The Department of Computer Science and Engineering’s undergraduate and graduate curriculum is based on the application and theoretical foundations of computer science. Faculty members are internationally recognized in computer science specialties that include robotics, artificial intelligence, data mining, bioinformatics, network security, human computer interaction, and more.
Tradition of excellence
The department can be traced back to the earliest days of computing in Minnesota. Alumni have founded more than 200 companies and have held leadership positions at universities and computer and software companies worldwide.
Academic programs are consistently improved to reflect the latest scientific and technological advances. Undergraduates study software, hardware, and theoretical aspects of computing, along with the application of computing in science, engineering, business, and more. Offering coursework in both theoretical and applied computer science, the graduate program provides research opportunities in state-of-the-art centers and labs.
Faculty and students have access to world-renowned computing facilities such as the Digital Technology Center and the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute. Specialized laboratories provide support for advanced graphics and visualization, virtual reality, computer networking, and distributed robotics. Research centers on the following areas:
- Architectures and compilers
- Bioinformatics and computational biology
- Data mining, databases, and geographical information systems
- Graphics and visualization
- High performance computing
- Human computer interaction
- Networks, systems, and security
- Robotics and artificial intelligence
- Software engineering, programming languages, and compilers
- Theoretical foundations
Business and industry connections
Partnerships and joint research projects with major corporations include IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, and more. Additionally, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Health support the department’s research. The Computer Science Associates, a department advisory council comprised of industry leaders, provides crucial input on industry trends.
- The department has received more than $35 million in new research funding over the past two years.