Computer Science program
Undergrad major Undergrad minor Graduate programLearn to harness the power of computers to help solve problems.
In the modern world, software is at work all around us — telling computers how to operate. From cell phones to cars to video games, we interact with it every day, leaving little that the field of computer science does not touch.
With a computer science degree, you'll join one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy and a field that rewards hard work, logic and creativity.
In UWL's Computer Science program, students gain foundational knowledge for software development, computer systems and theory of computation. The program has a reputation for small class sizes, excellent graduate placement rates, undergraduate research opportunities and accessible professors who can give students a level of attention not found on larger campuses.
The professionalism and friendliness of the faculty creates a great relationship between professors and students.
Nathan Breunig
Computer science jobs
As software has become an integral and growing part of our society, graduates find work in all types of businesses and industry. Although job titles may vary, computer scientists find work involving software and the intercommunicating systems it creates.
The demand for computer scientists continues to grow. The National Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook consistently projects the software industry to be among the fastest growing sectors of the economy. And the employment of software developers is projected to grow 22 % from 2019-2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Starting salaries for computer science majors from UWL are among the highest of any major on campus with starting salaries exceeding $65,000. Many graduates are now in management positions and return to campus to interview new graduates.
Career opportunities
- Software engineers
- Software developers
- Programmers
- Database administrators
- Systems analysts
What is computer science?
Computer science is the study of computing systems and the software processes that control them. Computer scientists have developed powerful algorithms in the areas of artificial intelligence, data mining, machine learning, computer vision, security and many other areas. These algorithms are then used for medical imaging, stock market analysis, computer graphics, video processing, and other fields. UWL's program emphasizes software development and includes a variety of electives to allow students to study specific areas of personal interest.
What distinguishes UWL's Computer Science program?
UWL Career Services placement statistics show the majority of computer science majors find work upon graduation. Recent employers include: Epic, Trane Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, SpaceX, Boeing, Expedia, Fastenal, Capital One, American Express, Yahoo, Oracle, Federated Insurance, Apple, IBM, LHI, Skyward, TDS, Sentry, and SAP.
Computer science students at UWL frequently work directly with faculty on cutting-edge research. This research is often supported by grants and scholarships and frequently leads to conference presentations and academic publications. Examples of recent research opportunities for students:
- Summer National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program
- UWL Undergraduate Research and Creativity grants
- UWL Eagle Apprentice research mentoring program and grants
- UWL College of Science & Health Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship grants
- Presentations at the Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium (MICS)
ACT scores for entering computer science students are among the highest at UWL. Faculty come from diverse backgrounds in the field, but all share a love of teaching. Twelve professors hold doctorates in computer science or engineering. Three faculty members are nationally-recognized authors of college level computer science textbooks. Faculty members remain active in research, give presentations, write publications and successfully apply for grants each year.
Each year a leader in computing is invited as the UWL Distinguished Lecturer in Computer Science. This guest makes several presentations to students and staff during a two-day campus visit.
The department strongly encourages high school juniors to take an appropriate math class their senior year, even though they may have met their math requirements. Calculus or Pre-Calculus will better prepare students for the computer science program.
UWL has one of the largest and most active internship programs in Wisconsin. Many computer science juniors and seniors choose to gain work experience via internships available through local companies or throughout the country. Paid internships are the norm in computer science compared to other fields of study.
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