Computer Science at the
University of Portland
Choosing your major
Skills
Interest
Opportunities
Presentation outline
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What is computer science?
Senior design projects
Career opportunities
Alumni profiles
CS courses for spring
Resources
What is computer science?
CS is the study of the storage, transformation, and transfer of
information. The field includes algorithms and practical
problems involved in their implementation in software and
hardware.
(The Linux Information Project)
Information in
Automated
Process
Information out
CS is everywhere
Lots of areas
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Medical IS
Personal health
Biology
Investing
Simulation
Education
Business
Gaming
Security
• Fraud detection
• Robotics, process
control
• Engineering design
• Weather prediction
• Language translation
• Power grid
management
• Human-Computer
interaction
CS senior design project examples
Acoustic Art –
2010 – 2011
Members: Matthew Clark, Jay Davis,
Kyle Kearney, Vincent Tilanus
Used digital images to compose music
Deadly Game –
2011 - 2012
Members: Tom Aaro, Fenton Radford,
Cory Swanson
Built an Xbox 360 free form fighting
game – Brawl Stars
AdviseUP –
2011 – 2012 / 2012 – 2013
Members: Sam Burich, Kapua Chandler,
Chris Lewis; Kekai Ariola, Eric Bergquist,
Megan Yamamoto
Created web-based app to assist with
advising at UP
Theatre Lighting System –
2012 – 2013
Members: Kelsey Abe, Ben Gadbois,
Michael Liedtke, Tim Yandl
Created a laptop-based application to
allow theatres to design and edit
lighting cues, and to control theatre
lights during a performance.
Why study computer science?
Create new technology to make a positive
difference in the world
Be creative – high-quality solutions require
innovation and creativity
Be collaborative and be an individual – software
and hardware are designed and built by teams,
with room for individual project tasks
Fun and satisfying with immediate feedback
(Yes, you will need to know how to write
programs.)
(Take advantage of the EGR110 project:
be creative in programming the robot.)
Career paths
Software engineer
Web developer
Software test engineer
Program manager
Information technology
specialist (may want
Operations and Technology
Management major)
Graduate school
Teacher
Lawyer
Entrepreneur
Writer
Researcher
Medical doctor
(need to satisfy pre-med
Database administrator
courses)
Computer security
(others, too)
Employment projections 2010 to 2020
(US Department of Labor, US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Percent Change
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
National median salary for CS jobs
(NACE Salary Survey, 2013)
National average starting salary for CS: $59,977
Median annual salary
Database administrator
Web developer
Software architect
Software development manager
Software test engineer
Software developer
$0.00
$40,000.00 $80,000.00 $120,000.00
Salary for 2013 UP graduates
Table: 2013 UP engineering/CS graduates average starting salary
Degree
Salary
Computer Science (N=3)
$83,333
Electrical Engineering (N=8)
$66,500
Mechanical Engineering (N=7)
$50,528
Civil Engineering (N=4)
$48,250
Self-reported data
Best Jobs 2012 – based on job prospects
and job satisfaction
(US News and World Report)
#2 Software Developer
#5 Database Administrator
#6 Web Developer
#7 Computer Systems Analyst
#9 Computer Programmer
Alumni profiles: videos
CJ Cullen, class of 2010
Cypress Semiconductor, Beaverton, OR
Arturo Bimrose, class of 2010
The Cobalt Company, Alexandria, VA
Karen Echon, class of 2011
math teacher, Guam
What to take this spring (typical schedules)
Yes, I want to major in CS:
CS 203 / 273
MTH 202
Lab science (e.g., PHY 205 / 275)
Core course
(15 credits)
I am debating among CS/CE/ME:
CS 203 / 273
MTH 202
CHM 207 / 277
EGR 111
Core course
(17 credits)
I am debating among CS/CE/EE:
CS 203 / 273
MTH 202
PHY 205 / 275
EGR 111
Core course
(17 credits)
[you switch the order of CS203/273
and CHM207/277 if you end up
majoring in EE]
I am unsure about my major, but I
want to explore CS:
With your advisor discuss taking CS
203/273 this spring. This might
delay a core course or science
course, but would not put you
behind in credits, even if you end
up majoring in CE/EE/ME.
CS major at UP
(a standalone CS major has 14 flexible credits)
With Mathematics:
• Math minor comes with
no additional credits, as
long as you pick your
electives correctly.
• CS/Math double-major
comes with no additional
credits, as long as you
pick your electives
correctly.
CS major: no programming
experience expected
With Electrical Engineering:
• CS/EE double-major can
be done with 25
additional credits, as long
as you pick your electives
correctly.
CS minor at UP
• Complement another major
• Looks good on a resume
• Add to skill-set, more and more products have
embedded software systems
– 21st-century engineering jobs will increasingly require
knowledge of computing
• Minor is 18 credits
– EE majors, can get CS minor for no additional credits,
if electives are chosen correctly.
– CE/ME majors can get CS minor for for 6 additional
credits, if electives are chosen correctly.
Resources about the computing profession
Computing Careers Website, Association for
Computing Machinery
http://computingcareers.acm.org/
Sloan Career Cornerstone Center
http://www.careercornerstone.org/compsci/compsci.htm
The Computing Research Association
http://cra.org/
University of Washington CS Videos
http://www.cs.washington.edu/prospective_students/undergrad/whycse
Engineering Go For It
http://www.egfi-k12.org/
Resources about career opportunities
Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/home.htm
US News Best Jobs (Software Developer)
http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/software-developer
Resources about CS at UP
Shiley School of Engineering
http://engineering.up.edu/
Computer Science Program at UP
http://engineering.up.edu/cs/default.aspx?cid=4860&pid=1438
EECS Senior Design Projects
http://teaching.up.edu/srDesign/
Faculty:
Tanya
Crenshaw,
rm 220
Andrew
Nuxoll,
rm 217
Tammy
VanDeGrift,
rm 228
Steven
Vegdahl,
rm 218
Karen
Ward,
rm 221