IUPUI

New Computer Science Programs Address Expanding Job Market Demands

INDIANAPOLIS - As our society and the economy continue to increase reliance on the Internet and computing, the job market for professionals with advanced training in computer science is expanding.

In response to these new and exciting opportunities, the Purdue School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is offering innovative graduate-level certificate programs in five specialized areas: biocomputing; biometrics; computer security; databases and data mining; and software engineering. The new programs provide a world of possibilities for those looking to advance their computing proficiency to meet the current and future job market opportunities.

"For example, if you are a systems analyst, you could either enhance your current skill set or segue yourself into another role by completing an appropriate graduate certificate program," said Josh D. Morrison, research coordinator in the Department of Computer & Information Science. "Earning a graduate certificate, with a particular specialization, would tell current or prospective employers that you are prepared to provide new insight or seamlessly transition to other roles in the field of computer science and information technology."

Each program requires a successful completion of 12 credit hours of coursework to earn a Purdue University graduate certificate. In addition, the completed coursework can also be applied to toward a Master of Science in Computer Science degree, if the student desires to continue graduate studies at IUPUI. Currently, IUPUI is the only institution in central Indiana offering both graduate certificates and the Master of Science in Computer Science degree.

Applicants must have a four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent and be familiar with fundamental computer science concepts, including algorithms, data structures, computer architecture, and programming in a high-level language. A student without this background can complete courses as a non-degree student in order to ensure he or she is well prepared to complete a graduate certificate.

A brief description of each program follows:

• Biocomputing - Students in this program will learn to retrieve and interpret biological information from the Internet; and learn principles, algorithms, and software for sequence alignment, similarity search of sequence databases, and other related problems.
• Biometric Computing- Smart cards, PIN numbers and passwords may become things of the past as biometric technology provides better security and convenience in areas such as access control, electronic banking, forensics, and homeland security. This program introduces the principles of various biometric technology including face recognition, fingerprint identification, iris identification, voice recognition and DNA matching.
• Computer Security - This program focuses on the practical aspects and application of cryptographic systems and security protocols in networked environments, such as the Internet. Participants will acquire an understanding of concepts and principles of cryptography and network security.
• Databases and Data Mining - Data mining is the analytic exploration of volumes of data in search of patterns or relationships which have predictive value when applied to other data. The explosive growth of data - such as biological information - available over the Internet has presented challenges in efficiently managing large volumes of data. This program emphasizes the fundamentals for the logical design of database systems and predictive data mining techniques.
• Software Engineering - This program addresses a central problem in economic development and industrial competition - the effective creation of large, heterogeneous software systems. Participants will acquire an understanding of the principles and skills required for successfully carrying out complex software engineering projects.

Applications for the fall 2007 semester are open until May 1, 2007. Prospective students can go to http://www.iupui.edu/~gradoff/admissions/onlineapp.html to apply online. Additional information about computer science at IUPUI can be found at http://www.cs.iupui.edu.