Computer and Information Sciences
Office: 2154 Fenton Hall
(716) 673-4820
Reneta Barneva, Chairperson
Email: csit@fredonia.edu
Website: http://www.fredonia.edu/department/cis
The Department of Computer and Information Sciences provides its majors with contemporary quality education in computer science and computer information systems with an assortment of scientific and business applications including many courses in information technology. The department offers two Bachelor of Science degrees. One degree is in Computer Science (CS) with three study options: Advanced Computing, Software Development, and a General Track. The other degree is in Computer Information Systems (CIS) with two study options: Systems Development and Systems Management. A minor in Computer Science, a minor in Computer Information Systems, and a minor in Web Programming are also available which are useful in enhancing the marketability of students.
The Computer Science degree focuses on a traditional computer science discipline with applications in scientific problem-solving, software for computer systems and applications, and GIS. The Computer Information Systems degree is geared toward commercial computer-based information processing, management and administrative applications. The CS and CIS degrees together with their study options prepare students for the future by providing a study of the current state of computers and information sciences embedded within a well-rounded liberal arts education. As a Computer Science or a Computer Information Systems major at Fredonia, a student may select a program that suits his/her career objectives and academic goals. The graduates of these programs gain competence in current hardware, software and computing applications in various segments of the industry.
The department has extensive experience in offering online courses. Most of these courses are offered during summer and inter-sessions and students may take them while they are working or have returned home for the holidays. For additional information, students should contact the chairperson of the department.
Scholarships available to students in Computer and Information Sciences include the John Beck Scholarship, Arthur R. Maytum, and the Feng Chiang Scholarships. The scholarships are awarded annually on the recommendation of the computer and information sciences faculty.
Double Major
It is possible for a student to double major in Computer Science and Computer Information systems. To do this, the student is required to take at least 15 additional credit hours in the second major (that is, credit hours from courses within the list of courses of the second major not used to satisfy requirements in the first major).
Internships and Employment Opportunities
Experiential learning is encouraged through internships. Internships are designed as a way to develop knowledge and gain experience with computers and information technology in a job setting. Recently, students have successfully completed internships at NASA, SellingHive, AL Tech Specialty Steel, Chemical Process Corporation, Cliffstar, Buffalo General Hospital, Cummins Engine, M&T Bank, and the Dunkirk and Fredonia Telephone Company. Several internships pay honoraria or wages. Every semester the department hires at least 10 laboratory proctors to manage its Computer Science (CS) Lab. Many other opportunities exist across campus for students to earn money as tutors, work study, or computer laboratory assistants.
Computer Laboratories and Equipment
The department manages its own laboratory (CS Lab) and has class scheduling rights to another laboratory in Fenton Hall. The CS Lab is maintained by a systems administrator and a staff of student proctors from the Computer and Information Sciences Department. The main equipment in the lab consists of several workstations running Unix, together with a cluster of 23 Intel-based workstations running Windows and Linux. A Linux-based cluster of servers connected to a high-speed network provides Internet access. Popular software development tools such as Alice, C, C++, Java, Visual BASIC, ARTIS, Open GL and other utilities are available, in addition to standard Microsoft software packages such as Office and Visual Studio. The computers in the laboratory are accessible from various locations across the campus, including the dormitories. The other laboratory that is used by the department is primarily an instructional laboratory and houses a network of 30 Intel-based workstations that run under Windows. Both of these facilities are dedicated to supporting instruction in the Computer and Information Sciences programs. There are also several other microcomputer laboratories on campus. The department upgrades its laboratory equipment every three years.
Faculty and Student Research and Scholarship
The Computer and Information Sciences faculty and majors are actively involved in various research activities such as participating in international, national, and regional conferences, workshops and seminars, and publishing their work in well-known journals and proceedings. With the cooperation of the Computer Science Club, the department frequently runs joint faculty and student colloquia. Several students have won research paper competitions, and teams have successfully competed in regional programming competitions. Current areas of faculty and student research are computer architecture, networking, image processing, pattern recognition, bioinformatics, knowledge engineering, computer graphics, data compression, multimedia, performance analysis and benchmarking, automated performance tuning, theoretical computer science, remote sensing, natural languages, embedded processor applications, computer science education, and interdisciplinary applications.