Computer Science
The BS in Computer Science, BS in Computer Information Systems,
and BS in Applied Computer Graphics, with their various options,
allow students to prepare for careers in diverse areas of applications
of Computer Science.
The MS in Computer Science provides a strong graduate-level foundation
in Computer Science while also allowing exploration in areas of
interest in the discipline.
The department offers students the opportunity to earn the distinction
of Honors in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or
Applied Computer Graphics. This recognition appears on the student’s
permanent transcripts and on their diploma. The Honors confers a
distinction that enhances opportunities for graduate work and employment.
Faculty and Facilities
The breadth of faculty expertise is evident from the many courses
offered on varied topics: operating systems, programming languages,
artificial intelligence, computer architecture, digital logic design,
database management, computer graphics, compiler theory, software
engineering, computer networks, and data communications.
The College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology is
housed in the O’Connell Technology Center. Computing facilities
available to computer science majors include five general-purpose
labs containing Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, and Windows 2000
workstations. A seventh lab containing Hewlett-Packard workstations
is available to members of Network for Women in Technology (NeWT).
Additionally, the department has a separate computer networks laboratory,
which allows students hands-on experiences in configuring and reconfiguring
various types of networks, and the analysis of data obtained from
network analyzers.
A variety of software tools are available, including a full complement
of UNIX utilities, X windows tools, GNU software, Oracle relational
database, Java development environment, AI programming libraries
and shells, and software packages or programming tools that support
computer-aided software engineering, graphics and animation, etc.
O’Connell utilizes several high-speed local area networks
and is connected to the rest of campus via an aggregated ethernet
link. Computer science students have access to several high-speed
modem pools for remote access.
Student Organizations
Student chapters of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM),
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Society
of Women Engineers (SWE), and the Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) international
honor society are active on campus. Additionally, the Chico State
Linux Users’ Group (CSLUG), the Network for Women in Technology
(NeWT), and the Computer Graphics Consortium (CGC) also provide
opportunities for various student activities.
Cooperative Work Experience
The computer industry holds the Department in high regard in part
because of its active participation in the Cooperative Work Experience
Program. Students are placed with firms such as IBM, ChevronTexaco,
SUN, and Hewlett-Packard, and various government laboratories. Selected
students stop-out for a term and a summer (six to eight months)
and work in the field and receive normal employee salary and academic
credit for their valuable experience.
Career Outlook
The computer has enabled society to keep abreast of the increasing
need for more and better information, opening up a wide range of
computer-related jobs. Given the current expansion of science and
technology, employment of trained computer scientists is expected
to remain very high.
Accreditation
The BS in Computer Science is accredited by the Computer Science
Accreditation Commission (CSAC) of the Computing Sciences Accreditation
Board (CSAB).
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