Undergraduate Computing Programs at UVa Tom Horton Dept

Undergraduate Computing Programs at UVa Tom Horton Dept. of Computer Science http: //www. cs. virginia. edu

About Me l l l Been at UVa since 2001 – Before, at Florida Atlantic University since 1987 – Ph. D degree from Univ. of Edinburgh (Scotland) Associate Chair – Focused on Undergraduate Programs – Especially coordination outside CS department Director of BA Degree in Computer Sci. Program Accreditation: ABET CAC/Evaluator (former team chair, commisioner) Associate Professor – NTTF: no research responsibilities, focused on undergraduate program and “service” – Not tenured, but something like tenure

Who We Are l l Department of Computer Science: 28 faculty members – 9 Full Professors; 11 Associate Professors; 8 Assistant Professors – 3 of the Assoc. Profs are “Teaching” Faculty – Also, 6 Lecturers – New hires: hopefully ~4 more this year! For more info: – http: //www. cs. virginia. edu/people/faculty/ – Research: http: //www. cs. virginia. edu/research/

Who We Are: CS Graduate Students l l l CS graduate students graduating 2013 -2014: – 8 Ph. D students – 13 Masters students 75 CS graduate students currently enrolled – 17 women, 58 men l 24 from the US l 28 from China l 9 from Bangladesh l 7 from India l Others from Iran, Poland, Bulgaria, Rwanda, Korea, Kuwait Note: Comp. Engin. students not included here!

Who We Are: Undergraduate Students l l Students graduating 2013 -2014: 226 total – BS Computer Science: 82 – BS Computer Engineering: 31 l A few double-major in both – BA Computer Science: 93 – Minor in CS: 19 Total number of students: 769 (27. 6% women) – BS Computer Science: 382 – BS Computer Engineering: 162 l 13 are double-majoring in both – BA Computer Science: 225

Degree Programs l l Computer Engineering (Comp. Engin. or Cp. E) – Jointly offered and managed by two departments: Computer Science (CS), and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) – BS, Masters, Ph. D degrees – For students in Engineering school Computer Science (CS) – Masters and Ph. D degrees for students in Engineering school – BS degree for students in Engineering school – BA degree for students College of Arts and Sciences l Unusual arrangement at UVa

Why Two Undergrad CS Programs? l College of Arts and Sciences – Largest “unit” at UVa – Degrees like: Economics, Math, Statistics, natural sciences, Media Studies, Cognitive Science, etc. – Honors program: Rodman Scholars – Historically College students have been very interested in computing l But didn’t choose Engineering school when they came to UVa l So CS Department started BA in Computer Science degree program in Spring 2006

Overview of Three Undergrad Degrees l l l BS in Computer Science (BSCS) – Accredited by ABET/CAC (Computing Accreditation Commission) – Engineering core: Physics, Chem. , Calculus, etc. – Capstone: team or research project BA in Computer Science (BACS) – Few credit hours of computing: 30 vs. ~46 credits for BSCS – Different non-computing requirements: l Foreign language, non-western perspectives, etc. – Integration electives (4): non-CS courses that involve computing BS in Computer Engineering (BSCp. E) – Accredited by ABET/EAC (Engineering Accreditation Commission) – Includes Electrical Engineering (EE) courses taught by ECE Dept – Capstone: team or research project

Program Differences l l 30 CS credits in BA. (43 in BSCS) In BSCS but not BACS – – – l l CS 2330, Digital Logic Design CS 3240, Adv. SW Development CS 3102, Theory of Computation CS 4414, Operating Systems CS 2190, Seminar BACS requires 4 “integration electives” Computer Engineering – – – Requires some ECE courses Networks Not: Algorithms, Theory of Comp

BSCS Courses…

CS Electives CS CS CS CS CS 3205 4240 4434 4457 4501 4610 4620 4630 4710 4720 4730 4753 4810 5787 5788 Human-Computer Interaction Principles of Software Design Fault-tolerant Computing Computer Networks Machine Learning and Data Mining Cyber Physical Systems Cloud Computing Programming Languages Compilers Defense against the Dark Arts Artificial Intelligence Web and Mobile Systems Computer Game Design Database Systems Electronic Commerce Computer Graphics Security in Information Systems Cryptology

BACS Courses…

BSCp. E Courses (core only, not electives)

Number of Majors by Program l As of early October: 2 nd Computer Engineering (total) 3 rd 4 th 5 th Total 43 65 50 2 160 BS in Computer Science (total) 127 128 125 5 385 BA in Computer Science (total) 16 98 103 8 225 186 291 278 15 770 15 27 28 1 71 Totals Minor in Computer Science

Computing Majors on “Why Computing? ” Jobs: many opportunities in diverse fields (even business oriented jobs, consulting) “I know a lot of CS kids go into finance and consulting because we have an amazing mind for critical thinking and breaking down problems. ”

Computing Majors on “Why Computing? ” Jobs: many opportunities in diverse fields (even business oriented jobs, consulting) “Emphasizing the fact that CS gives you a degree to work in an unlimited number of industries, to me at least, is an extremely attractive notion. ”

Computing Majors on “Why Computing? ” Many cool sub-fields in computing. Very broad. “No other department in the E-School gives their students the opportunity to learn about so many different topics like CS does with topics ranging from hardware to networks to security to e-commerce. ”

Computing Majors on “Why Computing? ” Many cool sub-fields in computing. Very broad. I think that the CS Dept. 's trump card is the breadth of interests that our field caters to. In my opinion, giving prospective CS majors some information about all of the sub-fields that we as a department are involved in would benefit them the most.

