COMPUTER SCIENCE
The Computer Science program at Siena features excellent facilities, full-time dedicated faculty and a wide
variety of educational and career opportunities. The curriculum is based upon the guidelines of the Association
for Computing Machinery, the major professional association of computer scientists. In addition to the major,
the department also offers minors and certificates in Computer Science and in Information Systems.
There are nine full-time faculty members in the department. Classes are taught by the full-time faculty and not
by graduate teaching assistants. The maximum class size in the department is 35 (and most computer science
classes have fewer than 25 students), which means that there is an interactive learning environment rather
than a passive one. The program is oriented towards “hands on” computing, but that doesn’t mean that
computer science majors lock themselves up in a closet with a machine all semester. Beginning with the first
course, students develop their abilities to solve problems, analyze, synthesize, think critically and
communicate. Many courses require group projects and intensive teamwork. Students may round out their
academic experience by participating in a very strong internship program, 3-2 engineering program, or
summer research opportunities.
For additional information, see the department’s Home Page at http://www.cs.siena.edu
Curriculum
Computer Science students at Siena complete a
minimum of ten computer science courses.
The following information provides a rough idea of
the course work Computer Science students
complete at Siena. Requirements occasionally
change.
Students are required to take at least ten courses
in Computer Science, including:
Introduction to Computer Science
Introduction to Programming
Data Structures
Computer Architecture and Assembly Language
Object-Oriented Design and Programming
Analysis of Algorithms
Students must take four to seven upper level
electives choosing from the following:
Numerical Methods
Computer Organization
Operating Systems
Programming Languages
Database Management
Advanced Database
Communications & Networks
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Advanced Topics in Computer Science (frequent
topics include Graphics, Web Design, System
Administration, etc.)
Software Engineering I & II
Independent Study
Computer Science Students are required to take:
Calculus I & II
Discrete Mathematics I & II
Two Physics classes are also required:
Introductory Electronics
Digital Electronics
3/2 Cooperative Engineering Program
Students interested in computer engineering spend
the first three years at Siena following the same
curriculum as other computer science students and
two final years at one of our cooperating
institutions. These students receive the B.S.
degree from Siena in Computer Science at the end
of the fourth year of study and the B.E. degree in
Computer Engineering at the conclusion of the fifth
year. The cooperating institutions are: Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, Catholic University, Clarkson
University,
Manhattan
College,
SUNY—
Binghamton and Western New England College.
The 3/2 Engineering Coordinator will work with
each student to ensure that they are completing the
proper coursework for completion of the program.
with the on-campus internship coordinator and a
designated individual in the agency, institution or
business organization providing the internship. The
demand for computer science interns has always
exceeded the number of students available. Many
internships pay a salary.
Recent internship
placements include:
Facilities
Albany County Dept. of Mgmt. Info. Services
BASF
Brainstorm Micro
Digitronics
Ebling Associates
Federal Highway Administration
GE Corporate Business Information Center
GE Corporate Research and Development
GE Information Systems, Turbine Division
GE Plastics
GE Plastics Business Group
GE Power Systems
GE, Silicone Products Division
Kaiser Permanente
Laboratory Microsystems
Map Info
Matthew Bender Inc.
Neddam Software Technologies
NYS Department of Education – Office of the
Auditor
NYS Dept. of Health, Bureau of Communicable
Disease Control
NYS Div. of Housing and Community Renewal
NYS Health Department
NYS Higher Education Service Corporation
NYS Insurance Fund
NYS Teachers Retirement System
Siena College
Town of Colonie
Watervliet Arsenal (Benet Research Labs)
Watervliet Arsenal, US Army Health Clinic
In addition to the campus network (PCs, Macs, file
servers, 24/7 access at several sites, all dorms
wired for Internet), the department maintains its
own network and labs to provide for the special
hardware and software needs of an academic
Computer Science program. All of our classrooms
have computers and projection capability, with
complete Internet access.
All the department’s PCs (over 100) and servers
(5) are connected to the Siena College network
and the Internet. Operating systems used in the
department include Windows (NT, 98, 2000, XP),
Unix (Linux, Digital UNIX), and Macintosh. A wide
range of software is also available including many
programming languages (C++, Java, Perl, C,
Scheme, Prolong, Visual Basic, and others),
Microsoft Office, Oracle9i, several software
development tools, web hosting software, and
much more.
The department has a systems laboratory, a
software engineering laboratory, a computer
applications
laboratory,
a
general-purpose
Computer Science laboratory, and an open
Computer Science lab where Computer Science
students can work at any time. In addition, there
are several student research/project rooms where
students performing independent study or research
can work on more individualized or specialized
projects with faculty guidance. Scanners and laser
letter-quality and graphics printers are available,
including color laser printers. For students living
off-campus, much of the software used in
coursework can be accessed remotely.
Beyond the Classroom
Internships
Internships provide students with the opportunity to
gain practical experience in their field of interest.
