About Computer Science and Software Engineering
The department of Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE) at the University of Canterbury has a strong international reputation. It teaches courses that are reviewed regularly against international standards, and its graduates are in strong demand. The lecturing staff are also active researchers, and have one of the best records of research publications in the Pacific region.
The CSSE department is housed on levels one to three in the custom-designed Erskine building for Mathematics and Statistics / Computer Science and Software Engineering, with well-equipped computing laboratories. The Erskine building is situated on the corner of Science and Engineering Roads, in the north west part of the Ilam campus of the University of Canterbury (UC), Christchurch, New Zealand.
What is Computer Science?
Computer science is about designing computer systems to help people do their work efficiently and effectively. Computer scientists spend a lot of time solving problems for people by analysing needs and constructing solutions to those needs.
When people think of Computer Science they often simply think of programming, but there are many more aspects to it including communication and networks, security, graphics, software engineering, information systems, operating systems, performance evaluation, computer languages and artificial intelligence.
Computers are so widely used that even elementary computer skills will make you more effective in your work. You can either specialise (major) in Computer Science or study it as a secondary interest.
Many students only need to learn how to use computers and the department has a course, COSC110, that caters for this need.