Prospective Students – Think Your Way into the Future

What is Computer Science?

Computer science is not just about building computers, writing computer games or creating other programs. Computer science is the science of problem solving. The computer is just one tool that computer scientists use.

Why Computer Science?

Why should you choose computer science? Are you a creative person, interested in the world around you? Do you want to find a great job after college? Read on...

• It's Creative — Apply your imagination and originality to solving problems.
• It's Everywhere — Why absolutely everyone needs to be software literate.
• It's Interdisciplinary — Computer science has very strong connections to many other disciplines. Within our department alone, you'll find yourself working alongside geologists, mathematicians, engineers, psychologists, biologists and ecologists. We believe students should be well equipped with the theory behind computer science, and be able to apply this to a problem rooted in any field.
• Get a Great Job — The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that the occupation of computer software engineering is projected to grow the fastest and add the most new jobs over the 2006-16 decade. To learn about hot careers in computer science, check out:
  • A Bay Area Council Economic Institute Report High-Tech Employment and Wages in the United States
  • CNN Money Fast Growing Jobs
  • ACM's Computing Careers and Degrees
  • CareerCast.com's 10 Best Jobs in America Today
  • Computerworld's 9 Hottest Skills for 2012
  • MSN's 20 Highest-Paying Careers
  • Network World's Want A Job? Get a Computer Science Degree
  • Vermont companies - TappingTech.org
  • Best paying jobs 2012
• Impact the World — A degree in computer science will give you a foundation in fundamental concepts that can be applied to many problems in our world today. Transportation, global warming, cancer research, new medical practices and human computer interaction are just a few examples of research areas that computer scientists are actively involved in.

Check Out What CS Alumni Are Doing

Josh earned his B.S. degree in Computer Science at The University of Vermont (1999) with a minor in Mathematics; and M.S. (2003) and Ph.D. (2007) both in Computer Science, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He credits both the in-depth technical and the broad liberal arts education he received at UVM with preparing him for his chosen career. Read more... View other Alums

What We're Doing at the University of Vermont

Computer Science Crew

Are you majoring in Computer Science, or thinking about it? Join the CS crew.

Our Faculty in the News

Our faculty are working on research projects ranging from robots that heal themselves to wirelessly monitoring the amount of water in a snow pack.

• Bongard to Receive Presidential Early Career Award
• DARPA MSEE Grant Awarded to CEMS Researchers
• AERO hybrid race car to compete in 2009 international competition

• Vidcast: Josh Bongard talks robotics (a clip from episode 3 of Vermont Public Television's "Emerging Science")
• Christian Skalka receives Air Force Young Investigator Research Award
• Josh Bongard and Sean Wang receive national young investigator awards
• Xindong Wu accepted as Yangtze River Scholar

Our Courses in Action

CS32 - Puzzles, Games & Algorithms — What's the difference between a maze and a labyrinth? How many ways can a Rubik's cube be arranged? What's the real value of a Powerball ticket? Why are puzzles and games fun? You'll discover all this, learn how computers solve puzzles and play games, and more in this introductory computer science course, including a field trip to the Great Vermont Corn Maze.

CS195 - Hands-on Robotics — In this dynamic class, you'll build a robot using the Lego Mindstorms system. Many technical aspects of robotics, both hardware and software, are explored. But the interpersonal skills required to help complete your team's robot often prove to be equally challenging.

See the videos:

Mindstorm Strikeout Baseball

Egg-Sorting Robot

NXJ Piano Player

RecycleBot

Rover

Computer Science Research Day

Our annual Computer Science Research Day includes faculty and graduate student presentations that showcase our research activities and promote research collaborations. A keynote address is given by a world-renowned expert on an emerging topic in computing, and our alumni and Board of Advisors are also invited to participate. Check out our previous Research Days.

For More Information

To find out more about our programs or the University of Vermont, contact us at: