School Information
Mission Statement
The mission of the School of Computing is to provide a world-class education and research opportunities in the fields of Artificial Intelligence+ (AI+), Computer Science (CS), Information Technology (IT) and Cybersecurity Technology (CST). The School’s primary mission is to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to excel in the students’ chosen computing disciplines. The School is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and lifelong learning skills that allow graduates to adapt to changing work environments throughout their professional careers. The School is committed to being a preeminent institution in the field and driving significant global impact through groundbreaking scholarly research and professional endeavors. The School also supports faculty growth and development and fosters the creation of mutually beneficial alliances between academia and industry.
ABET Accreditation
Our Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Programs.
R1: Doctoral Universities
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is proud to hold the prestigious R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity designation from the Carnegie R1 SIU Classification, attracting students from all 50 states and nearly 100 countries. In the School of Computing’s Computer Science program—offering full doctoral privileges—research is at the core of everything we do. Our faculty and students are engaged in groundbreaking work across diverse fields, including Cyber Security and Privacy, where we develop safer and more resilient digital infrastructures; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, where intelligent algorithms and modeling drive automation and prediction; and Systems and Networking, where we design scalable and optimized digital solutions. We advance innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems and the Internet of Things (IoT), enhance performance through High-Performance Computing, and extract insights from vast data through cutting-edge Data Mining and Big Data Analytics. At SIU Computer Science, we’re not just responding to the future of technology—we’re building it.
Research
Our esteemed faculty members, who hold doctoral degrees from leading research universities, are committed to developing and maintaining high-quality research programs. They actively involve students in their research endeavors, providing invaluable hands-on experience. Many faculty members enjoy national and international recognition in their fields of expertise and have secured prestigious research grants from prominent federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy, as well as from high-tech industries. Additionally, the School of Computing boasts an NSF-approved research center and twelve state-of-the-art research labs, fostering an environment of innovation and discovery.
Courses
We offer approximately 136 courses (graduate and undergraduate) covering all major areas of computing. All required courses are taught both in the Fall and Spring Semesters and some required courses are offered in the Summer Semester as well. Elective and graduate courses are offered either in the Fall or in the Spring Semester and some are offered in the Summer Semester as well. You can find a list of courses in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs.
Faculty
The faculty are committed to deliver high quality lectures at both undergraduate and graduate curricula. They develop and sustain high-quality research programs and make every effort to involve graduate students in their research. There exists an excellent tradition of encouraging and achieving close interaction between students and faculty. The faculty members have national and international visibility in their respective fields of expertise. Research activities of the School of Computing faculty have been supported by grants from federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense and Department of Energy and from high-tech industries.
Diversity
The School of Computing has an excellent tradition in attracting, developing and graduating minority students. Our commitment to diversity is reflected in our support for various student organizations, such as Minorities in Computer Science (MiCS) and Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS). These groups, advised by our dedicated faculty, provide a welcoming and supportive environment that fosters academic and professional growth. Through initiatives, mentorship, and networking opportunities, we strive to create an inclusive community where all students can thrive and succeed.
International Students
The School of Computing has an excellent tradition in recruiting international students in both its graduate and undergraduate programs. The diverse educational backgrounds and cultures of our student body create a vibrant environment, which is contributing to the success of our programs. Evidence for this success is the ability of our graduates to compete effectively in the job market, all over the world.
High Performance Computing
SIU Research Computing offers the BigDawg High Performance Computing Cluster (HPCC) which is among the University’s top research resources. This lightning-fast computing cluster supports computationally intensive research activities, and radically reduces the time needed to process and analyze information. Using BigDawg allows researchers to complete tasks that once required days of processing time, in just hours. Although BigDawg is not as large as some of the mega-clusters at other academic institutions, this computing cluster processes information with speeds comparable to any HPCC available today.
Industrial Advisory Board
The School of Computing Computer Science Degree Program has a Industrial Advisory Board which has included members from AgWiki, Amdocs, Ameren, Boeing, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Trend Micro and several other companies. View our current members along with their bios.