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Computer Science

What We Do

Software is at the core of many fields: science, medicine, education, business, and government. Simulating heart function, building large web frameworks, and defending our nation's secrets are all critically dependent on software. As a computer science major, students study the entire software engineering process from defining a problem, to designing a solution, building it, refining it, and testing it. But it's not just software - students also learn about the computer's hardware, and the overlying business and fundamental mathematics behind the software solutions.

Our program

We offer a B.S. degree in Computer Science, a post-baccalaureate degree in Computer Science, and a Minor in Computer Science. In our student-centered curriculum, we offer small class sizes with many opportunities to practice new skills and build solutions within teams. We integrate design experiences across the four years of the curriculum, culminating in a capstone experience, to help prepare students for careers in a modern and changing technological landscape.

Specialties

We offer computer science courses to prepare students to enter the software profession or be successful in graduate programs. Students may choose to specialize by taking computer science electives, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, computer networks, computer security, and big data analytics.

Careers

Graduates choose careers from computer chip design to the financial industry. Due to its flexibility, job growth, and salary, software engineering is often ranked highly as a job. University of Portland computer science graduates work for companies such as Amazon, Garmin, Apple, Daimler, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Nike, Oracle, Salesforce, and Trimble.

Research

Our faculty conduct research about computing infrastructure, algorithms, programming languages, design, and computer science pedagogy. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to work alongside faculty in research projects.