Computer Science Degrees in Connecticut

computer science degrees in connecticut

Connecticut students wanting to pursue careers in information technology may be interested in this list of Computer Science Degrees. Most programs are housed in the engineering colleges of universities and are closely related to the engineering courses by the amount of mathematics necessary for careers in technology. Critical thinking skills are also important as both disciplines involve problem solving. Computer science, however, includes exciting new concepts in robotics and artificial intelligence as well as virtual reality, and courses are planned to give students broad overviews of the field before they settle into specializations.

Connecticut College

Department of Computer Science

The department goal is to give students a solid foundation in computer sciences and experience in research. The school aims to produce graduates who are experienced problem solvers and who are familiar with a “variety of paradigms.” Students in this department who are involved in research projects or enrolled in advanced have 24/7 access to state-of-the-art computer labs. There are UNIX and PC labs as well as labs devoted to robotics, networks, virtual reality and digital signal processing. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The annual out-of-state tuition at Connecticut College is $60,895.

Bachelor of Science –Computer Science Major

The purpose of this major is to allow students earning bachelor’s degrees in any discipline to major in a tool used to solve problems in any area, even to music, psychology and biology. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the degree, many students earn double majors. Faculty members from different departments often team-teach classes and classes are listed in the catalog under both departments. Students are encouraged to get broad cultural views by studying away from the university or even abroad. There are many opportunities for research as well as honors programs, independent studies and internships. Research is a priority in the school because it gives students an opportunity to do in-depth studies of topics that interest them. Graduates must satisfy college degree requisites in addition to the major courses and they are required to do two semesters of research for the major.

Contact 
Computer Science Department
Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave.
New London, CT 06320
860-439-2200
admission@concoll.edu
Website

Gateway Community College

Engineering and Applied Sciences Department

This college was created by the merger of South Central Community College and New Haven State Technical College in 1992. It is one of 12 community colleges in Connecticut. The school offers a wide variety of classes (both credit and non-credit) on liberal arts and sciences. It awards technical and career associate degrees and courses intended to transfer to four-year colleges. The school is nationally recognized for innovative learning experiences, and it partners with community businesses and government organizations to support economic development. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Resident tuition is $12,632.

Associate of Science in Computer Science

This degree gives training in hardware configuration, developing software, programming applications and in interfacing software and hardware systems. Apart from technical skills they gain, graduates will understand the responsibilities of their profession, know and use safety practices and work effectively in teams. They will be creative problem-solvers and understand how to use math as a problem-solving tool. Students in the program will get a broad programming experience: they will study JAVA, Visual Basic and web-page design. During the 61 to 66 credit program the students will work with many programming languages. They will design, write and test many different programs in different programming codes and on different operating systems.

Contact 
Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Gateway Community College
20 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510
203-285-2176
akinney@gwcc.commnet.edu
Website

Manchester Community College

Department of Business, Engineering and Technology

This college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It was founded in 1963, and serves more than 15,000 students a year. Fifty percent of the students come from the immediate service area; fifty-three percent are women. The school has 506 faculty members. Graduates are guaranteed admission to Connecticut state universities. This is the only community college in the nation to be cited by the Herbert Hoover Scholarship Foundation for academic excellence. Tuition for full-time resident students is $1799 per semester.

Associate of Science in Computer Science

This degree is designed to give students a broad view and understanding of the “underlying disciplines of computer science.” Courses include: fundamentals of computer programming, algorithm design, data structure, problem-solving with computer technologies, network design and operational systems. The program gives students a strong foundation in math, physics and general education as well as teaching general problem-solving methodology and critical thinking. There are 64 to 65 credits in the degree, some of which are liberal arts and communication classes. Graduates will be prepared to transfer to four-year colleges or to obtain entry level positions in the computer technology industry. Students may attend full or part-time, and there are evening classes but not all classes are offered every semester.

Contact 
Department of Business, Engineering and Technology
Manchester Community College
Great Path
Manchester, CT 06045
860-512-2620
cseaver@manchestercc.edu
Website

Norwalk Community College

William H. Schwab Center for Information Technology

This school is named in honor of its president. It is housed in a new $20 million facility that features state-of-the-art educational laboratories and classrooms in many disciplines, not just business and financial programs. Degree paths are customized for each student for the workforce expectation. Many of the courses are intended to transfer to universities for further study. The school prides itself on experiential learning techniques. This is a relatively small college (6500 students) and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In-state tuition is $3406.

Associate of Science-Computer Science

This degree path is built around flexible programs that are designed to meet the need of IT graduates for more than one skill. Students can select courses that will transfer to four-year colleges as they plan their degrees and incorporate them into their electives. The student has the ability to tailor their programs for immediate employment following graduation or for further study. The program includes required general liberal arts classes as well as college required core classes and electives and labs. Together, they comprise a 62 to 67 credit requisite. The school wants to produce students that have strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. The goal is that graduates will be able to get a sound general education plus acquire the skills that will let them adapt to the quickly-changing world of technology.

