2016 Fact Book

49 College of Engineering and Computing T he College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) conducts basic and applied research and provides programs of study across the disciplines within engineering, computing, technology, information systems, and cybersecurity. The college’s students learn to become reflective scholars and professionals with a critical understanding of theory and practice, while acquiring the training and qualifications necessary for advancement. Programs are designed to give students a thorough knowledge of their chosen field and to provide an enduring foundation for professional growth. In so doing, theory and practice converge in a unique learning experience that develops skills applicable to complex, real-world problems. The College of Engineering and Computing prepares students to meet the technological challenges of today. Drawing on 40 years of institutional experience in computing education and research, and 30 years of experience in innovative program delivery, the CEC offers focused and flexible programs aligned to industry’s most sought-after fields to help students reach their full potential. The College of Engineering and Computing has a distinguished faculty, evolving curricula, and an alumni network of more than 4,000. The college has flexible online and campus-based formats for its six bachelor’s, five master’s, and three Ph.D. degree programs, as well as for its certificate programs. The college welcomes part-time and full-time students, whether on-campus or online.Undergraduate on-campus students may have the opportunity to apply to the Dual Admission Program, which automatically reserves a seat in one of the CEC’s graduate programs. Master’s degree students can complete on-campus and videoconferenced evening degree programs tailored to meet the needs of Florida residents. Online master’s degree programs require no campus attendance and are available to students worldwide. A unique hybrid executive Ph.D. program blends on-campus, limited weekend meetings with online interaction. The college’s M.S. students in most programs may apply for early admission into a Ph.D. program, which provides the opportunity to earn the doctorate in a shorter time. The College of Engineering and Computing has facilities to support hands-on instruction for students to learn and research computing and engineering, including mobile application development in the Mobile Computing Laboratory (MCL); areas of distributed systems with an emphasis on designing, implementing, and evaluating systems in the distributed systems (CLOUDS); and Security Robust Distributed Systems (SARDIS) laboratory; and more. The college’s research advances knowledge, improves professional practice, and contributes to understanding in the engineering and computing fields. In addition to its regional accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, NSU has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/ Cyber Defense Education by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). NSA and DHS have certified that NSU’s curriculum in information security meets or exceeds the requirements and standards expected of a leader in cybersecurity research and education. Collaborative programs include the U.S. Army’s GoArmyEd initiative and the Southern Regional Education Board’s Electronic Campus. The College of Engineering and Computing further encourages students to participate in their student organizations, including student chapters of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Association for Information Systems (AIS) and Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), the International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines.