Computer Science BS/MS

Computer Science is a diverse and ubiquitous field, touching people's lives in many ways. UB offers BA, BS and BS/MS degree options for Computer Science. The combined BS/MS program in Computer Science offers a five-year path to receiving both a BS degree in Computer Science and an MS degree in Computer Science & Engineering. The BS/MS program allows students to not only achieve a broad foundation in Computer Science via undergraduate coursework, but also significant advanced training and specialization and engagement with current research through the graduate component.

The curriculum is designed to meet several educational objectives. These broad statements describe what we expect our graduates to achieve within a few years of graduation. Our program educational objectives are:

1. To work productively as Computer Scientists, including supportive and leadership roles on multidisciplinary teams.
2. Communicate effectively, recognize and incorporate societal needs and constraints in their professional endeavors, and practice their profession with high regard to legal and ethical responsibilities.

In addition, the curriculum provides opportunities for students to develop the following knowledge, skills, and behaviors by the time of graduation:

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 School of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers nine engineering programs leading to the degree of bachelor of science (BS) degree: aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial and mechanical engineering.

Five combined BS/MBA programs are offered in conjunction with the School of Management. BA, BS, and BS/MS degrees in computer science are offered through the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. A BS degree in engineering physics is offered jointly with the Department of Physics.

The curricula allow students flexibility in their programs of study and encourages interaction between students and faculty. The undergraduate educational experience prepares students for professional practice and advanced study. Special programs including our experiential learning program, undergraduate research, and internship opportunities provide professional development skills and experiences and facilitate placement of our graduates in high-quality engineering positions.

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences occupies six buildings on UB's north campus: Bell, Bonner, Davis, Furnas, Jarvis, and Ketter Hall.

Together, these buildings form an outstanding educational and research facility, comprising 275,000 square feet of laboratory and office space.

The department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is housed in Davis Hall. Faculty offices, teaching assistant consultation space, and research laboratories are located on all floors of Davis Hall. Additional teaching laboratories are housed in Baldy, Bonner, and Bell Halls. Course lectures are scheduled in various buildings across the north campus.

The faculty members of the department, all of whom have national and international reputations in their fields, are involved in research projects that have a variety of special contracts. Many have also received research funding from corporations such as Cisco, Google, IBM, Intel, Kodak, Microsoft, Nokia, and Xerox.

These projects include research in:

• algorithms and theory
• augmentative technology for the handicapped
• computer networks and distributed systems
• computer security and information assurance
• computer vision and information visualization
• data integration and databases
• high performance and grid computing
• cyber infrastructure and computational science
• knowledge representation
• computational linguistics
• medical applications and bioinformatics
• human computer interaction
• wireless computing
• multimedia databases and informational retrieval
• pattern recognition
• machine learning
• data mining
• programming languages and software systems
• embedded systems
• VLSI
• computer architecture

Please visit the Computer Science department website for additional information about our faculty.

In their careers, graduates of the program will attain the skills to work productively as Computer Scientists, including supportive and leadership roles on multidisciplinary teams, communicate effectively, recognize and incorporate societal needs and constraints in their professional endeavors, and practice their profession with high regard to legal and ethical responsibilities, engage in life-long learning, such as graduate study, to remain current in their profession and be leaders in our global technological society.

Most students with bachelor's degrees obtain jobs in the fields of computing and applications programming or related areas such as systems analysis and design. Some of the jobs are in scientific or technical industries for which a considerable knowledge of mathematics is also desirable. Others are involved in programming for business and other administrative applications where the mathematics background is less necessary. There are also a number of jobs in systems programming which are not concerned directly with applications, but with writing programs that facilitate the use of computers for applications.

Skills gained in this program include:

• Communication
• Group/team work experience & special project knowledge
• Teaching
• Programming language concepts
• Knowledge of operating systems
• Designing
• Testing/analyzing/problem-solving
• Abstract & formal reasoning
• Selling and marketing concepts

Salary Trends

Salary Ranges (taken from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook): $57,340-$153,710

What percentage of graduates goes on to graduate school? 10-20%

Students obtain academic advice and guidance from the academic advisors in the SEAS Office of Undergraduate Education (410 Bonner Hall) and from faculty advisors in their program of study. The Office of Undergraduate Education advises all students throughout their first two years of study. In the junior and senior years, students seek advisement primarily from departmental faculty advisors.

Admission to the graduate portion of the combined degree is made through the the CSE department program. Students should confirm MS requirements directly with the CSE department.

Students in the program obtain academic guidance jointly from an academic advisor in Engineering and from the Computer Science and Engineering Undergraduate Academic Coordinator (338R Davis Hall). Students majoring in CSE programs have faculty mentors, whom they meet at least once a year to discuss technical aspects of the program, future research opportunities, and academic, and career goals.

SEAS Office of Undergraduate Education
410 Bonner Hall
North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-1900
Phone: 716-645-2774

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences website

Computer Science and Engineering Christy Krawczyk Undergraduate Academic Coordinator 338R Davis Hall, North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2500 Phone 716-645-4759

There are many scholarships, fellowships and other funding opportunities available for students accepted into the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. These include recruitment scholarships and annual scholarships/awards for current students. There are both merit and need-based scholarships.