Computer Science
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Highlights
The Computer Science department offers a technically sound education that positions students well for interesting, successful careers. Small classes are taught by experienced faculty who are both excellent teachers and experienced scholars, and who are committed to the Jesuit traditions of scholarship and service to others. Students complete projects in a lab regularly updated with advanced workstations with dual large lcd screens. Departmental facilities include a set f advanced laboratories for network secruity, robot mobility and perception, software engineering and computer graphics. The Baltimore-Washington areas is a great place to start a career in computer science, with a number of significant companies, governmental agencies and other opportunities near to campus, including the third largest collection of computer game companies in a US metropolitan area. All students in the Computer Science department have the chance to participate in internships, part-time jobs or research programs during their undergraduate years, and on graduation often take rewarding jobs in the region.
Degree Options
B.S. with concentrations in networks and software engineering (program accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET)
B.A. offering a flexible program of study that more easily allows for a minor in another discipline
Program Description
Computer scientists are needed today to design and create systems to solve complex scientific problems and process vast amounts of business-generated data. If you enjoy using computers, working with others and being continually challenged intellectually, computer science may be the field for you. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that, during the 2000-2010 time period, computer-related occupations will grow faster than any other occupations that require an undergraduate degree. To qualify graduates for these positions, the computer science department provides a solid foundation in computing principles, as well as experience with state-of-the-art hardware and software systems.
Facilities and Equipment
First-year computer science students begin programming in a Windows-based integrated development environment. High-end Linux workstations support projects for upper-division courses, as well as for student and faculty research. Students learn assembly language programming for the Intel 80X86 family of microprocessors and experiment with computer hardware. The department maintains an introductory lab, a Linux lab and special projects lab, as well as hardware labs that are available around the clock for computer science students; these include a lab with set of mobile robots with 3D laser scanner and a honeypot network for the analysis of hacker attacks. Campus-wide, more than 300 PCs and Macintoshes are available in labs that can be used for programming as well as general applications.
Faculty
Loyola has a distinguished and energetic computer science faculty that includes five members with earned Ph.Ds in computer science. A brief summary of their education and research interests follows.
David W. Binkley
Professor
B.S., Case Western Reserve University
M.S., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Areas of Interest: programming languages, software engineering and program analysis
Richard A. Brown
Instructor
B.S., Loyola College in Maryland
M.S., Johns Hopkins University
Areas of Interest: applications software and Internet programming
Arthur L. Delcher
Professor Emeritus
B.A., M.E.S., Loyola College in Maryland
M.A., M.S.E., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Areas of Interest: algorithms, artificial intelligence and computational biology
Roger D. Eastman
Department Chair, Associate Professor
B.A., University of Missouri
M.S., Ph.D., University of Maryland (College Park)
Areas of Interest: robotic vision and earth satellite image processing
Michael J. French, S.J.
Adjunct Instructor
B.A., Fordham University
M.A., University of Washington
M.Div., St. Mary’s University (Nova Scotia)
M.E.S., Loyola College in Maryland
Areas of Interest: applications software and computer science education
James R. Glenn
Assistant Professor
A.B., Amherst College
Ph.D., University of Maryland
Areas of Interest: algorithms and computer science theory
Dawn J. Lawrie
Assistant Professor
A.B., Dartmouth College
M.S., Ph.D., University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
Area of Interest: information retrieval
Roberta E. Sabin
Professor
B.A., College of Notre Dame
M.A., Villanova University
M.Ed., Loyola College in Maryland
M.S., Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D., University of Maryland
Areas of Interest: coding theory, computer science education, databases and information retrieval
Research Opportunities
While the greatest emphasis at Loyola is on traditional undergraduate instruction, Computer Science faculty and students are involved in a broad range of research activities. Often enhanced by external sponsorship, faculty members regularly engage students as collaborators in interesting, cutting edge projects. A team-based, collaborative approach, characteristic of most current scientific research, is fostered and enabled by the Department’s size and collegial atmosphere.
Recently, professional experiences and research fellowships have been sponsored by organizations such as the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Office of Naval Research and the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST). Sponsored projects have included the development of optimal strategies for game play; adding an expert system interface to an online database for the Space Shuttle; analyzing and processing digital satellite images; development of software engineering tools; information retrieval as applied to software analysis; designing algorithms for robot intelligence; analyzing microbial DNA sequence data to locate genes; support for connection to research networks; and grants for the purchase of state-of-the-art lab equipment. Based on joint research, computer science undergraduates have presented at national conferences and co-authored peer-reviewed papers. Summer research grants for on-campus collaborative research for undergraduates are provided by Loyola through the Hauber Summer Research Program.
Placement
- Some graduates opt to continue their education after graduation. Loyola computer science graduates have earned advanced technical degrees from well-respected institutions such as:
- Johns Hopkins University
Loyola College in Maryland
North Carolina State University
Princeton University
University of Delaware - University of Iowa
University of Maryland - University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Virginia Tech
- The computer science program at Loyola is highly regarded by technical employers in the region. Frequently, students begin their association with a future employer via an internship that offers part-time employment during the school year and summers.
AAI Corporation - Engineering Analyst
Aberdeen Proving Grounds - Computer Scientist
Accenture - Computer Analyst
American Management Systems - Computer Analyst
AT&T - Information Systems
BG&E - Associate System Analyst
Verizon - Software Engineer
Booz-Allen & Hamilton - Computer Consultant
Computer Sciences Corporation - Technical Associate
Department of Defense - Computer Analyst
Dickenson-Heffner, Inc. - Network Administrator & Engineer
IBM - Programmer
Loral Corporation - Systems Analyst
Lucent Technologies - Programmer
NASA Goddard - Systems Analyst
National Security Agency - Systems Analyst
Northrop Grumman - Project Director
Senior Engineer - Systems Analyst
United Parcel Service - Programmer Analyst
Curriculum
The B.S. program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). The B.A. degree offers the student more flexibility and more easily accommodates a non-technical minor. A strong mathematics and science foundation added to the liberal arts core curriculum provides students with the tools for analysis and communication that are increasingly highly prized in technical occupations.
Course Sequence
Computer Science/Required Courses:
Computer Science I & II
Data Structures and Algorithms I & II
Computer Engineering I
Theory Elective*
Operating Systems*
Programming Languages*
Software Engineering
Computer Science project
Regularly Offered Electives:
- Algorithm Analysis
Artificial Intelligence
Compiler Construction
Computer Graphics
Database Management Systems
Graphical User Interface Design
Image Processing
Introduction to Networks
Microcomputer Systems
Object-Oriented Programming
Software Testing - Theory of Computation
Web Programming
Wide Area Networks
*Not required for the B.A. in Computer Science.
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