Transcript What is Computer Science?

What is Computer Science?
• The study of the foundations of computing, data
storage, and information processing
• Computer Scientists develop applications that
allow computers to solve real-world problems
• Computer Science spans diverse areas:
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Security and cryptography
Robotics and computer vision
Data mining and databases
Distributed and mobile systems
Intelligent systems and gaming
Computational biology
Computer networks
Computer graphics and animation
More…
How is CS different?
• Computer Scientists develop applications for computer
systems
• Computer scientists obtain a comprehensive foundation
that permits them to adapt to as well as create new
technologies, new paradigms and new ideas.
• Foundation consists of:
– Mathematics and problem solving
– Modeling and programming
– Computer systems
• Computer Scientists have flexible employment opportunities
What Computer Scientists do?
• Employed in top programming jobs
• Invent new applications for computer systems
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World Wide Web
Google search engine
Peer-to-Peer networks
Wireless systems
• Develop better ways to solve computing problems
– More secure ways to encrypt information
– More efficient ways to send audio/video over the Internet
What is Software Engineering?
• Many Computer Scientists work in the software
development industry.
• Software is often developed by large developer teams
that require all developers to use common
approaches/rules/practices to software development
• Software engineering is a field that studies and defines
the best approaches/rules/practices for software
development and maintenance
A Sample of CS areas
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Distributed systems development
Computer game development
Database administration
Search engine technologies
Computer security (Prof.Furst)
Computer game development (Prof.Linhoff)
Computer graphics (J. Schnepp, PhD candidate)
Distributed System development
• A distributed system is software system that uses
multiple independent computers communicating over a
network to accomplish a common task.
• Examples:
– Email
– Napster and SETI@home
– World Wide Web
– Online games
– Grids
A sample job listing (excerpts)
Applications Developer - Computer Professional
Department: Computing Division, Fermilab.
• Must have software analysis, development, testing and debugging
skills.
• Excellence in distributed software development and integration
using some or all of C++, Java, and Python is needed.
• Experience with database systems …
• Proven ability in oral and written communication is essential.
• Demonstrated ability for analysis and resolution of problems in
distributed and/or networked systems.
Computer Game development
• Game software development requires an
understanding of:
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Mathematics
Computer graphics
Computer architecture
Operating systems
Network programming
Parallel processing
A sample job listing (excerpts)
Online Programmer
Midway Games Inc, Chicago, IL
• Responsibilities:
– Design, define and develop the next generation of online gameplay
and networking technology for multiple platforms.
• Requirements:
– Extensive knowledge of C++ programming.
– Strong multithreaded/parallel programming … would be beneficial.
– Effective analytical, written, oral, team, interpersonal, planning and
organizing skills are essential.
• Education:
– Bachelors degree or higher in Computer Science is preferred.
Database administration
• Databases are used to store and organize data
in ways to make insertion, search and retrieval
of information efficient
• Databases are used in the following industries
– Financial industry
– Search engines
– Travel industry
A sample job listing (excerpts)
Title: Database Administrator, Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Responsible for the administration of Oracle 10g RAC, Grid
and ASM running on Sun Unix or Linux operating systems.
Must be able to implement databases on Unix and Linux
platforms.
Requirements:
– In depth knowledge in the works of Oracle 10g, RAC, ASM and Grid,
TOAD, DB2 and SQL Server a plus
– Experience in a very high transaction rate OLTP applications
required
– Working knowledge of Linux and Unix operating systems are
required. NT and MVS is a plus.
Search Engine Technologies
• A Search Engine is a computer program that is
used to find information stored in a software system
such as the World Wide Web
• How does a search engine return web pages that
are relevant to the query?
• Technologies include: databases, distributed
systems, artificial intelligence, networking etc.
A sample job listing (excerpts)
Openings in Software Engineering, Google
We need world-class engineers to join our engineering
team in developing our next-generation search engine (…)
Working on problems in (…) cutting-edge information
retrieval algorithms, scalability issues related to dealing
with huge amounts of data…, and a variety of novel
search features.
Requirements:
– Enthusiasm for solving interesting problems.
