printable versionComputer Science - Bachelor degree
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Course presentation
More often than not Computer Science is mistaken with some unproductive certification, for example ECDL (European Computing Driving License). Wrong! Computer Science is about how to manage information (to process, to store, to convey) and how to solve, in automatic fashion, complex problems concerning the information management; nothing to do with something like: ”How do I save a file …”
ACM (Association for Computing Machinery-the most important informatics GROUP) defines Computer Science as being between Science and Engineering.
From Science it inherited curiosity, for example automatic problem-solving; from Engineering it takes the methodological severity in solving a problem.It has been said Computer Science is acquiring a special place in the science development; Computer Science is perceived as the “third column” (together with theory and research) on which modern Science is based on. Numerical simulation allows the observation of intricate systems and/or natural events which would be too costly, dangerous or outright impossible to be studied. Just think about the Cern in Geneva, where a tremendous amount of computational force is at the service of physic researchers to elaborate the data resulting by the LHC experiment; not to forget the Human Genome, which developed Biological Science in an unthinkable manner.
The objective of the Bachelor degree in Computer Science is to form professionals and researchers with both theoretical and practical knowledge. Theory and lab classes rotate during the all course of studies. That is the reason why the Computer Science graduated finds a job quickly (2 months, if not before ending the studies-source Almalaurea); this happens not by chance but because Computer Science jobs are on the top 5 list of the most wanted specialists in Italy.
The Computer Science course at the University of Trento offers some specific features which make it unique compared to similar courses of other Italian Universities; the standards of UniTN Computer Science courses are comparable to the standards of prestigious European and worldwide universities.
The dynamic and young teaching staff is around 40 years old (average age); almost all the professors are actively involved in research in their fields, as stated in the Google Scholar biometric indexes.A strong drive toward Internationalization is one of the key factor that distinguishes Computer Science at UniTN: all Master Degree cousrses are taught in English, 20% of our teaching staff comes from abroad and about 40% of the Master Degree students are foreigners. The reason behind it is simple: to be a Computer Science professional today means to be confronted and to be working in a global market where the English language is fundamental. From the students’ point of view, to take part in an international environment from the start, gives them the opportunity to face global problems and cultural issues right from the beginning.
The Computer Science course offers the opportunity to participate at the Erasmus programme in the main European cities and also the opportunity to enter Double Degree Programmes financed by the EU Commission in exchange with Georgiatech (USA), the University of Edinburgh (UK) and the University of Aachen (Germany). Double Degree means the student will spend 1 year in Italy and 1 year at the Partner University and ending the programme by having two Degrees recognized by both institutions and both Countries.The connections with the industry is very close; just to mention IBM, which comes on a yearly basis to proffer their cutting edge products, and Microsoft, which has founded in Trento the only Bioinformatics research center of Italy.
Learning outcomes
The Computer Science course aims to form professionals with solid bases and a wide spectrum of competences in science and information technology with the opportunity to access the job-market or to access the Master Degree courses.
The graduated student has the ability to analyze complex systems (companies, services, natural and artificial systems), to identify the critical processes in a consistent way, to suggest manageable models and solutions through software and informatics. Because of the learning outcome focused on scientific tool and methods, the mind set of the Computer Science graduated will be to swiftly fit in different working environments and to adapt to the innovation specific of this field.
The course is designed as a “Y”. During the first common section the student acquires basic mathematical knowledge and informatics methodologies in the sphere of programming and algorithms. In the next phase it will be possible to choose between a course in Computer Science and Technologies, aimed at providing the required background in order to successfully attend a Master degree in Computer Science and Technologies, or an interdisciplinary course aimed at a Master degree in mathematics, biotechnology or finance (at the faculty of Economics).
Job opportunities
The “Y” structure of the Bachelor Degree leaves open the opportunity to access higher level studies in Informatics and/or to enter the work-force by acquiring a solid knowledge in the fields of networks, systems, data management and representation)
The Computer Science graduated student can easily obtain jobs in the area of planning, managing and maintaining informatics systems. The most determined and capable students continuing at the Master level will be able to get access to careers as managers where competences in the field of complexity and problem-solving, together with the aptitude to team-work and interaction are needed. It In these management positions the individual skills can be developed to the best of each one ability: Informatics is still an area where innovative companies created by young entrepreneurs can beat larger and older companies.
The course trains for the following professions:
• Programmers
• Network and systems administrators
• Database administrators
• Applications experts
The Bachelor Degree in Computer Science gives the basis to access for the following Master Degrees:
Master 2^ level in Computer Science
Master 1^ level in E-Government Technologies
and by its specific interdisciplinary courses to:
Master 2^ level in Mathematics
Master 2^ level in Biotechnology
Master 2^ level in Economics and Finance
See also: Master courses