Contact 
William H.Schwab Center for Information Technology
Norwalk Community College
188 Richards Ave.
Norwalk, CT 06854
203-857-7336
pcassidy@ncc.commnet.edu
Website

University of Bridgeport

School of Engineering

The student-to-faculty ratio at this school is 15-1. Students come from 80 countries to study at the University of Bridgeport. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the engineering school is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Baccalaureate Degree Programs in Computer Engineering. It is listed in the US News and World Reports “Best Schools,” and is known for its international faculty. Sixty-three percent of classes have less than twenty students. The tuition is $30,540 for full-time undergraduate students.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

This program has a foundation of computer core classes including: basic understanding of algorithms, data structures, software design, programming languages, and other skills. Problem solving and critical thinking are stressed. Students are exposed to a variety of programming languages and different operating systems too. The goal of the college is that graduates will develop project management and formal reasoning skills. Program focus is on computer architecture and organization. The first three years students take general education and foundational courses, The fourth year they begin to explore specializations. These may be software-oriented (Artificial Intelligence and Software Design, for example) or hardware-oriented like Circuit Design and Robotics. There are 99 semester credits in the program, 69 in program core classes and 30 in math and general educations courses.

Master of Science in Computer Science

The purpose of the degree program is to prepare students with strong mathematical and scientific knowledge along with technological skill sets for advanced professional positions in computer technology fields or to go on to higher education. Customizable programs allow students to earn an MS degree while pursuing their doctoral degree in Computer Science. Those admitted to the program must be competent in basic physics, calculus, linear algebra and in basic computer sciences like programming, algorithms and statistics. A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a 2.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA. The degree consists of 33 semester hours, of which 15 credits are in core classes. The other 18 are electives. Students may choose to do an independent study project as part of the elective credits. If they do not take this option they must pass a comprehensive exam. This degree is also offered online. There are fourteen concentration areas that may be added to the basic degree.

Contact 
School of Engineering
Engineering Technology Building
University of Bridgeport
126 Park Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
203-576-4737
machmood@bridgeport.edu
Website

University of Connecticut

School of Computer Science and Engineering

This school, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, was founded in 1881. The computer science courses are accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The computer science school is at the main campus (Storrs) but there are also five satellite campuses. The university has a four-year graduation rate of 70 percent and is listed in the top twenty public universities in the nation by US News and World Reports. Classes teach the traditional and non-traditional aspects of computer science and engineering. The school awards bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and a Ph.D. Students have the advantage of state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching facilities. In-state tuition is $9256.

Undergraduate Computer Science Program

This program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Students get a broad understanding of computer principles and practice. The program includes a minimum of 120 credits which include liberal arts classes to give students a general education and fundamental computer courses that teach classes like the design and analysis of algorithms and software. Computer architecture is also stressed, but students are encouraged to take classes in areas outside of computer science such as business or math. During the senior year, students take two design labs which allow them to complete a team project over two semesters. The 120-credit program includes 40 credits of computer core classes, besides the general education classes, and 30 science and math credits. All students must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Master of Science in Computer Science

This degree has two paths. The first prepares students to enter the professional world immediately upon graduation and is called a terminal degree. The second path is intended to prepare students for further study and is called a non-terminal degree. The first, Plan “A,” features a thesis project at the conclusion of the degree. Plan “B” is a non-thesis program. The school recommends that those who wish to go on to get a doctoral degree, or who want to teach, take the “A” path. The Master’s program assumes that students already have a background in computer sciences that is the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, but otherwise –qualified students can take remedial undergraduate courses to make up the deficiencies. Most students will finish the program in two to three semesters; graduate teaching and research assistants typically finish in three to four semesters. The program culminates in a thesis and oral presentation or an independent study project.

Contact 
School of Computer Science and Engineering
University of Connecticut
371 Fairfield Way Unit 4155
Storrs, CT 06260-4155
860-486-3719
Email through website
Website

University of New Haven

Tagliatela College of Engineering and Computer Science

The goal of this school is to supply students with a strong background in math and computing that allows them to adapt to the fast-changing technology of the IT world. Students also learn to work collaboratively as team members. The campus features a career development center that assists students and graduates ineffectively managing their careers. The school was founded in 1920 on the Yale campus, but moved to its own campus in 1960. It is nationally recognized for its experiential learning. There are 6400 students at the university. The school has 50 study-abroad programs, and undergraduate tuition is $33,330.

Associate in Computer Science

This two-year program is for students who wish to earn their degrees part-time or for people who want to quickly get into the workforce in computer technology. All credits transfer to the bachelor’s degree program, but students are encouraged to enroll in the BS degree program when they begin their associate path so that they can be sure all the courses they take will apply to their bachelor path. There are 61 credits included in the associate degree. Besides the liberal arts classes and required core classes in computing, freshmen must take a global perspectives class as well as a history or citizenship elective. In the last year students are required to take a lab science course and an “aesthetic response” course. There is no required internship with this degree, but students are required to complete a project in their area of study.

Bachelor of Science Computer Science

This program is accredited by the Computing Commission of ABET. It includes a 200 hour internship, job placement or cooperative placement. The website says the school goal is to instill ethics and teamwork in its graduates and to prepare them for entry-level positions in computer science or to go on to higher learning. The lower-level classes are intensive in math and computer programming languages in preparation for higher-level classes. Intermediate classes focus on the study of systems, hardware and theory, and upper-level classes allow students to study their concentration areas in depth. This 126-credit program contains core classes as well as required global perspective and citizenship courses, individual and team projects. There is an internship, but it carries no credits, and students must earn 60 credits before they apply for the internship program.

Master of Science in Computer Science

Students in this degree path can select their own courses to tailor their programs to be terminal or to lead to further study. Programs can be customized to suit student interests and goals. Although students can take generalist courses, they are encouraged to specialize in areas such as mobile apps and computer forensics. There are six bridge courses that help transition students from a major in another discipline to a computer science emphasis, should they decide to change majors. There are thirty credits in the degree path: nine are “distribution” classes which give a broad view of the program, (software design methodology, theory and analysis and computer systems) and 21 are electives. There is also a foreign language requisite for graduation, and thirty of the credits must be taken on the university campus.

Contact 
Tagliatela College of Engineering and Computer Science
University of New Haven
300 Boston Road
West Haven, CT 06576
Email through website
Website

Wesleyan University

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

This relatively small school has 3,215 students. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and offers a major in math and one in computer sciences. This school is associated with the Methodist church. It is a private, not-for-profit organization. The US News and World Reports ranks the Wesleyan University as number 17 nationally of liberal arts colleges. Out-of-state tuition for the school is $45,358

Major in Computer Sciences

This major is designed to give students a foundation in computer education and skills that they will use throughout their lives. The courses of study are individualized for each student. This major leads to a Bachelor of Arts –Computer Science degree. As such, students must fulfill the university requisites for the degree as well as for the major. In addition to the liberal arts component of the degree and the university core, there are six computer science courses and two electives. Of the 32 credits, 16 must be earned in residence at Wesleyan University. There are eight upper-level courses and the major program culminates in a comprehensive exam. Students may also earn an honors program designation by completing a thesis project.

Contact 
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Wesleyan University
45 Wyllys Avenue
Middletown, CT 06459
860-685-2164
kalonzo@wesleyan.edu
Website

Yale University

Department of Computer Science

This school offers Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in computer science, or a combined BS/MS degree. The university is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and it has a six-year graduation rate of 97 %. The US News and World Reports ranks the school as number three of national universities. There are 11,906 students enrolled. The goal of the Department of Computer Science is to give students a solid education in science and then allow them to take courses in other disciplines where the education may be applied. Out-of-state tuition is $42,300.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

This program is built around a core of five computer science courses including introduction to computer science, math and algorithms, data- structures, systems programming and computer architecture. Added to that core, there are electives that may be selected to personalize the program. The Bachelor of Science degree path is usually taken by someone who intends to practice in the industry as a programmer or other technologist. In the senior year there is a capstone project which consists of original research done under the supervision and mentorship of a faculty member. There are research opportunities for underclassmen as well. In addition to the five core courses of study, there are six areas of specialization. These include: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Graphics, Computer Systems, Programming Language, Scientific Computation and Theory of Computation. There are 12 term courses in this degree path.

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

This degree, like the Bachelor of Science, rests on the five core classes. The degree programs allow students to take many interdisciplinary courses and so the credit hours required are less at this school. The electives, especially in areas beside computer science, can be used to configure the degree path to whatever career students have decided upon. Courses are the same as for the Bachelor of Science degree; the only difference is that two fewer electives are needed for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Additionally, with the degree tailored more to the liberal arts, the capstone project can be creative, using the computer in novel ways to solve problems in other disciplines. The Bachelor of Arts program is intended for those people who intend to pursue a doctoral degree or who want to teach. Students must complete the degree program in eight semesters. There is a foreign language requisite.

Master of Science in Computer Science

This degree is structured for those people who want to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, or for students who want to do research but aren’t sure they want to commit the time it would take to earn a doctoral degree. It expands the student’s knowledge greatly beyond the undergraduate degree programs. Students study with faculty in small groups or even one-on-one. A general track may be pursued, or students may specialize in biometrics or computers and the arts. Graduation requisites for the general track include passing eight courses at the 500 level. Five of the eight must be in computer science. Specializations allow students to work more closely with faculty on topics of their own interests and do independent study projects. The latter is a requirement during one term of the specialization, but not the general track.

Ph.D. in Computer Science

This degree takes four to six years to complete. The stress is on research with the first three years taken in general classes and research projects beginning in the third year. The research projects are guided by an advisor and a supervisory committee. The goal of the degree program is the doctoral dissertation, but there are other milestones along the way suck as annual “practice talks,” and area exams as well as formally submitting the dissertation proposal and being accepted into candidacy.

Contact 
Department of Computer Science
Yale University
51 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8285
203-432-1246
Email through website
Website

This list of Connecticut schools offering computer science programs gives students an idea of the kinds of courses and concentrations available. To really understand the schools, though, prospective students should investigate the school websites and compare styles of teaching, student body sizes and other factors. There is a similarity in the kinds of subjects taught, but great diversity in the focus of the departments in these Computer Science Degrees.

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