Computing Majors on “Why Computing? ” Many cool sub-fields in computing. Very broad. “Additionally, it may help to show the cross section of industries CS majors go into. This should include things from software development to law school to finance to consulting etc. CS is great because all the engineering firms need CS majors and all the non-engineering firms know CS majors are good analytical problem solvers. ”

Computing Majors on “Why Computing? ” Working with Professors: “Some of the research we're doing is incredible. I'm working with Prof. X to do research as a 3 rd year in Graphics. We have some pretty cool ideas and he's really good about relating complicated ideas into a concept that people who are as educated in the particular field can relate to”

Computing Majors on “Why Computing? ” Working with Professors: “Another example is to stress that we have such amazing professors. Give examples of what various professors have done. Talk about the automobile GUI you worked on, mention Davidson and Defense Against the Dark Arts, …. , the founders of Reddit being UVA students, etc. ”

Computing = creativity We tell our students to be creative in all three: Scientist Artist Engineer

Students Get Jobs with…. High Tech Companies Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, etc. Consulting, Financial, Etc. APT, Appian, Capital One, Excella Consulting, FIS Global, Accenture, Bloomberg, Booz Allen Hamilton, CGI, Capital IQ, Captech Ventures

Students Get Jobs with…. Entertainment Electronic Arts, Zynga, Epic Systems, Time Warner Cable, Video Game Technologies Government and Providers Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Computer Science Corp. , SAIC, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, NSA, Raytheon, State Dept.

Salaries Upon Graduation Engin. Major Aerospace Biomed Chemical Civil Comp. Eng Comp. Sci Electrical Engin. Sci Materials Mechanical Systems BS SEAS Average $66, 533 $64, 808 $68, 059 $56, 187 $79, 747 $78, 716 $67, 519 $57, 770 N/A $63, 304 $67, 815 National Average $63, 429 $57, 319 $68, 061 $54, 656 $68, 053 $66, 801 $68, 778 $60, 584 N/A $63, 555 $59, 278 From Spring 2014 SEAS 4 th Year survey. See SEAS Career Development website.

BA in CS Class of 2015 ~ Salaries 69 Responses - as of July 10 46 - have Full Time 6 - still looking 10 - Grad school 4 - Undecided Average Salary -- $77, 665 Low - $40, 000 High - $110, 000

BA in CS Class of 2015 ~ Where did They Go Accenture Agilex Alarm. com Appian Amazon BAH Capital One Cap. Tech Center for Open Science Deloitte Epic Fannie Mae Google Leidos Macedon Tech Maximus Microsoft Parsons Perfect Sense Digital Red Hat Sapient Sila SG US Air Force Vencore Verizon Wireless Willowtree Apps Yext

BS in CS Class of 2015 ~ Survey 77 Responses - as of July 10 63 - have Full Time 6 - still looking 4 - Grad school 4 - Undecided Average Salary -- $85, 682 Low - $50, 000 High - $115, 000

BS in CS Class of 2015 ~ Where did They Go Accenture Agilex American Express Appian BAH Capital One Cap. Tech CIA Citi. Group Clarabridge Commonwealth Computer Research Corvisa CSC Datminr Epic Fluencia General Dynamic Info Tech Google Higher Logic Microsoft My Lamp Novetta Solutions Optimal Satcom Palantir Perfect Sense Digital Red. Hat Soapbox Systems The Blackstone Group US Navy Virginia System & Tech Yahoo! Yext

BS in Cp. E Class of 2015 ~ Salaries 27 Responses - as of July 10 18 - have Full Time 3 - still looking 6 - Grad school Average Salary -- $80, 264 Low - $56, 000 High - $105, 000

BS in Cp. E Class of 2015 ~ Where did They Go Aerospace Appian Amazon BAH CA Inst of Tech Capital One Lockheed Microsoft Northrop Grumman Oracle Red Hat Sila SG Samsung US Navy Verizon Wireless

Some Graduates with Careers in China l l Three 2003 grads took jobs at Microsoft and Google But wanted to start a company in China – http: //english. cri. cn/4406/2008/01/22/1122@31 6513. htm – – Founded ECity. Sky (3 D Gaming) in Beijing in 2007 Bought out by YY Inc. in 2012

