IUP’s computer science programs share a curricular core covering fundamental concepts, programming, problem solving, data structures, algorithms, software engineering, database, and seminars on technical topics and the profession. The department focuses on providing a broad foundation to create agile graduates who can adapt to the rapidly changing trends in the computer science field. Upper-level courses are designed to provide depth of theory and build career skills. Every student in the B.S. in Software Engineering track also completes a minor (or double major) in a complementary field. The program trains students to analyze complex computing problems and to identify solutions by applying software engineering principles and by leveraging their skills from other disciplines. The curriculum includes courses held in computer classrooms and offers hands-on learning that blends theory with supervised practice. The track prepares work-force ready graduates who function effectively as a team members or leaders while engaged in software engineering activities.
Students completing the program are prepared to work in computer-dependent areas of business, government, and industry. Recent graduates have started their careers with positions in programming and systems analysis, business applications, computer software development, scientific and applied mathematical programming, and other computer-related areas or have continued with graduate school.