Work is supervised and evaluated in conjunction
Glens Falls Post-Star
GlobalSpec
Henry Schein Pharmaceutical
IBM
Independent consulting, self-employed
Ingersoll-Rand
John Hancock Financial Services
Kearfott Guidance & Navigation
Key Services
Lockheed Martin
Logic Technology
Map Info
MITRE Corp.
NYNEX Service Co.
NYS Department of Education
NYS Dept. of Taxation & Finance
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
On2 Technologies
Oracle Corp.
Pioneer Standard Electronics
PSI Net
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
The Travelers Insurance Co.
Watervliet Arsenal
Employment Opportunities
The results of the annual surveys conducted by
Siena’s Career Center indicate that during the last
several years approximately 95 percent of Siena’s
Computer Science graduates were employed in a
computer-related field or in graduate school. The
long-term prospects continue to be excellent (see
table below). Here is a partial listing of recent
employers:
Bitwise
CDP Health Plan
CMA
Coopers & Lybrand
Delta Airlines
Digital Equipment Corp.
Doubleday Book/Music Clubs Inc.
Eclipse Software
Electronic Data Systems Corp.
Fleet Bank
GE Consulting Services Corporation
GE Corporation
GE Research & Development Center
General CAD/CAM, Inc.
Fastest growing occupations covered in the 2002-03 Occupational Outlook Handbook
of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Occupation
1. Computer software
engineers, applications
2. Computer support
specialists
3. Computer software
engineers, systems software
4. Network and computer
systems administrators
5. Network systems and data
communications analysts
6. Desktop
publishers
7. Database
administrators
8. Personal and home care
aides
9. Computer systems
analysts
10. Medical
assistants
Jobs
(in thousands)
380
% increase
over next 10 years
100
Source of education
Bachelor's degree, CS
490
97
Associate degree, CS
284
90
Bachelor's degree, CS
187
82
Bachelor's degree, CS
92
77
Bachelor's degree, CS
25
67
Postsecondary vocational award
70
66
Bachelor's degree, CS
258
62
Short-term on-the-job training
258
60
Bachelor's degree, CS
187
57
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Graduate School Placement
While the majority of majors choose to enter the
work force right after graduation, some pursue
graduate programs directly after completing their
Bachelor’s degrees. In recent years our alumni
have studied in graduate programs at:
California Institute of Technology
Johns Hopkins University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stevens Institute of Technology
SUNY Stonybrook
Syracuse University
The University at Albany
Union College
University of Maryland
University of Pennsylvania
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Focus on Faculty and Research Interests
Eric A. Breimer, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute. Machine Learning, Computational
Biology.
Mary Anne Egan, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute. Evolutionary Computation, Data
Clustering and Visualization
Robin Flatland, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute. Computational Geometry, Computer
Vision, Algorithm Animation.
S. Johanna Horowitz, M.S., Computer Science,
Union College. Artificial Intelligence, Operating
Systems.
Scott B. Hunter, Ph.D., Cornell University. Artificial
Intelligence, Algorithms.
Timoth C. Lederman, Ph.D., University of Stirling
(Scotland). Communications and Networks.
James R. Matthews, M.A., Mathematics and
Computer Science, The University at Albany. Data
Structures and Algorithms.
James R. Nolan, Ph.D., The University at Albany.
Management Information Systems, Artificial
Intelligence.
Leonard Putnick, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute. Numerical Computing.
Scott Vandenberg, Ph.D., University of WisconsinMadison. Database Systems, Introductory
Computer Science.
Robert Yoder, Ph.D., The University at Albany.
Data Structures, Operating Systems.
Support Staff
Ken Swarner, M.S., Computer Science, The
University at Albany.
System Administrator,
Adjunct Instructor.
SIENA AT A GLANCE
Founded by the Franciscan Friars, Siena provides a values-oriented education one student at a time.
Location: Loudonville, New York
Two miles north of Albany
Academics: 26 Majors in Science, Business and
Liberal Arts; Minors and Certificate Programs. All
students follow a Liberal Arts Core Curriculum.
Campus: Suburban, 155 acres
Enrollment: 2,700 undergraduates
54% women, 46% men
Campus Life: 60+ organizations: intramural sports
volunteer activities, campus ministry, student
government, academic and professional clubs
Faculty: More than 212 full-time faculty
Student /Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Avg. Class size: 20
Lab size: 10 to 20
Athletics: 19 NCAA Division I Sports for men and
women; athletic complex with indoor pool, exercise
and sport facilities available to all students
Student Housing: 75% of students
Live in on-campus housing
Costs for 2002 –2003: Tuition and Fees: $16,405
Room/Board: $7,030
Computer Access: 24 hours, for all students
Internet, e-mail and software packages
Residence Halls are wired for net access
For more information contact the Admissions Office
at 1-888-AT SIENA or see us on the web at
www.siena.edu