COINS

PROGRAM FEATURES

Over-the-shoulder Teaching Environment: COINS has a dedicated faculty who share the philosophy that involved students learn best. Consequently most computer courses are taught in a laboratory setting where each student is engaged interactively with the computer while the subject is being taught. In this environment, the faculty primarily "coach" over-the-shoulder as opposed to delivering standard lectures. Based on feedback from graduating seniors and alumni, this method of teaching has provided graduates with an "edge' over their peers in the workplace.

Small Class Size: Computer classes do not exceed 24 students per class and are usually much smaller. All COINS classes are taught in COINS labs with each student at a computer.

Emphasis on Teamwork: Employer feedback indicates that the ability to work as part of a team is essential to success in the information technology workplace. For this reason, most computer courses stress teams and teamwork as the primary means of completing class assignments. Students learn quickly that team dynamics are fundamentally different from the usual student experiences where each student competes with all other students for grades.

Focus on the Fundamentals: Our goal is to produce well-rounded, "can-do" graduates who are able to function successfully at all levels of the workplace. Since technology changes relentlessly and is different in every workplace, our courses focus on the underlying, unchanging fundamentals. These include not only technical fundamentals, but also people-skills and the ability to communicate effectively. Alumni feedback has authenticated the effectiveness of this approach, as the following unsolicited e-mail messages demonstrate:

"Your staff really did a great job in preparing me for a job in this field. My current title is Information Systems Engineer. Thanks for making us give presentations in Operating Systems. I give two presentations a month now. I really felt confident and comfortable going into this job. Even though I went through 12 weeks training, I can honestly say I was well prepared to handle what they taught." - Sonya Ridgill, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Columbia SC   "My CSAM degree served me well. Right after I graduated, my husband was transferred to Cape Canaveral, FL, and I had the opportunity to work on the Space Shuttle program as a software and systems engineer - launch team. During that time, I finished my masters degree. Beyond the Space Shuttle work, I've worked on RF networks for Navy ships, and embedded Guidance and Navigation software for missiles, and now I'm in the semiconductor field. I spent a year working in a semiconductor fab named after Jack Kilby to write software automation for the tools in the fab. Now, I'm in a group called DLP which features A chips with mirrors that correspond to pixels, and ASICs to operate the mirrored chip." - Kara Atchison, Texas Instruments, Dallas TX   "CSU has benefited me enormously, both professionally and personally.I've very much come to realize the importance of good 'people skills' as you emphasized years ago. I work in the engineering field, and successful projects and subsequent promotions are very dependent on these skills, more so than technical skills.. Having completed my degree at CSU has proven to be one of the greatest achievements of my life, and for this I thank you very much for your very positive input and influence. It ranks with getting married as far as positive impact goes." - Dan Baugess, Orion CEM, Inc., Atlanta GA

Information about Careers in Computer Science

Learn more about where you can go and what you can earn with a degree in computer science ... click here

Interesting Data from the COINS Self-study
[dated May 10, 2003]

• COINS is one of the larger academic units with responsibility for approximately 118 majors and 48 minors.
• Enrollment has increased forth-six percent since 1999 despite a thirteen percent dip in enrollment during 2002. This upward trend is expected to resume as the economy improves, although at a more modest pace.
• Students declaring computer-related majors increased at a steady five percent rate from 1999 to 2001, but dropped twenty-one percent in 2002 as a natural reaction to the high-tech bust and slowing economy. This drop was reflective of the trend at universities nationally. The number of majors is expected to begin rising again as the economy improves.
• At the time of the study, ninety-seven percent of graduates reported that they were employed (one person was between jobs). (Note: This does not include graduates who chose not to be employed, e.g., moms at home.) Job satisfaction data demonstrated that graduates were, on the average, “Very Satisfied” with their jobs. This was the highest possible ranking.
• The average salary range for all COINS graduates is $53,000 to $73,000 (includes BT, BS degrees and minors). Many, of course, make much more.
• Graduates are employed by some of the nation's most prestigious employers, including Alignus Design, Bayer, Bell Canada, Bosch, CAMBAR Software, Disney, FBI, General Electric, Intel, Johnson and Johnson, Lockheed Martin, MeadWestvaco, NASA, National Reconnaissance Office, Nations Bank, Northrop Grumman, Pentagon, Policy Management Systems Corporation, Santee Cooper, Space and Missile Command (USAF), SPAWAR, Texas Instruments, TRW, Underwriters Lab, US Information Agency, and many more.

Fifty percent of graduates did postgraduate work. Thirty-four percent completed advanced degrees beyond the Baccalaureate degree.