Alaska, the Last Frontier, one of the least populated states in the country, nonetheless boasts economies within its major cities that lend themselves to a strong need for graduates from accredited computer science degree programs in Alaska. Main industries in Alaska are the oil and gas industry, fishing, government, and military. These industries offer a significant number of jobs within the metropolitan areas of Anchorage and Fairbanks, many in the computer science and technology fields that increasingly dominate global industries and make the prospects for graduates with computer science degrees very bright.

University of Alaska Anchorage

College of Engineering

Located in the heart of Anchorage, the University of Alaska Anchorage is the state’s largest postsecondary educational institution. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering is part of the larger College of Engineering, covering a wide range of technical and cultural subjects offered within this field. When pursuing the subject of computer science, students have a choice of two Bachelor degree paths in computer science, as well as a path of courses to follow for a minor in the subject. Both degree paths prepare students to pursue careers in the computing field and follow curriculum guidelines set forth by ABET.

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science degree provides students the opportunity to study a liberal arts background in addition to the core subjects for the computer science field. As the core subjects are the same for both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees, the difference between the two lies in the non-major courses that are taken while pursuing the chosen degree. With the BA degree, choices for courses outside of the computer science ones are chosen from subjects such as literature, humanities, philosophy, and cultural studies. The core subjects required cover areas of computer programming, computer hardware, software engineering, database systems, and theory. Support courses for the computer science field lean more toward calculus, statistics, and research and technical writing. Graduates of this accredited degree in computer science in Alaska would likely be more drawn toward technical jobs that involve analysis and research of issues, and recommending solutions based on the research.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree is for the student interested in a background in science and mathematics, along with the core computer science coursework. As with the BA degree, core subjects cover programming, algorithms, hardware and software engineering, databases, and theory. Students of the BS degree in computer science, however, choose from courses in mathematics and the various sciences to make up the background of this degree. In addition, support courses are geared more specifically to math and science, with such subjects as calculus and physics playing a more prominent role in the choices. Graduates of this accredited degree in computer science in Alaska would likely be drawn toward more of the development of new technologies as well as finding new and innovative ways to improve existing computer technologies in the leading industries throughout the state and globally. The Bachelor of Science degree is also recommended for students wishing to pursue a more advanced degree in computer sciences.

Minor in Computer Science

For students majoring in another subject who may wish to supplement their degree with a minor in computer science, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers a specific program of coursework and requirements for the minor. A total of 26 credit hours are needed for a minor in computer science, with 17 of these credit hours dictated by specific courses. These courses include two classes in computer programming, a course in discrete mathematics, a course in object-oriented programming, and a course in data structures and algorithms. A minor such as this one would likely be an appealing counterpart to any number of other majors, including degrees in business, architecture, graphic arts, and any others that could use computer science as a valuable tool within their disciplines.

Accreditations

  • ABET

Contact Information

School of Engineering
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
907-786-1900
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/computerscienceandengineering/computerscience/

University of Alaska Fairbanks

College of Engineering and Mines

The College of Engineering and Mines is Alaska’s top research and teaching university, offering accredited degrees in a variety of engineering fields, to include computer engineering and computer science. The Department of Computer Science heavily emphasizes research and focuses on finding solutions to problems with the goal of helping to improve technology across a wide range of fields. Research focuses include computer security, computer graphics, and digital forensics. Students may also be involved in research on artificial intelligence and robotics or the development of new software and programming. Emphasis here is on the seemingly endless applications that relate to computer science.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Computer science is defined as the study of information handling and the application of that study to real world problems. Following this definition, the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks involves coursework in fundamentals of computer programming, hardware, and theory. A minimum of 120 credit hours are required for this degree, to include the general education requirements and an emphasis on math, physics, and engineering in core classes. With this degree, students will be expected to have a firm grasp of the various ways that computers are used in today’s society and business world and a drive to work toward future improvements and developments. Depending upon the research emphasis, this degree could lead to careers in any number of fields, including business, law, education, and medicine. Students could also choose to continue their education and pursue an advanced degree in computer science.

Master of Science in Computer Science

The Master of Science in Computer Science degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and is based on recommendations of both the Association for Computing Machinery and the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers. It provides a more in-depth study of the computer science subjects covered with the Bachelor of Science degree in this field and includes a culminating project in a more specific aspect of computer science as chosen by the student. Graduates of any institution with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree are eligible for this graduate program. Admission requires submission of GRE general scores and a computer subject exam score. Graduates of this program will find themselves well-placed to enter into their chosen niche of computer science and able to competently compete in both the local and global workplace.

Accreditations

  • ABET

Contact Information

Department of Computer Science
University of Alaska Fairbanks
202 Chapman
513 Ambler Lane
Fairbanks, AK 99775-6670
907-474-2777
uaf-cs-dept@alaska.edu
https://www.cs.uaf.edu/

With an emphasis on new and innovative ways to use technology to better everyday lives both locally and globally, graduates from any of these computer science degree programs will likely find themselves in high demand throughout the workforce. Whatever your career goals or reasons for choosing to pursue a degree in computer science, the accredited computer science degree programs in Alaska will provide both the foundational and in-depth knowledge you need to succeed.