Computer Science

 Overview
 Program Objectives
 Graduate Profiles
 Admission Requirements
 Graduation Requirements
 programs
 Courses
 Staff
 Contact Us

Computers play a major role in shaping the information or the knowledge age. They are also becoming
essential in almost all activities of human life. Furthermore, with the decline in the price of computer
hardware, nations, organizations and individuals that couldn't afford to have computers some years back can
now afford to acquire them. However, the acquisition of the hardware is just one step towards
computerization. The most important step is to be able to use them properly.
This necessitates for a high number of skilled computer scientists who will develop the necessary
applications for the computers, who will administer the computer systems and who will decide on computer
system acquisitions of the organizations and all automation processes in general.
Institutions, enterprises, organizations and companies in all sectors, public and private, are directly or
indirectly being affected by the overwhelming information flow around the world. The effect goes down to
small businesses and even to individuals. Every such unit should be equipped with tools that enable it to
survive in such a dynamic world. Ethiopia is no exception and we must get ready to cope up with the
influence of the knowledge age in our day-to-day life.
A curriculum in Computer Science must be designed in such a way that it addresses the current needs of the
country. Currently, the country has no sufficient number of competent computer professionals in the various
fields of Computer Science. Various Governmental and other organizations have the desire to use modern
information technology. However, there is an acute shortage of technical staff. The failure of many projects
in IT in terms of implementation and sustainability is largely attributed to shortage of qualified
professionals.
Realizing the importance of Computer Science and the deficiency of skilled manpower in the field, AAU
launched a B. Sc. degree program in Computer Science that has been offered within the Department of
Mathematics since 1991. In August 2002, the University Senate decided that this program be established as
a separate Department, Department of Computer Science. With this decision, the new Department of
Computer Science is established within the Faculty of Informatics (FoI) that also has a second department:
the Department of Information Science. Since then, the Department has become responsible for the
Computer Science programs under the faculty of FoI.
The major objectives of the Department of Computer Science are the following:
  Education: to run Computer Science programs to undergraduate, graduate, continuing and distance
education students, as well as to offer Computer Science service courses to other Departments of the
University.
 Research: to formulate an integrated research framework by

- identifying appropriate research projects for graduate students and staff

- initiating multidisciplinary research collaborations, and
- presenting and publishing research results in appropriate national/international
journals and conferences.

The first curriculum for the B. Sc. program was designed in 1990. The Department has been evaluating its
curriculum over the last years through departmental assessment, peer evaluation and discussions with
stakeholders. Hence, the first version of the curriculum has been revised in 2001. In 2004, it has been
necessary to revise the curriculum again to adapt it to the new education policy of the country that requires
only three years for the B.Sc. program.

Although the program has contributed its share in producing the necessary skilled manpower, the need for
revising the curriculum is required because of the following major reasons.

 Curriculum development is an on-going and continuous process. It is specifically true since

Computer Science and its applications are relatively dynamic, with new concepts evolving
while others getting outdated. Regular assessment and updating of the curriculum in Computer
Science programs is vital: to ensure quality and relevance, to cope-up with rapid changes in the
field and to adapt the curriculum to the needs and conditions of the country. This requires
revising the description of courses, phasing out outdated courses, and introducing new ones.
 The Department has now learned a lot after running the three year BSc program for several
years. The current curriculum has to be revised based on past experience and the feedback
acquired in both formal and informal ways from different stakeholders including alumni and
employers of graduates.
 With the three-year duration of the program, students were unable to take important Computer
Science and other supportive courses that they are expected to take as a B.Sc. graduates of
Computer Science due to the maximum possible credit hours imposed by the short duration of
the study. Hence, the Department decided to offer the program for a duration of four years,
which in turn requires curriculum revision.

Thus, this curriculum has been revised based on the previous curriculum and by taking into consideration
the above reasons.
General Objectives of the Program
The general objectives of the B.Sc. program in Computer Science is to provide a strong conceptual and
theoretical understanding of computer science that will enable students to create, evaluate, adapt, and
utilize appropriate methods, theories, and techniques for solving real world problems. It also helps the
students develop critical, analytical and interpersonal skills to become active professionals and
contribute to the intellectual life of the society.

Specific Objectives of the Program

The specific objectives of the program are to:

 provide students with a sound theoretical foundation of computer science

 equip students with problem solving skills using computer technology
 enable students to understand the fast changing field, be aware of technological trends and be
able to use emerging opportunities
 develop in the student the concepts of professional practice, innovation and entrepreneurship
 develop the business, analytical and communication abilities of the student and
 lay the foundation necessary for advanced study-level in Computer Science

A graduate from this program is expected to have a wide range of abilities and skills as described
below.
Knowledge and Understanding

 Understanding essential facts, concepts, principles, and theories relating to computer

science;
 Use such knowledge and understanding in the modeling and design of computer
based systems for the purpose of comprehension, communication, prediction and the
understanding of tradeoffs.
 Recognize the professional moral and ethical issues involved in the exploitation of
computer technology and be guided by the adoption of appropriate professional,
ethical and legal practice.
 Sound knowledge of the criteria and mechanisms where by computer systems can be
critically evaluated and analyzed to determine the extent to which they meet the
criteria defined for their current and future development
 In depth understanding of the appropriate theory, practices, languages and tools that
may be deployed for the specification, design, implementation and evaluation of
software systems.
 Understand the basic research methods, and ways to write technical report and/or
research paper in the appropriate scientific style.

Practical Skill

 Ability to think logically, reason critically, and make professional judgments.

  Ability to analyze, synthesizes, evaluate and assess a range of options together with
the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to solving problems in industry, business
and the public sector.
 Ability to apply general principles, concepts, tools techniques and methodologies to
solve real world problems effectively and efficiently
 Analyze, specify, design and develop computer systems in a manner that is
innovative and creative.

Transferable Skill

 Ability to provide computer science consultancy services

 Ability to use, present and evaluate probabilistic and statistical information in a
variety of ways.
 Ability to work in groups as a participant who contributes effectively to the group's
task and possess interpersonal skills of effective listening, negotiating, persuasion and
presentation
 Ability to develop entrepreneur skill
 Ability to conduct assigned activities with integrity and professional ethics

Attitudes and Values

The graduates will be aspired:

 To have professionalism at the center of their mentality

 To have personal confidence in their jobs and professional activities
 To have a sense of responsibility , co-operation, honesty, and loyalty

Programs currently running in the Department of Computer Science are:

 B.Sc. program in Computer Science ( regular and extension)
 M. Sc. program in Computer Science
 Minor program in Computer Science for Departments of Mathematics, Statistics, Earth
Sciences, and Physics students
In addition, the Department offers a service course for all regular and extension students in the
Faculty of Science.