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School of Mathematics and Computer Science

You are here: Home / School of Mathematics and Computer Science / Computer Science

Computer Science

“The function of good software is to make the complex appear to be simple.”

– Grady Booch

The skills you need to solve problems…and the skills that employers need to solve theirs.

Our world often emphasizes technological skills, but that is a shallow approach. Those “mad skills” will be out-dated in a handful of years. Our curriculum is designed, maintained, and updated to keep pace with the real world, but it is also grounded in the most important skills of all: the ability to think and the ability to learn.

Our students apply and adapt what they’ve learned in our projects courses, giving them real world experience before they graduate.

In the sophomore projects course you will to learn how to analyze the needs of an actual client, to design and implement a solution for their problem, and to deliver that project on time.

In your senior year, you will complete a two semester senior capstone experience where you will be challenged to manage larger and more complex client projects. You will develop “soft skills” to communicate with clients, to prepare written documentation and reports, to deliver presentations and training to clients, and to work effectively on teams.

Our clients come from the university and the local community. The work can be a software/networking/web project, an internship with a local corporation, or even a research project!

By the time you graduate, you will be prepared not just to thrive in today’s world, but to change tomorrow’s world. That’s what thinkers and learners do.

Our Curriculum

We have a strong, applied CS curriculum that is highly-values by both corporations and graduate schools. Our  small class sizes facilitate closer interaction with, and greater individual attention from, our professors.  Our curriculum is continuously updated to address shifts in the marketplace and follows the latest ACM Computer Science Curricula.

Senior Projects/Research

Automated Drone Control System

Philip Graziani and Josh Bosley

Most autonomous tracking applications used by aerial vehicles today rely on instrumented targets to perform basic tracking tasks. This project introduces an approach that does not require instrumented targets to autonomously control a vehicle. It tracks targets using a computer vision techniques called “pressure snakes”. With only one camera mounted onto a quad copter via gimbal, we can track an object of any shape or size without the use of an instrument attached to the target.

Department of Natural Resources Data Analysis

Lucas Frazier and James Gerberding

The DNR requested that data collected in the Upper Black River Watershed be analyzed and graphed for display on a public information webpage. The project fulfilled the following requirements:

  • Analyze large amount of river temperature data sheets in the Upper Black River Watershed;
  • Grab all times in when temperatures surpassed 72º Fahrenheit;
  • Create graphs that show the different locations and how often they surpassed the 72ºF mark;
  • Write summaries based on this data and how it effects brook trout;
  • Contact Upper Black River Council to get summary uploaded to their website.

Girls Can Do I.T.

Elizabeth Dotski and Cordell Holbrook

There are not many apps relating to girls in Information Technology and Computer Science on iTunes.  We created an app that will hopefully fill this gap for girls who are interested in I.T and Computer Science and hopefully provide them with information and resources to help them learn about the technology careers. Our app provides information on organizations, history, employment, and education both in Michigan and nationally.

Inspire Tennis Wildcats Team App

Laura Roberts

John Gardinner has established a business that allows players to venture to the United States to pursue their tertiary degree through their various sports. Particularly John specializes in tennis and has created a tennis team, with his players, which mimics how a university team in the States in managed to give the players an idea of what to expect.
What John was looking for is an application that will allow the players and the players of the parents within the team to easily communication among one another. He also wanted other information pertaining to the team to be readily available to them such as their sponsors, events and training schedules, a gallery, coaching videos as well as the ability for them to upload statistics from their recent matches while at a tournament.

Maplewood Baptist Academy Student Information System

Robert Hollowell, Ahmed Basmair, Tyler Postma, and Porter Behling (not pictured)

Maplewood Baptist Academy is a private school that has gone through a number of Student Information Systems, but has been unable to find one that suits their needs. With insufficient IT staff, and requiring a student information system that could easily be maintained and updated by on site faculty, It was our duty to provide a technology based solution for a student information system that could meet the needs of Maplewood Baptist Academy.

In order to deal with multiple devices, a web interface was decided on as the best method of access to the system. The team went with a combination of PHP, MariaDB, HTML, CSS, a little bit of Bash, and Javascript. This combination allowed for the creation of a system that is flexible to changes, and resilient to time. Future-proofing was kept in mind during the development of the project.

Sault Ste Marie Community Improvement iPhone App

Joel Blumenthal

The City of Sault Ste. Marie wanted a smartphone app to report infrastructure problems (e.g. potholes, burned-out streetlamps, etc.). The following requirements were satisfied by the developed iPhone app:

  • Design an iOS application for the community to send requests;
  • Allow the community to also view important information about the city;
  • Build the Google Forms so that data may be properly sent in and handled;
  • Train the city on how to view and edit requests;
  • Upload the application to the App Store.

Sault Ste. Marie Information Technology Internship

Bonnie Raffaele is the Information Technology Director of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, but is the sole I.T. person for the entire city. Each year, Ms. Raffaele offers the opportunity to give a computer networking student invaluable experience in a dynamic workplace, in managing day-to-day tasks, and in solving complex technical issues. The intern works with the Mater Treatment Facility, Pullar Stadium, the City of Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, the Seal Recreation Area, and others to improve, update, and repair our city’s IT infrastructure.

Current Technologies and Facilities

LSSU is a member of the Apple University program, providing students with access to the software needed to learn how to create mobile applications for Apple devices. Students in the mobile applications programming course develop iPhone applications using Apple laptops.

Our facilities provide students with the tools they need. Students have 24-hour access to two dedicated labs!

Using VMWare and virtual machines, students are able to gain experiences across multiple operating systems and programming languages.

At LSSU, students learn a variety of programming languages including Python, C/C++, Java, Perl, Lua, JavaScript, PHP, Swift, SQL (MySQL/SQL Server), and ASP with MVC.

Resources

  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
  • Computing Degrees and Careers (ACM)
  • Computer and Information Technology, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
  • Computing Research Association (CRA)
  • Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
  • Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP)
  • Centers of Excellence for Information and Computing Technology
  • Michigan Celebration of Women in Computing (MICWIC)
  • National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)

Degrees

This degree provides a solid background in computer science with supporting coursework in applied mathematics and business. Adding an appropriate minor field of study can complement the program, as well as give the graduate a competitive edge in the work force.

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
  • Associate of Science in Computer Science
  • Minor in Computer Science

Choosing the Right Academic Program for You!

Most of the careers in computer and information systems require at least a bachelor degree. At LSSU you can choose the academic program that works for you. Some students pursuing a bachelor degree in computer science also choose to complete an associate’s degree or a minor in business, accounting, mathematics or web development. Some students choose to complete the associate degree and continue on to finish your bachelor degree.

Students, who choose other careers, may also choose to minor in computer science. Students who major in accounting, business and managements, teaching and physical and biological sciences may benefit by combining their knowledge of programming with their primary field.

For more information about our computer science program, contact Dr. Christopher Smith at .

Choosing a Career in Computer Science

Job outlook is 22%, faster than average with a projected increase of 222,600 jobs between 2012 – 2022. That means there are jobs are available now and will continue to grow in numbers in the future.

Continue

Women in Computer Science

Dominique Taylor with awards

There are many opportunities for women today in computer science! To help prepare young women for careers in computer science, students attend the biennial Michigan Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. MICWIC is part of a nationwide effort to inspire women to enter computer science professions.

LSSU is also a member of the National Center for Women & Information Technology – Academic Alliance (NCWIT).

Students Dominique Taylor, left, and Lauren Rawson pose with Microsoft’s Jennifer Marsman, a keynote speaker at the Michigan Celebration of Women in Computing Conference held in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

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