UNL’s new Bologna-style 1st-Cycle Degree (BSc) in Computer Science

1. Departamento de Informática Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa UNL’s new Bologna-style 1st-Cycle Degree(BSc) in Computer Science

2. Main goal • A course providing the fundamentals, broad band, in Computer Science • Covering core topics in Computer Science (based on ACM/IEEE and our 30 years experience) • Appropriate to continue studies at MSc level, at FCT/UNL or in another European university of reference

3. Bologna and Specializations • The 1st cycle, in a research university, should provide solid fundamental education in Computer Science • It is not our aim to provide professional, very specialized and shorter courses. These should be offered by other institutions • Specializations are to be provided at the MSc level, afterwards.

4. Bologna and Mobility • Mobility at two levels • At the level of the 1st cycle • After the 1st cycle, entering the 2nd cycle • The 1st is guaranteed by fully adopting the ECTS system, and by a flexible design of the curriculum • The 2nd level is guaranteed by the basic core provided in the 1st cycle

5. Bologna and faster integration in the professional life • Recognize there are students that want to start to work immediately after the 1st cycle • Not to be confused with short professionalized courses • But the job market also needs people with a good broad band education, without the specialization provided by the 2nd cycle • The demand for our students at the middle of the current 5 years degree, and consultation with professional partners seems to confirm this • Try to accommodate, as much as possible, means for integration in professional activities for those students that want it.

6. Design criteria • Fully adhering to the ECTS system • Centered on students’ work • Based on competence acquisition rather than on topic coverage • Tuning project and Dublin descriptors • Special care also about soft-skills • Full coverage of ACM/IEEE Computing Curricula Core • Taking into account external evaluation • Comparison with reference universities

7. Reformulating the course • One year of work involving the whole Department • External advisory commission with main contractor industries • With 3 half day meetings over one year • Fully rethinking of our approach to education in Computer Science • Special procedures for verifying coverage of technical and soft-skills, and ECTS credits

8. Achieving the goals • A 1st cycle degree with 3 years (180 ECTS credits) • With a core, common to all students, of roughly 2 years • A flexible structure after the core • Particular courses for soft-skills, and soft-skill competences provided by all courses • Two profiles, recognized in the diploma: • One designed for those who want to continue studies in a MSc in Computer Science • Another designed for those who want to enter professional activities right away

9. The core of the course • 138 ECTS credits distributed as: • 86 credits in Computer Science • 31 in Mathematics • Covering basic Analysis, Algebra, Geometry, Discrete Mathematics, Probabilities and Statistics • 6 in Physics • 6 in Electrical Engineering • Elective, in the 3rd year, of Digital Circuits, Electronics or Telecommunications • 9 in Soft-skills • Expression and Communication, and Critical Thinking.

10. The Computer Science Core • 1st year • Computational Logics • Programming (introduction and OO) • Introduction to Computer Systems and Networks • Computer Architecture • 2nd year • Algorithms and Data Structures • Databases • Operating Systems • Theory of Computer Science • Programming Languages • Software Development • Computer Networks • 3rd Year • Computer Graphics and Interfaces • Artificial Intelligence

11. After the core • At least 12 ECTS credits of elective Computer Science • This leaves 30 credits open to choice • Possibility of making these 30 credits outside • Outside may mean outside this University (e.g. in an Erasmus) • Outside may mean outside Computer Science • Opens possibility of minors for interdisciplinary education • Suitable for interdisciplinary 2nd cycles, e.g. bioinformatics, networks and telecommunications, management and computer science, etc

12. After the core, inside • Have two “set-menu” education programs for the two profiles of more demand • Students who want to enroll in a MSc in Computer Science • Students who want to enter professional activities, with the core education • Certify these profiles in the diploma • Easier for those in the first profile above to integrate our MSc

13. Computer Science Engineering • Designed for those that want to continue for a 2nd cycle in Computer Science • After the core includes a concentration in more advanced Computer Science topics • Algorithms Analysis and Design • Logic and Constraint Programming • Compilation • Distributed Systems • Includes an Integration Project, applying knowledge from various areas of Computer Science • Applying and integrating various areas, before the specialization of the 2nd cycle

14. Applied Computer Science • Tries to accommodate means for integration in the professional life for those students that want it at this point • After the core, includes course on Social and Ethical Issues in Computer Science • Includes a Training Period, in a Company, of 24 ECTS credits • 12 elective credits in Computer Science include an offer of more applied courses

15. New and current students • The degree is though to accommodate about 175 new students every year • A special transition plan have been devised to integrate the almost 1000 students of the current 5 year degree

16. The degree in a nutshell • Solid, broad band, education in Computer Science • Flexible design to accommodate different students’ interests • “Plays the game” of Bologna • 3 years degree • Centered on students work (ECTS) • Based on competences • Possibility of faster integration in the market • Open to mobility • Mobility inside the 1st cycle (e.g. Erasmus) • Mobility for the 2nd cycle • Mobility for interdisciplinary areas (Minors)