Computer science among top 50 in innovation

Computer science at UIC was listed among the 50 most innovative computer science departments in the U.S. by Computer Science Degree HUB, an online information source on accredited computer science degree programs.

The No. 26 ranking cites UIC’s exploration of computer science subfields, from artificial intelligence and parallel algorithms to data mining and multimedia communication.

“Computer science remains an outstanding major for these difficult times,” said Robert Sloan, professor and head of computer science.

“Our graduates continue to find excellent jobs, and equally important, computer science empowers you to do good — to connect technology to your world.”

The HUB made special mention of UIC’s research centers, including the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Computational Population Biology Laboratory and Electronic Visualization Laboratory.

The ranking quotes the Huffington Post on the Electronic Visualization Laboratory’s 2012 launch of the CAVE2, a next-generation virtual reality interface using 2-D and 3-D technology, as “bringing science fiction closer to reality.”

Two other Chicago computer science departments made the list: Northwestern University at No. 40 and the University of Chicago at No. 21. The Urbana-Champaign campus was No. 12 and Massachusetts Institute of Technology was No. 1.

The HUB took into consideration other, existing rankings of universities and computer science departments, then evaluated departments for innovation based on technology, research facilities, faculty awards, alumni, research and innovation.

UIC computer science has 500 undergrads, 150 master’s and 100 pre-doctoral students. Five of its faculty have won UIC’s top teaching prize. Research programs include artificial intelligence, databases and information systems, data mining, visualization and virtual reality, cyber security and distributed computing and networking, and together attract more than $6 million in research funding each year.