About the Department of Computer and Information Science

The Department, located on the 4th floor of Wilson Hall, has superb computing facilities and faculty members who are well versed in all the latest computer and information processing technologies.

The Department of Computer and Information Science (DCIS) supports two distinclty different majors - Computer Science and Computer Information Systems.

The Computer Science coursework focuses on core principles such as software design, computer hardware and organization, data representation and management, and transmission of data via files and networks. The Computer Information Systems coursework focuses on database management, file processing, and systems analysis and design, as typically used by organizations in both business and government. Application areas in which students of both majors become involved include software design, web development, networking, security, graphics, simulation, artificial intelligence, and end-user computing support. The Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Departmental facilities are excellent. The new Student Multimedia Technology Center is equipped with UNIX workstations, SONY VAIO multimedia equipment, and high-end Dell PCs, all with full access to local and wide-area networks. The Center also features a furnished lounge area, where students can complete assignments, conduct research, or simply chat about the latest innovations they are encountering.

Internships and real work experiences, both on and off campus, assist students in applying their classroom learning to situations that occur in the workplace. Upon graduation department majors have the ability to launch exciting careers in many and varied aspects of computing and information technology. Westfield State University graduates have gone on to take positions within a variety of businesses and industries, including local, state, and national government agencies, insurance companies, and many other private businesses that depend on computing for their information technology needs.

The Department subscribes to the ACM Digital Library, so students have access to global research resources. Additionally, the department subscribes to the MSDN Academic Alliance, a Microsoft initiative that allows students taking courses within the department access to the vast majority of Microsoft software at no cost.