Hands-On Experience at the College of Computing & Informatics

Interested in learning more about Drexel's College of Computing & Informatics (CCI)? I'm excited to tell you about the amazing programs and initiatives within the College. CCI currently houses five undergraduate majors: Computer Science, Computing and Security Technology, Data Science, Information Systems, and Software Engineering. There is also an Undeclared option for first-year students who are unsure which of these majors is the best path. For more information about these majors, check out CCI's Undergraduate Programs page. (The College offers a number of graduate programs, too!) If you're curious about where CCI is located on campus, the college moved to a beautiful state-of-the-art location last year. Watch the video on CCI's website for a firsthand look into the new space!

Students within the college have access to a range of classes, research labs, and top-notch professors. As with all of Drexel's programs, there is a strong focus on experiential education. Here are several examples of how students get hands-on experience at CCI:

  • Students must participate in at least one six month co-op to gain real-world experience in the industry (not sure what co-op is? Check out Erin's blog post). Past employers have included Google, Facebook, Dell, Lockheed Martin, and many more.
  • Students complete a senior design project, which takes place over three quarters. Students work in teams to design their own project, which can be anything from a video game to a phone application, software, or a database. Many teams work closely with corporate partners who sponsor the design groups and may end up using the final product in their everyday work. View the 2020–2021 projects.
  • Recently, the College launched the CyberCorps(R) program, which is a cybersecurity pipeline program made possible by a $4 million grant from the US Department of Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. The first cohort was selected this spring, and I'm so excited to see the opportunities ahead for these students.

CCI is also committed to increasing the number of women in the industry. To further this mission, the College created a Women in Tech Initiative. If you are a woman interested in the computing field, I strongly suggest checking out the Initiative's website.

Students within the college have access to a range of classes, research labs, and top-notch professors. As with all of Drexel's programs, there is a strong focus on experiential education.

If you'd like to learn more about the students, faculty, and staff at the College, Humans of CCI is a great resource. This site is updated frequently with new stories. You can also contact one of the current students designated as a Dean's Ambassador — they love speaking with prospective students about all of the opportunities available within the College!