runs one of the larger computer systems on campus, maintains student web pages, and provides opportunities for students to learn about and do system administration and web development.
The department has three computer laboratories equipped with 40 Linux workstations and Windows PCs, all available full-time to our students. We also have a robotics lab, a human-computer interaction lab, and a 50-cpu cluster computer. The College maintains additional public computer labs. All of these systems are on the Internet, and student residence hall rooms have high-speed Internet connections that allow access to our department computers.
PROGRAM STRENGTHS
- All major courses taught by full-time faculty members
- Faculty committed to undergraduate teaching and to close interaction with students
- Excellent computer science program which can be combined with other liberal arts disciplines
- Opportunities for independent research and for internships with major companies
- Up-to-date, fully-accessible computer resources
FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.cs.union.edu
Valerie Barr
at cs-chair@union.edu
or (518) 388-6270