Program Overview

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Computer Science and Engineering Program

The Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) program at Ohio State University focuses on the development of software and the uses of software to solve practical problems and to support and improve productivity, health, happiness, and safety in today's society.

Program Description

Topics studied in the CSE program include algorithms and data structures, programming languages, computer architecture, computer graphics, operating systems, software engineering systems analysis, database systems, artificial intelligence, information security, and networking. A computing professional analyzes a situation in an application domain, carefully specifies the problems to be addressed, and then designs, evaluates, implements, and tests computer-based solutions to those problems.

Related Majors

Other majors suited for students interested in computing careers include:

• Computer and information science in the College of Arts and Sciences: virtually identical to the CSE major in its computing courses and technical background but involves more general education requirements rather than engineering
• Electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering: shares several computing courses with the CSE major but has a more hardware-oriented bent in its other courses

Admission Criteria

Admitted first-year students begin in pre-computer science and engineering, where they complete the prerequisite course work necessary to apply to the computer science and engineering major. Prospective students interested in pursuing engineering at Ohio State must indicate their engineering major of interest on their application. Applicants are reviewed holistically by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Curriculum

All engineering students have a similar first-year plan of study, the college core, that provides fundamental courses in math, science, and engineering. In addition to the college core, engineering students also take select core courses, major courses, and general education courses. Computer science students can select a focus area in:

• Artificial intelligence
• Computer graphics and game design
• Database systems and data analytics
• Information and computation assurance
• Computer networking
• Computer systems
• Software engineering

Study Abroad

Engineering students have several opportunities for global education, including service learning, semester abroad, international internships, engineering-specific study abroad programs, or the Global Option in Engineering program.

Internship

Students work with Engineering Career Services to find both paid internships and co-op jobs across the United States and around the world. About 75% of engineering students participate in a co-op or internship before they graduate.

Honors and Scholars

Honors and scholars offer students an opportunity to pursue academic rigor (Honors) or foster passion through community (scholars). Engineering students can enhance their experience by getting involved with one of the following engineering-based programs.

Engineering Honors

The Fundamentals of Engineering for Honors (FEH) Program is an optional course sequence that is offered to University Honors-designated engineering students. This accelerated program is designed to challenge students and provide them with a foundation in engineering principles that are necessary for success throughout their academic careers.

Engineering Scholars

Engineering Scholars contemplate the adoption of socially responsible practices within engineering as a means to minimize health risks and environmental impact and maximize efficiency, feasibility, and sustainability. Humanitarian Engineering Scholars learn about and engage in engineering activities that impact underserved areas by addressing pressing problems.

Research

At Ohio State, engineering students conduct research alongside top faculty from across the universitydoctors, physicists, designers, artists, and experts in many other fieldsto advance our knowledge and improve the world around us. Students enjoy multiple outlets to share their work, including Ohio State's annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum each spring. Computer science and engineering research topics include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Applied machine learning
• Animation
• Network security
• Wireless networking
• Computer architecture
• Software systems
• Computational learning theory
• Computational biology and bioinformatics

Student Organizations

Computer science and engineering students choose from more than 80 engineering student organizations, including Association of Computing Machinery Committee on Women, Buckeye Aerial Robotics Team, Underwater Robotics Team, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Buckeye Hackers, Electronics Club, and Game Creation Club.

Possible Careers

Because computing is essential in all areas of society, the demand for people skilled in the computing field continues to grow. Recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections for U.S. job growth in the next decade show computing jobs, of the sort computer science and engineering (CSE) graduates might take, consistently rank in the top 10 positions requiring an undergraduate degree. Computer software and hardware vendors hire CSE graduates in areas such as software and hardware product development, quality assurance, customer support, sales and marketing, documentation, and training.

Salary Estimates

Beginning annual salaries for recent computer science and engineering graduates average $113,161 (California and Washington) and $76,429 (not California and Washington).

Program Objectives

It is the intent of the faculty that within the first few years after graduation:

• Graduates of the program will be employed in the computing profession and will be engaged in learning, understanding, and applying new ideas and technologies as the field evolves
• Graduates with an interest in, and aptitude for, advanced studies in computing will have completed, or be actively pursuing, graduate studies in computing
• Graduates will be informed and involved members of their communities and responsible engineering and computing professionals