Associate Professor
Paula A. Shorter, Ph.D. (Chair)
John F. Cigas, Ph.D.
Kevin R. Burger, M.S.

The Computer Science Program at Rockhurst University explores the theoretical and practical aspects of computing needed to understand and manipulate today’s rapidly changing technological infrastructure. The theory provides students with a stable base, regardless of current technological trends, while practical components give students tangible reinforcement of theoretical concepts. The program prepares students for careers in scientific and business programming; database, network, and system management; user support services; and systems programming. The program, in conjunction with additional mathematics courses, also prepares students for graduate study in computer science.

Computer programming is used as the means to understand computer hardware and the algorithmic process that permeates the discipline, and to explore many of the topics in upper division classes. The current introductory programming language is Java, though other languages and tools are introduced throughout the program.

The Department encourages and supports student research projects. Recent projects include a software library for easily adding shadows to a scene in OpenGL, software tools for generating sets of repeatable network traffic, and a heuristic solution to the Scramble Squares(tm) puzzle.

The Department maintains a network of graphical, Unix-based workstations to facilitate instruction and experimentation in computer graphics, operating systems, and computer networks. The department also houses a separate laboratory for studying hands-on, administrative aspects of networking and operating systems. Students also have access to numerous PCs across campus, as well as the Internet