Department of Computer Science and Statistics

To All Prospective Students,

Do you get math? If so, the problem solving skills you've already shown in doing math provide a great foundation for a degree in Computer Science and for a successful and interesting career. The realities of computer science and information technology today are far broader than the image that "The Geek Squad" might suggest. In fact, gaming software, computer forensics, and cutting-edge computer graphics are all part of Computer Science. Plus, according to the United States Department of Commerce, an overwhelming majority of projected job openings in science are in Computer Science your math skills can open countless opportunities.

As Chair of the Computer Science Department, I am anxious to dispel the myth that all computer scientists work in isolation, peck away on their keyboard, and think only programming thoughts day and night. This field is so much more exciting than that! You can help build the next generation of tools and toys and be among the architects of the future. Ever wonder how computer animations work? Come learn how and so much more. Take a look at what you can be a part of in our department:

  • Participate in research for the National Science Foundation developing animated models of people evacuating buildings in an emergency. In our post 9/11 culture, imagine helping to solve "real world" problems as an undergraduate!
  • Gain hands-on experience with 3-D graphics, visualization techniques, and graphic design, working on special research projects funded by URI's Presidential Partnership Grants.
  • Learn to sort DNA sequences and to discover correlations in huge data bases such as medical records - it's called data mining and it provides a service that's impossible for humans to accomplish without computers.
  • Learn about artificial intelligence and how to apply it to problems such as controlling a robot - computers are part of all sorts of devices, not just what you see on your desktop.
  • Join a department whose reputation and forward thinking has garnered research funding from such prestigious sources as the National Science Foundation, NASA, Office of Naval Research, National Institutes of Health, MIT, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA - the group that started the Internet).

Computer science is not just about "computers." It's about using computers as tools to answer questions, develop solutions, and discover applications for computers that are not yet imagined. Prepare yourself to be a builder of the future. Government statistics project that by 2012 there will be more than 140,000 jobs in computer science and fewer than 60,000 college graduates prepared to fill them. If you've got math, you've got opportunities. Finish high school and join us in our adventures. We're looking forward to meeting you!

Cordially,
James G. Kowalski, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Computer Science and Statistics

PS. If you or your family have any questions, I encourage you to visit us on line at http://www.cs.uri.edu. For more general questions you can call the Admissions Office at (401) 874-7100.