The BS program in Computer Science supports the mission of the University by providing a curriculum focusing on the most advanced practices of computer science through continued assessment by employers, alumni, faculty and students. The BS in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), http://www.abet.org.  Students may obtain a concentration in Computer Engineering or Software Engineering.

The Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) are broad statements that describe what alumni do within a few years following graduation. The BS in Computer Science program is committed to our alumni who, within a few years of their graduation, are expected to:

1. Apply their in-depth understanding in areas of computer science and engineering to solve problems in a modern technological society as productive computer scientists or engineers and/or enter and succeed in a graduate program.
2. Function effectively, both individually and within multi-disciplinary teams.
3. Continue as lifelong learner to develop their computing and engineering abilities, problem-solving skills, and aptitude for innovation.
4. Practice professional ethics with social and cyber responsibility through service in the framework of a global technical community.

Student Outcomes:

1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
4. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
6. Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

The program emphasizes the complete process of developing computing-based solutions. Students learn how to gather requirements, design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software using rigorous computing practices. They are taught how to leverage technology to create flexible and scalable applications and to address the challenges that arise during the development process. Also, the program exposes students to a range of other disciplines, such as the physical sciences, social sciences, economics, and business so they gain an understanding of the real world scenarios that make up the computer science environment. Theoretical courses are supported by rigorous laboratory tasks.

Fairfield’s computer science curriculum encompasses a truly unique combination of experiences:

• Experiential Hands-On Learning: A unique curriculum guarantees computer science students the equivalent of 20 months of real-world experience through a sophomore year service-learning initiative, a junior year entrepreneurial experience, and an industry-based senior capstone project.
• Cross-Disciplinary Engineering Exposure: As part of the School of Engineering and Computing, computer science students have access to other engineering disciplines and engineering-heavy industries, which expands career opportunities exponentially.
• Student Mentoring: By volunteering as high school mentors, students learn valuable management skills, they become comfortable explaining highly technical concepts simply and clearly, and they experience the satisfaction of sharing their knowledge to help others.
• Liberal Arts Core: A strong foundation in the liberal arts encourages engineers to think critically, design imaginatively, communicate clearly and collaborate productively.
• Academic/Research Activities and Internship: Companies from a variety of domains, such as The Weather Company (visualization), Federal Aviation Administration (software engineering and data mining), Saugatuck Energy (artificial intelligence) have an on-campus presence and provide computer science students opportunities to interact with industry leaders.