Computing and Information Science - Saint Vincent College

Curriculum | Faculty | Collaborative Learning Program

Computing and Information Science
The CIS Department offers a major in Computing and Information Science with a choice of concentration in Computer Science, Information Technology, or Bioinformatics.

Our cooperative project with ProLogic offers a unique opportunity for students to get valuable industry experience without having to leave campus. Other internships and service-learning projects are available as well. Students also have the opportunity to do "real world" capstone senior projects. A major in CIS is awarded a Bachelor of Science degree.

A flexible minor in CIS that can be customized in many ways is also offered, as well as a non-degree certificate program (especially useful for those who already have a degree in another field). The CIS minor can be designed so as to give a specialization in areas such as databases, web technologies, mathematics and computing, computer security, and computer languages.

Career prospects are great. Jobs as software engineers, computer systems analysts, network administrators, and the like are among the fastest growing professional positions in this country. The pay and opportunity to learn new technologies are generally very good as well. Software engineering is considered by some to be the best profession in this country!

Classes in the CIS department are small and give you the opportunity to get to know the faculty and your fellow students.

The department provides a lab of PCs and servers, along with the software needed for all of the CIS classes. Most of the CIS classes are taught in this lab. The lab is also available for students working on homework and projects.

Computing and Information Science Department
Learning Objectives

The most important goal is that the CIS graduate should demonstrate the ability to manage the complexity of a technical problem through the use of good problem solving and software engineering skills, as well as ethical and decision-making skills. This relates to several core goals, especially forming habits of ordered inquiry, logical thinking, and analysis. Also related are the core goals on communications skills, writing and mathematics. Finally, the Strategic Plan goal on interdisciplinary teaching and learning is promoted due to the use by certain CS courses of aspects of the Interdisciplinary Writing Program.
A secondary goal is that the CIS graduate should be competent in at least three programming languages. This relates most directly to the core goals on logical thinking and mathematics.
Another secondary goal is that the CIS graduate should have a broad knowledge of the field of computing. (This field of knowledge is defined especially by the 11 required CS classes).

Scholarship Opportunities

The department has an annual scholarship exam for high school seniors who wish to major in CIS.

Check out the CIS Department's Own Web Site for more detailed information about the department, the major, minor, courses, faculty, etc.