– Experience with Unix/Linux or Windows environments,
C++ development, distributed systems, machine
The Bachelor of Science in
Computer Science
• Mathematical tools
• Problem solving, algorithms, and
structured programming
• Modelling and object oriented
programming
• Computer Systems
• Communication skills
• Senior Capstone
Advanced Coursework
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Theory
Data storage
Computer Systems
Data analysis and mining
Artificial intelligence
Computer vision
Human computer interaction
Computer gaming
Software engineering
Computer graphics and animation
Computational Sciences
Network programming
and more to come…
Sample CS topics covered at CTI
• How does Google work and why is it such a good search
engine?
• How does a computer beat the World Chess Champion?
• How does information get routed on the Internet?
• How does encryption work and how can encrypted
messages be broken?
• How do the Mars robots see and process the landscape
around them?
Sample CS topics covered at CTI
• How does one protect a system against an attack?
• How are players synchronized in an online computer
game?
• What techniques are being developed to increase the
speed of microprocessors?
• What makes a Graphical User Interface user-friendly?
• What problems are Computer Scientists currently solving in
the field of Computational Biology?
Software Engineering
Concentration
• This concentration integrates:
– the foundational Computer Science material with
– engineering practices developed for building and
maintaining software applications.
• Six additional SE courses.
Current Career Outcomes
Average starting
salary of a
2007 DePaul
CS graduate:
$55,313
Employment projections (BLS)
Table 2: Fastest-growing occupations, 200616
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment
2006 National Employment Matrix code and title
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6
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3
24
25
26
27
2006
Change
2016
Percent
Number
Quartile rank by
2006 median
annual wages1
Most significant source of postsecondary education or training2
Network systems and data
communications analysts
262
40253.4
140 VH
Bachelor's degree
Personal and home care aides
767 1,15650.6
389 VL
Short-term on-the-job training
Home health aides
Computer software engineers,
applications
Veterinary technologists and
technicians
787 1,17148.7
384 VL
Short-term on-the-job training
507
73344.6
226 VH
Bachelor's degree
71
10041.0
29 L
Associate degree
Personal financial advisors
176
24841.0
72 VH
Bachelor's degree
25
3229.8
7 H
Dental assistants
280
36229.2
82 L
Computer systems analysts
504
65029.0
146 VH
Bachelor's degree
Database administrators
Computer software engineers,
systems software
119
15428.6
34 VH
Bachelor's degree
350
44928.2
99 VH
Bachelor's degree
Marriage and family therapists
Master's degree
Moderate-term on-the-job training
An opportunity … for the few
The number of students entering the CS field is at historical lows
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More opportunities when you graduate
Shortages of CS professionals
Annual Degrees and Job Openings in Broad S&E Fields
160,000
140,000
PhD
Master's
120,000
Bachelor's
Projected Job Openings
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
Engineering
Physical Sciences
Mathematical/
Computer Sciences
Biological/
Agricultural Sciences
SOURCES: Tabulated by National Science Foundation/Division of Science Resources Statistics; degree data f rom Department of Education/National Center f or Education Statistics: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Completions Survey; and NSF/S
RS: Survey of
Earned Doctorates; Projected Annual Average Job Openings derived f rom Department of Commerce (Of f ice of Technology Policy) analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics 2002-2012 projections
“Today, there simply aren’t enough people with the right skills to fill the growing demand for
computer scientists and engineers. This is a critical problem …” (Bill Gates, 02/19/2008)
So, why choose CS?
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Career
Software engineer
College professor
Financial advisor
HR manager
Physician assistant
6 Market research analyst
7 Computer/IT analyst
8 Real estate appraiser
Job growth
46.07%
31.39%
25.92%
23.47%
49.65%
Average pay
$80,427
$81,491
$122,462
$73,731
$75,117
20.19%
36.10%
22.78%
$82,317
$83,427
$66,216
Source: Money Magazine, April 12, 2006
And why choose CS atDePaul?
• Because our students are successful!
• Ranking of the top 12 US teams at the 2006
World Programming Contest:
Rank
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Team
MIT
Princeton
DePaul
Caltech
Maryland, Coll.P.
Washington, St.L.
Rank
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Team
Duke
Carnegie Mellon
Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech
Rice
Wisconsin, Mad.