Undergraduate Course Catalog 2014-2015
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
» http://www.manchester.unh.edu
Computer Science & Entrepreneurship (CS&E)
» http://manchester.unh.edu/academics/degree-programs/computer-science-entrepreneurship
» Click to view course offerings
Associate Professor: Mihaela Sabin
Assistant Professor: Michael Jonas
The computer science & entrepreneurship program combines a solid foundation in computing with the entrepreneurial and business skills necessary to succeed in today’s start-up and high-tech environments. The program was designed in response to market demand for students proficient in computer science with business knowledge.
Students in the computer science & entrepreneurship program are required to complete three sponsored projects focusing on entrepreneurship, engineering, and a new venture creation. The courses will give students the opportunity to work with industry experts through internships and sponsored research. Students will also be required to create a business plan, which they'll have to pitch to venture capitalists and industry professionals.
- Build highly transferable computing and business skills while getting entrepreneurial experience working on projects sponsored by area businesses and industry.
- Develop a solid background in computer science that will prepare students for a wide variety of career paths.
- Develop strong experience working in a team environment, as well as coveted communication skills that employers desire.
- Explore the latest technologies in newly renovated computing labs and well equipped, state-of-the-art server room.
- Access cutting-edge software tools, hardware platforms, and cloud services.
Students will focus on developing a solid computer science foundation by taking a set of six courses that include:
- Computing Fundamentals
- Systems Fundamentals
- Data Structures Fundamentals
- Machine and Network Architecture
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Systems Software
Additional courses in the major that help round out the student skill set and address the entrepreneurship component include:
- Introduction to Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship Project
- Leadership for Management
- Sales and Sales Management
- New Ventures Creation
- Social Issues and Professional Practice
- Statistics in Computing & Engineering
Students will also select three advanced computing topic courses to further develop their computing skills and computational practices.
Sponsored Projects Courses
The CS&E program also requires students to complete three sponsored project courses. These courses will help you build your experience and your resume while networking with industry experts.
Entrepreneurship project (sophomore year): In addition to the required business courses, students will also develop skills by completing a project with entrepreneurial value and develop a business plan to pitch to venture capitalists. Projects are judged by local industry professionals and venture capitalists.
Engineering project (junior year): Through an internship course, students will work with an industry partner to build and implement a service or system to add value to the sponsor of the project.
Capstone project and new ventures creation (senior year): The capstone is the culminating experience, which addresses a project or need from a local company. As entrepreneurs, students will develop a product or service and sell it with the same expertise and persuasion that someone would need in the private industry.
The following is an example of a course sequence. The sequence may vary depending upon a student's academic history and transfer credits. Students should contact their academic adviser with specific questions. Courses are subject to change.
First Year
Fall Semester
COMP 415, Mobile Computing First and For Most
MATH 425, Calculus
BUS 401, Introduction to Entrepreneurship
ENGL 401, Freshman English
Spring Semester
COMP 425, Programming Fundamentals
COMP 430, Systems Fundamentals*
COMP 490, Statistics in Computing & Engineering*
PHYS 407, General Physics I
Second Year
Fall Semester
COMP 500, Discrete Structures*
COMP 525, Data Structures Fundamentals*
Biological Sciences
Social Sciences
Spring Semester
COMP 530, Machine & Network Architecture*
COMP 560, Social Issues & Professional Practice
COMP 590, Internship: Entrepreneurship Project
COMP 625, Data Structures and Algorithms
Third Year
Fall Semester
COMP 630, Systems Software*
COMP 685, Professional Development Seminar
COMP Topic Course
BUS 453, Leadership for Management
Elective Course
Spring Semester
COMP 690, Internship: Engineering Project
COMP Topic Course
Fine and Performing Arts
Elective Course
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
COMP Topic Course
BUS 565, Sales & Sales Management
Historical Perspectives
World Cultures
Spring Semester
COMP 790, Capstone Project
BUS 600, New Ventures Creation
Elective Course
Elective Course
* Course is under development.
Our campus is located in the economic center of the region, which gives students unique opportunities to get real experience working with businesses and organizations. Students can enhance their resumes by getting involved on campus and in the community. Here are just a few examples of what students can do:
- Become an intern and get field experience
- Contribute to open source projects
- Join the computing technology student programming team
- Network with alumni through the “UNHCompTech” LinkedIn group
- Participate in hackathons and boot camps
- Pursue research opportunities in local industry labs
- Research opportunities in local industry labs
- Study abroad
- Tutor through the Center for Academic Enrichment
- Volunteer to teach computing skills to K-12 students
Putting a Degree to Work
Computer science develops students’ computational and critical thinking skills and shows them how to create, not simply use, new technologies.
Computer science is America's untapped opportunity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Code.org, there will be one million more computing jobs than students in 2020. Graduates of computer science make an average starting salary of $60,000 according to a 2013 report by The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
Our students are hired by companies looking for proficiency in problem solving skills, computational thinking, communication, and collaboration. Our students are creative and resourceful team members. Here is a sample of careers to pursue with a computer science degree:
- Applications developer
- Computer and information research scientists
- Data security specialist
- Database administrator
- Database developer
- Multimedia developer
- Network administrator
- Network analyst
- Network architects
- Product development manager
- Quality assurance analyst
- Quality control specialist
- Software engineer
- Software support technician
- Software systems developer
- System analyst
- Technical writer
- Technology trainer/consultant
- User experience (UX) designer
- User interface analyst/designer
- Web analyst/designer
- Web developer