Future, Past & Present
Looking Towards the Future
As society's use of the computer continues to expand, with the growth of the Internet, the Web, new applications, and embedded systems, the need for computer scientists grows with it. New and innovative uses of computer technology have kept the demand high for strong, current and flexible computer education programs taught by highly trained faculty.
The WPI Computer Science Department fits that profile. It has been able to attract and retain an excellent faculty with Ph.D.s who are committed to teaching. Faculty members, as well as students, are drawn to our computer science program because of its outstanding technical facilities, comprehensive curriculum, and its extensive project and research opportunities.
Its quality has been recognized nationally, and in 1986 it was in the first group of computer science departments to be granted accreditation by the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board.
The Computer Science Department is involved in innovative work in many research areas. This enables the cross fertilization of ideas with colleagues in biology, electrical engineering, materials science, civil engineering and mechanical engineering; as well as with many electronics and computer industries located in New England's diverse high-technology region.
A Glimpse of the Past
Computer science plays a major role in maintaining WPI's 140-year-old tradition of academic excellence. The department has a rich history and celebrated its 25th birthday in 1995. Today, more than ever before, the department's recognition of the importance of scholarship is leading to new levels of research activity, in both technical areas and in pedagogy.
The department moved into the newly constructed Fuller Laboratories in January 1990. Facilities include attractive office spaces for faculty, graduate students and staff, instructional laboratories, research labs, and modern meeting rooms.
The significant improvement in research space has expanded our horizons for research activity, and will permit further growth in our Ph.D. program, which was established in 1983. The educational labs have already provided increased space to house workstations for students. They will permit us to continue to improve the computer laboratory experience for all CS courses.
Current Educational Opportunities
Computer Science at WPI is a growing department, and one of the largest at WPI (see Department Snapshot). However, it is still medium sized compared to many universities.
A well-established national leader in undergraduate education, WPI is gaining recognition for its excellent faculty, publications, graduate programs, research and pedagogical innovations. The department is committed to maintaining diversity.
The graduate program has been completely updated, with a challenging set of core areas. The number of Ph.D. candidates is at an all-time high, and there is an active group of Master's level students. In addition, there is a growing number of BS/MS students, who will graduate with both BS and MS degrees.
Some full-time graduate students receive financial aid from WPI or from faculty research grants.
Undergraduate students in computer science at WPI complete foundational courses in areas such as programming concepts, data structures and algorithm analysis, theoretical foundations, computer organization, operating systems, and human-computer interaction. Advanced courses include artificial intelligence, compilers, data base design, webware, computer graphics, advanced operating systems, computability, software engineering, computer architecture, and computer networks. To broaden their knowledge and skills outside of computer science, students also take courses in such fields as mathematics, the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the engineering disciplines.
Undergraduate senior theses, known at WPI as Major Qualifying Projects (MQPs) can be done in "interface technologies" such as Virtual Reality or Computers in Music, in applications areas such as Artificial Intelligence, or in core areas such as Operating Systems and Computer Networks.
In addition to the Undergraduate Major in Computer Science, the Department also offers a Minor in Computer Science. This, in conjunction with a wide variety of other minors at WPI, allows for students to tailor their coursework, and their degree, to their own interests and to the demands of society and industry.
WPI's location affords Computer Science students countless opportunities to complete their MQPs with local computer firms. Many networking, software and IT companies have acted as off-campus project centers for WPI students. In the past, these have included Digital Equipment Corporation (RIP!), Stratus, and Data General, for example. With such good experience it isn't surprising that our graduates are in great demand from many IT companies, including Nortel, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft and SGI.
Maintained by webmaster@cs.wpi.eduLast modified: August 22, 2007 18:49:06