Our Department

Our History 
The UNH Department of Computer Science first emerged in 1978 as a division of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. At the time, B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science were offered. In 1981, when the faculty roster had grown to six members, the Department of Computer Science became an individual entity within the University of New Hampshire's College of Engineering and Physical Science. Since then, the department has continued to grow. In 1989, the department started offering a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Today, students can explore new paths in Information Technology and Bioinformatics, and gain experience through countless internship opportunities.

Our Faculty 
Our 12 faculty members have wide-ranging interests and research projects, with concentrations in artificial intelligence, computer graphics and scientific visualization, database and knowledge base systems, operating systems and computer networks, parallel computing and compiler design, and theoretical computer science. The CS department is also supported by 11 full- and part-time instructors who are dedicated to providing excellence in teaching.

Faculty members and instructors are also committed to the department's mission of offering high-quality baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral level computer science programs; providing computer and information technology coursework to the broader UNH community; performing scholarly research to advance the state-of-knowledge, the state-of-the-art, and the state-of-practice in computer science and related fields; and providing expertise to serve the UNH community, region, state and nation.

Many of our students find the strong network of faculty support and intimate class sizes exceptional. Our department is committed to keeping class sizes under 40, and senior elective classes typically have fewer than 20 students. Students in our program don’t feel like just a number.

Our Curriculum 
The UNH Computer Science curriculum emphasizes the fundamentals. We focus on teaching skills and knowledge that leave our graduates feeling confident in an ever-changing field. Requiring our students to gain a solid foundation in science and mathematics fosters an environment that encourages strong problem-solving skills and abstract thinking. Students also leave our program with solid-footing in software engineering. Since the major tenets of our curriculum aren't about merely teaching our students to program, our graduates are able to go out into the professional world prepared for a wide-range of jobs and to pursue advanced degrees.

Our Students
Our program is home to approximately 150 undergraduate students and 65 graduate students. Many of our students appreciate gaining solid technical skills and knowledge while being immersed in the atmosphere of a rural, liberal arts school. Several of our students are involved in extra-curricular activities and coursework that ultimately enable them to round out their experiences here.

Our graduates have gone on to land myriad jobs in neighboring cities and states, and beyond. Recent graduates have been hired at Acision, CA Technologies, BAE Systems, IBM, DEKA Research, EMC, General Dynamics, Hydratec, Liberty Mutual, Microsoft, NetApp, PROTEUS Technologies, Radianse, and Raytheon.  Others have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at prestigious institutions across the United States.

What is Computer Science?

Computer scientists are concerned with all aspects of design, implementation, and application of computer software. They focus on problem-solving in general, with particular emphasis on the design of computer-efficient solutions. This involves a detailed understanding of the nature of algorithms (a set of rules for solving a problem), the software implementation techniques necessary to utilize these algorithms on computers and a knowledge of how algorithms can be combined in a structured manner to form highly complex software systems

Computer science is commonly confused with other fields such as Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, and Management Information Systems. Though each of these disciplines may share commonalities with Computer Science, professionals in these fields have their own unique ways of interacting with computers and technology.

Computer Engineering 
Computer Engineering normally refers to the design of the computer hardware and hardware interfaces (circuitry which allow different hardware devices to be connected together) between various devices associated with computers and/or other digital devices. Electrical and computer engineers are involved in both the development of the hardware for computer systems and the software to operate these systems. The UNH College of Engineering and Physical Sciences offers degrees in the field of computer and electrical engineering. For more information, visit the ECE Department Web site.

Information Technology 
Computer Science focuses on how computer technology, particularly software, is built in order to extend existing or build new technologies. Information Technology, on the other hand, focuses on the application of existing technologies to current problems. Information technology can be applied to a large range of fields/problems and includes the selection, integration and deployment of computer technologies to solve identified problems. The computer science department now offers a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree program.

Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems, also called Computer Information Systems or Information Systems, is concerned with location, storing, organizing, manipulating, filtering, and presenting information related to the operations of business. Depending on their specialties, MIS/CIS/IS personnel may be involved with developing business application software, and/or analyzing or managing business operations. Courses taken may range from programming courses oriented towards business software development to business management courses. The UNH Whittemore School of Business and Economics offers a Master's Degree in the Management of Technology. For more information visit the WSBE Web site.