Concentrations in the Computer Science & Innovation Major

Tailor your Computer Science & Innovation major to gain a high level of specific technical expertise.

As a Computer Science & Innovation student, you will choose a concentration and/or minor to complement your degree. You can focus your studies on Artificial Intelligence, Mobile App Development, or Software Engineering.

Your faculty advisor will help you map out the best academic path to reach your desired career and/or graduate studies goals.


Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is about enabling machines to autonomously complete complex tasks with minimal human intervention. This broad and exciting sub-discipline of computer science is enabling revolutionary applications, ranging all the way from speech recognition to self-driving vehicles.

From the first computer that played chess in the 1950s to our current smartphone digital assistants, this optional four-course concentration will enable interested students to understand the algorithms and theory behind major AI applications, and to write programs using modern AI techniques.

Courses in this concentration include:

Mobile Application Development

Mobile applications have provided us with a world of information at our fingertips, wherever we go—and the field is constantly evolving.

Students in this concentration will complement their computer science education with an in-depth skill set, including building and programming effective mobile apps, learning the constraints and usability functions of mobile devices, and exploring current methods to create successful client/server mobile solutions. Students in the Mobile Application Development concentration will:

  • gain a foundational understanding of the current field of mobile computing;
  • complete hands-on experience with current mobile platforms, which will provide students with a strong insight into what it means to develop mobile application software;
  • evaluate the role that mobile systems play in the ever-changing technology field;
  • compare and contrast various technologies involved in mobile communication, including encryptions and networking; and
  • understand mobile concepts to design and develop new and innovative applications for current and future mobile devices.

Courses in this concentration include:

Software Engineering

As technology evolves, the problems that we can solve become more and more complex. Software Engineering is a critical field that promotes systematic ways to design, evaluate, and manage computing solutions.

With a concentration in Software Engineering, you will follow software development methodologies, re-engineer existing software systems, design programs for specialized domains, and document software requirements.

Upon completion of your degree, you will have experience building software systems—including development, testing, maintenance, and technical documentation. Students in the Software Engineering concentration will:

  • analyze, design, implement, verify, and validate software systems;
  • use principles of software engineering to produce documentation and software that meets requirements; and
  • identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems as an individual and as part of a team.

Courses in this concentration include: