What is Computer Science?
Computer science deals with: the nature of and limits to computation; the architecture of computer systems, networks, devices, and languages, and their abstractions; the design of hardware and software systems as they apply to human endeavors such as scientific inquiry, information acquisition, visualization, language, and leisure; and the engineering of complex software systems. A Computer Science degree at SUNY Potsdam prepares you for a rewarding career as a computer professional -- where you apply your computer science knowledge and experience towards improving our lives -- or for further study in graduate school.
"The Computer Science faculty thoroughly prepared me for a career in technology and helped me network with industry professionals. I didn't take a single course that I didn't enjoy.”
Jarred Durant '17
The Value of Connections
Emily Morse ’21 is primed for success in the computer science industry because of the many SUNY Potsdam alumni who dedicate time and resources to the computer science department. This summer, Morse took part in a remote internship with the Griffiss Institute and the Air Force Research Laboratory, made possible by her connections with alumni and support from a generous scholarship established by Haden Land ’84.
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Laura Wessing '15
In four years, alumna Laura Wessing graduated summa cum laude with a double major in computer science and mathematics, as well as getting a master’s degree in math through the BA / MA program. In that time, she completed three internships, two of which were with the U.S. Air Force. Now she leads the quantum algorithms team at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, N.Y.—overseeing complex research on quantum bits.
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Eric Zair '20
Hard work and networking have paid dividends for computer science major Eric Zair ’20. A brief encounter with alumnus Garry Griggs ’17 as an undergraduate student paved the way for a paid internship over the summer at Assured Information Security, a cybersecurity contracting company in Rome, N.Y. That internship gave him real-world experience and allowed him to take what he had learned in the classroom and apply it in a professional setting.
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Hack Potsdam
Hack Potsdam is a 24-hour student-run hackathon where people meet to engage in collaborative computer programming by working one project with a team for the duration of the event. Hack Potsdam is free and open to all matriculated students over 18, alumni and professors. The event is held at Clarkson in the spring and at SUNY Potsdam in the fall.
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