UNLs new Bolognastyle 1stCycle Degree BSc in Computer Science

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UNLs new Bologna-style 1st-Cycle Degree(BSc) in
Computer Science
Departamento de Informática Faculdade de Ciências
e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa
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Main goal

• A course providing the fundamentals, broad band,
  in Computer Science
• Covering core topics in Computer Science (based
  on ACM/IEEE and our 30 years experience)
• Appropriate to continue studies at MSc level, at
  FCT/UNL or in another European university of
  reference

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Bologna and Specializations

• The 1st cycle, in a research university, should
  provide solid fundamental education in Computer
  Science
• It is not our aim to provide professional, very
  specialized and shorter courses. These should be
  offered by other institutions
• Specializations are to be provided at the MSc
  level, afterwards.

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Bologna and Mobility

• Mobility at two levels
• At the level of the 1st cycle
• After the 1st cycle, entering the 2nd cycle
• The 1st is guaranteed by fully adopting the ECTS
  system, and by a flexible design of the
  curriculum
• The 2nd level is guaranteed by the basic core
  provided in the 1st cycle

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Bologna and faster integration in the
professional life

• Recognize there are students that want to start
  to work immediately after the 1st cycle
• Not to be confused with short professionalized
  courses
• But the job market also needs people with a good
  broad band education, without the specialization
  provided by the 2nd cycle
• The demand for our students at the middle of the
  current 5 years degree, and consultation with
  professional partners seems to confirm this
• Try to accommodate, as much as possible, means
  for integration in professional activities for
  those students that want it.

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Design criteria

• Fully adhering to the ECTS system
• Centered on students work
• Based on competence acquisition rather than on
  topic coverage
• Tuning project and Dublin descriptors
• Special care also about soft-skills
• Full coverage of ACM/IEEE Computing Curricula
  Core
• Taking into account external evaluation
• Comparison with reference universities

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Reformulating the course

• One year of work involving the whole Department
• External advisory commission with main contractor
  industries
• With 3 half day meetings over one year
• Fully rethinking of our approach to education in
  Computer Science
• Special procedures for verifying coverage of
  technical and soft-skills, and ECTS credits

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Achieving the goals

• A 1st cycle degree with 3 years (180 ECTS
  credits)
• With a core, common to all students, of roughly 2
  years
• A flexible structure after the core
• Particular courses for soft-skills, and
  soft-skill competences provided by all courses
• Two profiles, recognized in the diploma
• One designed for those who want to continue
  studies in a MSc in Computer Science
• Another designed for those who want to enter
  professional activities right away

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The core of the course

• 138 ECTS credits distributed as
• 86 credits in Computer Science
• 31 in Mathematics
• Covering basic Analysis, Algebra, Geometry,
  Discrete Mathematics, Probabilities and
  Statistics
• 6 in Physics
• 6 in Electrical Engineering
• Elective, in the 3rd year, of Digital Circuits,
  Electronics or Telecommunications
• 9 in Soft-skills
• Expression and Communication, and Critical
  Thinking.

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The Computer Science Core

• 1st year
• Computational Logics
• Programming (introduction and OO)
• Introduction to Computer Systems and Networks
• Computer Architecture
• 2nd year
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Databases
• Operating Systems
• Theory of Computer Science
• Programming Languages
• Software Development
• Computer Networks
• 3rd Year
• Computer Graphics and Interfaces
• Artificial Intelligence

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After the core

• At least 12 ECTS credits of elective Computer
  Science
• This leaves 30 credits open to choice
• Possibility of making these 30 credits outside
• Outside may mean outside this University (e.g. in
  an Erasmus)
• Outside may mean outside Computer Science
• Opens possibility of minors for interdisciplinary
  education
• Suitable for interdisciplinary 2nd cycles, e.g.
  bioinformatics, networks and telecommunications,
  management and computer science, etc

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After the core, inside

• Have two set-menu education programs for the
  two profiles of more demand
• Students who want to enroll in a MSc in Computer
  Science
• Students who want to enter professional
  activities, with the core education
• Certify these profiles in the diploma
• Easier for those in the first profile above to
  integrate our MSc

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Computer Science Engineering

• Designed for those that want to continue for a
  2nd cycle in Computer Science
• After the core includes a concentration in more
  advanced Computer Science topics
• Algorithms Analysis and Design
• Logic and Constraint Programming
• Compilation
• Distributed Systems
• Includes an Integration Project, applying
  knowledge from various areas of Computer Science
• Applying and integrating various areas, before
  the specialization of the 2nd cycle

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Applied Computer Science

• Tries to accommodate means for integration in the
  professional life for those students that want it
  at this point
• After the core, includes course on Social and
  Ethical Issues in Computer Science
• Includes a Training Period, in a Company, of 24
  ECTS credits
• 12 elective credits in Computer Science include
  an offer of more applied courses

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New and current students

• The degree is though to accommodate about 175 new
  students every year
• A special transition plan have been devised to
  integrate the almost 1000 students of the current
  5 year degree

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The degree in a nutshell

• Solid, broad band, education in Computer Science
• Flexible design to accommodate different
  students interests
• Plays the game of Bologna
• 3 years degree
• Centered on students work (ECTS)
• Based on competences
• Possibility of faster integration in the market
• Open to mobility
• Mobility inside the 1st cycle (e.g. Erasmus)
• Mobility for the 2nd cycle
• Mobility for interdisciplinary areas (Minors)