Spelman College Students Win 2010 AT&T Big Mobile on Campus Challenge (SM)
Jazmine Miller and Jonecia Keels are the grand prize winners of the 2010 AT&T Big Mobile on Campus Challenge. The pair was awarded $5,000 each for their next generation
e-learning mobile application, HBCU Buddy. In addition to the cash prize, the Spelmanites won a mobile device of their choice, a lifetime development license for Spelman, and all-expense paid trips to the AT&T Higher Ed Board of Advisors meeting in Miami, Fla. and the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
The contest was open to full-time students who attend an institution of higher education (accredited, degree-issuing) within the continental United States. Past winners include a team from Harvard (2009) and Stanford (2008).
We're glad that you're interested in Spelman College and
in our
Computer
Science
department.
In addition to challenging students to use higher order thinking skills
to solve
complex
problems,
our goals
are:
To
prepare students
for graduate
training in
some specialized
area of
computer science
To
prepare
students
for
jobs
in
industry,
business,
or
government
To
provide support
courses for
students
in engineering,
mathematics,
and other
fields requiring
computer
skills
Admission Requirements
The Computer
Science
department
has no
admission
requirement
that
is separate
from
admission to
Spelman College. Any Spelman student may major in computer
science. If you
are a
Spelman
student and would like to major or minor in computer science,
you should
start by taking CIS 121, "Computer
Science
I."
Why
Major
in
Computer
Science?
Surely
each
student
has her
own set
of reasons
for majoring
in Computer
Science.
Here
are some
of the
reasons
you might
consider:
An
exciting career: Few
fields have developed as rapidly
as computer science has in
the last fifty years. Computers
have gone from million-dollar,
multi-ton behemoths, used only
for projects such as calculating
artillery tables and census
figures, to processors so small
and cheap that they are put
in watches, cameras, and microwave
ovens. There has been an explosion
of innovation that continues
today, as new uses are found
for computing and communications.
The computer is the most powerful,
flexible tool that humanity
has ever invented; one whose
potential seems unlimited.
A major in computer science
prepares
you to be a part
of this exciting
and challenging field, contributing
to practical, useful technology
that will make life better.
Cutting-edge
research: Some
students decide to pursue graduate
work in computer science, obtaining
master's degrees or even doctorates,
and contributing new ideas
and knowledge to the world.
A major in computer science
prepares you to be competitive
in the applicant pool for computer
science graduate schools.
It's
cool: Computer
science can be really fun.
Whether
you are learning how things
work,
or
making computers do new tricks,
it's
all well and good to feel
that you are working on something
that is useful and important;
but
if you don't enjoy the
process,
you'll devote as little time
as you can to it. Whatever
you
study, learning should be
fun.
A
good job: The
computing field generally pays
graduates pretty well, and
almost all of our graduates
have landed a job by the time
they graduate. Money is not
the only thing in life, nor
the most important; consequently, students
who
major in computer science
just for the money typically
find that they do badly and
are able
to perform well, because
interest
and
drive are lacking.
Your
parents said so: Often
because of the good job prospects,
parents will pressure students
into majoring in computer science,
even
if the student's interests
lie elsewhere. Here, the motivation
is even less than if the student
is
interested in the money.
We think that college is too
interesting, too important
and too expensive to waste
those
years
doing something that is personally
boring and meaningless.
We urge
every student to
pursue her own interests,
whether
that
be programming or political
science.
