The mission of the Department of Computer Science is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for productive careers in industry, academia, and government by providing an outstanding environment for teaching, learning, and research in the theory and applications of computing. The Department places high priority on establishing and maintaining innovative research programs to enhance its education quality and make it an important regional, national and international resource center for discovering, integrating and applying new knowledge and technologies.
The Department of Computer Science aspires to be one of the top 25 departments in the nation within the next five years. Considerable effort and resources (e.g., the Jonsson School Research Excellence Initiative - JSRE) are being invested to reach that goal.
Goals for Undergraduate Program
The undergraduate Computer Science Program is committed to providing students with a high-quality education and prepare them for long and successful careers in industry and government. Our graduates, while eminently ready for immediate employment, will also be fully ready for focused training as required for specific positions in computer science and closely related areas. Our students will “learn to learn” so that they can readily adapt themselves as the field of computing changes as well as their work environment changes. Graduates interested in highly technical careers, research, and/or academia will be fully prepared to further their education in graduate school. Our graduates will have good oral and written communication skills as well as a good understanding of ethical issues related to the computing profession.
Educational Objectives for Undergraduate Program
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students should be able to apply their knowledge to the solution of practical and useful problems;
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students should be able to communicate effectively and work collaboratively;
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students should become successful professionals in industry, government and, if they desire, in graduate studies;
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students should be able to recognize the need for lifelong learning and be able to adapt to rapid technological changes; and
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students should be able to understand and deal with the ethical, societal, and global issues associated with the computing field.
Undergraduate Program Outcomes:
The Department of Computer Science at UT Dallas offers both the B.S. degree in Computer Science and the B.S. degree in Software Engineering. Both programs are seeking ABET accreditation and most courses offered by the Department can be used in either degree plan. Since the ABET Engineering Criteria 2000 accreditation outcomes map well to the educational objectives above, they were adopted as outcomes for the B.S. in Computer Science. Furthermore, four additional CS-specific outcomes were added. The ABET Engineering Criteria 2000 outcomes are that graduates must demonstrate the following:
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an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
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an ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data;
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an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs;
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an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
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an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
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an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
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an ability to communicate effectively;
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the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global/societal context
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a recognition of the need for and ability to engage in lifelong learning;
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a knowledge of contemporary issues; and,
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an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
Additional CS objectives:
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CS1. An ability to theoretically formulate and analyze problems in computing and information processing.
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CS2. An ability to solve problems using efficient algorithms and data structures.
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CS3. An ability to understand computer architecture, organization and programming languages (e.g. hardware, operating systems, networks, concepts of programming languages.
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CS4. Proficiency in programming languages (e.g. Java, C/C++, assembly language)
Goals of the Software Engineering Program
The focus of the Software Engineering degrees is to provide world class education in modern software engineering. The overall goals of the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering Program are:
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To prepare students for software engineering positions in industry or government;
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To prepare students for graduate study in Software Engineering; and
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To provide a solid foundation in Computer Science and Software Engineering principles that will allow graduates to adapt effectively in a quickly changing field.
Software Engineering Educational Objectives
Educational objectives for the Software Engineering undergraduate degree program were formulated and approved by the faculty with input from the industrial advisory board. They are published in the university’s Undergraduate Catalog and in the Department’s Webpage.
The current objectives for graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering Program are to:
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effectively apply knowledge of programming, algorithms, data structures, and software engineering to the development of complex software systems.
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communicate technical concepts effectively in both written documents and oral presentations.
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design and analyze software at the component, subsystem, and software architecture levels and make informed, sound software design tradeoffs.
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understand the social and ethical issues that arise in their work and deal with them professionally.
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understand the importance of all phases of the software lifecycle, with emphasis on the need to plan for change and continuously vie to improve the software process.
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work effectively in a software development team and with other engineering professionals.
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appreciate the need for lifelong learning and adapt to rapid technological changes
All the PEOs are directly related to success in the job and are measured mainly through employer and alumni surveys that address each PEO specifically. The PEOs are also measured indirectly through employment statistics, graduate school enrollments, and departmental rankings.
Mission of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications Engineering
