Undergraduate Certificates: Future Students: Computer Science: IU South Bend

IT is the systematic study of computation, hardware systems, software systems, and networks, combined with the design and analysis of algorithms and data structures. It is the foundation upon which all branches of information technology rest. Students learn to design and implement systems; to manage and visualize data, control robots, model human cognition, extract information from vast volumes of data, etc. Computer Scientists build the computing tools used by professionals in virtually all disciplines.

Informatics is understanding the impact of technology and information on people; the development of new uses for technology; and the application of information technology in the context of another field. It provides you technology education to solve real world problems. It gives you a structural path to a bright future in information technology careers while also providing the flexibility you need to study what you love. As an informatics student, you won’t just study information technology. You will model how technology impacts the academic disciplines that interest you most. Informatics is the understanding of information technology, its impact on society, and its applications to various fields such as biology, health care, criminal justice, chemistry, arts/new media, business, music, philosophy, and psychology.

Students who successfully complete the Certificate in Computer Programming will have full command of a modern programming language used in the information technology industry; be able to analyze computational problems and create algorithms to solve them; be able to design, write, debug, and document well modularized programs to implement these algorithms; and be able to work comfortably with the standard basic data structures and algorithms that are widely known and employed by programming professionals.
This certificate could allow current IU South Bend students as well as professionals in fields such as psychology, philosophy, criminal justice, biology, physics, chemistry, actuarial science, new media, business, health sciences, sociology, anthropology, etc. to gain understanding of the computing that takes place in these fields, and also allow them to develop basic software systems to solve domain specific problems.
A student who has earned the Certificate in Computer Programming may afterwards continue to take additional courses and earn the Certificate in Advanced Computer Programming and/or B.S. in Computer Science.

Certificate Requirements:

2023-24 Bulletin

The Certificate in Computer Applications provides students with the knowledge and understanding of various information technologies. It provides the necessary technical expertise to those who currently hold positions that make extensive use of computer technology and its applications but feel a gap in their IT knowledge. It also provide expertise to those who are considering such positions in the future and need solid knowledge and expertise in the use and integration of computer applications and introduction to various ways computers are used to solve problems.
Potential students who may benefit from this certificate may be found in many organizations, including health care, science and engineering, government, and not-for-profit agencies. In addition, existing students at IU South Bend, may find this certificate complementary to their major.
Students can take courses related to computer hardware and software components and learn how they operate, learn common office automation and productivity application software, introductory courses in operating systems, problem solving using programming, event driven programming and graphical user interfaces, web programming, computer networks and the client/server computing model, and multimedia arts and technology.

Certificate Requirements:

2023-24 Bulletin

The Certificate in Advanced Computer Programming builds upon the skills developed in the Certificate in Computer Programming by training professionals and current students in mid-size software development projects, macro-level problem solving, project management, working in teams, etc.
Students who complete this certificate will receive training in computer architecture, systems analysis and design, and one additional elective course (applied deep learning, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, databases, embedded systems, game programming, mobile computing, security, software engineering, web programming, etc.)
A student who has earned this certificate may afterwards continue to take additional courses and earn the B.S. in Computer Science.

Certificate Requirements:

2023-24 Bulletin

Participate in small graduate classes to allow extensive interaction with professors and fellow graduate students.
Attend graduate classes that often meet during weekday evening hours to accommodate the schedules of employed adult students.
Computer Science focus area students could apply for scholarships.
Learn from computer science faculty with diverse research interests including algorithms, software engineering, computer graphics, databases, computer networks, parallel processing, distributed computing, artificial intelligence, computer security, bioinformatics, computer vision, machine learning, quantum computing, and wireless networks.
Learn from mathematical sciences faculty with diverse research interests including differential topology, differential equations, dynamical systems, modeling, operations research, simulations, scientific computing, statistics, and group theory.
Access to the department's dedicated laboratories running Windows, Linux, and MacOS.
Access to IU's specialized research computing infrastructure including IU's Big Red II supercomputer, mass storage, as well as visualization systems.

According to bls.gov "Employment of computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 12% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. These occupations are projected to add about 546,200 new jobs. Demand for these workers will stem from greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $86,320 in May 2018, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $38,640."

Students should contact the department administrative assistant before their first semester to schedule a meeting with a computer science advisor to develop a plan for their academic course of study.