Student Life We support our students by: – CS 2190 seminar (BSCS only) – Support of clubs and organizations – Email lists Clubs and Organizations ACM-W Student Game Developers International Computer Programming Contest Hackathons Entrepreneurs Group

Saturday, March 29 th, 2014 http: //acm. cs. virginia. edu/hspc

Excelling in Undergrad Research UVa is one of the best places to do undergrad research in computing. Consider Outstanding Undergraduate Award from the Computing Research Association Ranks third behind Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Washington in the number of undergraduates receiving awards

Undergrad research – case study Bioterrorism Researchers model the spread of diseases such as smallpox. Identify optimal intervention strategies. Simulation system to account for uncertainty between models Real-world, socially relevant.

Undergrad research – case study Zoomed : Video processing challenges Need to track velocity of rolling leukocytes Leukocytes can be dark or light, overlap Multiple layers of vessels Jitter due to breathing of subject

Undergrad research – case study Smart Living Space

Diversity and Our Students l l Department goal – Make the degree program attractive to underrepresented groups, – Support such students while they’re completing their degree At UVa, we primarily focus on women students – African-Americans: only 4% of university students

Women in Undergrad Programs l Current percentage of women in programs – Engineering school average ~31% – Possibly 2 nd best percentage for R 1 universities 2 nd Total 2 nd F M BACS 6 10 Cp. E 4 BSCS Totals 3 rd Total 3 rd F M 37. 5% 32 66 39 9. 3% 6 33 94 26. 0% 43 143 23. 1% 4 th Total 5 th 4 th 5 th Totals F M 32. 7% 43 60 41. 7% 3 5 37. 5% 37. 3% 59 9. 2% 10 40 20. 0% 1 1 50. 0% 12. 7% 40 88 31. 3% 25 100 20. 0% 1 4 20. 0% 25. 8% 78 213 26. 8% 78 200 28. 1% 5 10 33. 3% 26. 4%

Activities Etc. l l l Women in Computer student organization – Re-formed in Fall 2014 – ACM-W / Wi. CS group Grace Hopper Celebration conference – Funded five students to attend (20 total) Hiring: – Of four tenure-track faculty: two women, one Hispanic – Of three new lecturers: one woman

Questions?

Challenges We Face l l Enrollment Growth Curriculum

Very Large Enrollment Growth in CS Classes l l l BA degree has grown rapidly – 93 graduates in 2013 -14 – 117 graduates in 2014 -15 – ~20 four years ago Other two degrees also have grown More non-majors want CS courses

Growth l l Graphs of student credit hours by university departments 2007 – 2012

Overall Growth l l Total number students in CS courses Double in 5 years since 2009 -2010 Increased on average: 14. 5% each year

Class Sizes l l l Electives were about 50 -60 students – Now often 70, some 140 (one or two sections) Many core courses were often ~100 now 200 – All now offered both semesters (before only one) Examples: – CS 2110 in 2011 -12: 443 students – CS 2110 in 2014 -15: 602 students CS 4102 in 2011 -12: 95 students – CS 4102 in 2014 -15: 253 students (was 302 in 13 -14) Fall numbers: – l http: //rabi. phys. virginia. edu/my. SIS/CS 2/page. php? Semester=1158 &Type=Group&Group=Comp. Sci

Strategies to Address this Problem l l l Hired three Lecturers “Caps” or limits on number of majors – BACS: 80 students per year – BSCS and BSCp. E: about 170 total per year – CS minors: about 20 per year Laboratory sessions for courses: – Larger size, fewer of them. In lecture halls. Use of Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) has been increased – Now require first-time TAs to “intern” the first semester for 3 hours of non-paid work Technology – Piazza for course forms, student questions – TPEGS grading system

“Caps” on major applications l Put in place for Spring 2014 – l But didn’t affect many students For Spring/Summer 2015 – – – BA Degree in CS: Accepted: 109. Rejected: 43 (many will re-apply) Acceptance rate: 71. 7% BS degree in CS: Accepted: 116. Rejected: 26 Acceptance rate: 81. 6% BS degree in Cp. E: Accepted: 37. Rejected: 10 Acceptance rate: 78. 7%

Questions or Comments?

Curriculum Challenges l l l New topics and material in computing! – Compared curriculum against ACM/IEEE-CS Computing Curriculum guidelines – More emphasis needed in core courses on: l SW Security and Parallel Computing We do teach new, cutting edge material: – Courses in: Web and Mobile Applications; Cloud Computing; Cryptography; Game Design; Parallel Computing – But these are electives, in years 3 and 4 Should we do some things earlier in core courses?

Questions or Comments?

Discussion Questions l l l Question #1: Are there similar problems or challenges with computing programs at your universities? Question #2: What areas of computing are becoming more and more important for computing majors? Question #3: What areas of computing are becoming more and more important for non-computing majors? What should CS departments be doing about this?