Download Computer Sciences at the University of Tampere

University of Tampere, CS Department
Studying Computer Sciences at
the University of Tampere
Jyrki Nummenmaa
[email protected]
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
History
University of Tampere, CS Department
• First CS professor (Reino Kurki-Suonio) in
Scandinavia – around 1965.
• Kurki-Suonio moved later to the local
University of Technology and has now
retired, but his influence still shows.
• Although the department has a long
tradition (in computer science scale), it is a
quite modern department.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Present major areas
University of Tampere, CS Department
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Algorithms
Data management
Human-Computer Interaction
Information Systems
Software Development
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Algorithms
University of Tampere, CS Department
• General data structure
algorithms, esp. binary
trees.
• Graph layouts
• Data mining
• Computational methods for
medical research (data
mining, decision trees,
neural networks, etc.)
• Virtual reality methods
• Lots of theoretical and
applied research.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Data management
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Query systems and
languages
• Conceptual modeling
• Database design (relational
and OLAP)
• Data-driven software
development
• Distributed transaction
management
• Search structures
• Lots of theoretical and also
some practical research.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Human-Computer Interaction
University of Tampere, CS Department
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New interaction methods
Speech interfaces
Gaze-based interfaces
Touch-based interfaces
Two-hand devices
Computer-supported
learning
• General usability study
• Emphasis on applied
research.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Information systems
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Building large systems
• Expert systems, esp. in
medicine
• Medical information
systems
• Security, viruses
• eBusiness
• Information systems and
society
• Emphasis on practice.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Software development
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Data-driven software
development
• Software development
tools
• Simulation
• Distributed and mobile
systems
• Software agents
• Reverse engineering
• Earlier: Objecttechnologies, frameworks
• Current emphasis more on
practice.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Departmental Staff
University of Tampere, CS Department
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8 full professors
6 lectures, 8 senior assistants (ass. prof.)
Part-time teaching staff
Around 50 research staff
Administrational staff (secreteries etc.)
2 computing officers
In total, around 90 people.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Student intake
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Roughly 100 new first year students – half
selected with an entrance test alone and the
other half with the test and the last year
secondary school national test.
• Roughly 40 special cases, including less
than 20 foreign students for English MSc
programs.
• Around 10(?) Erasmus exchange students
per year visit the department.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Degrees
University of Tampere, CS Department
• We have now moved (with all other
departments) to the presumably
general European system:
- 3-year BSc
- 2-year MSc
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
BSc degree
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Two degrees, one in computer science and
one in interactive technology (HCI)
• Most of the teaching is in Finnish.
• Some course modules are available also in
English.
• If you are willing to replace lectures by selfstudy, then you may go and discuss
possibilities with the teacher in charge.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
MSc programs
University of Tampere, CS Department
• An MSc program is available on each
special area plus some mixed ones.
• Some MSc programs are available in
English. For these, we take in separately
foreign students, but the course modules
are open to all (with enough previous
studies).
• Because of the above, there is much more
teaching available in English on the MSc
level.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Seeing the teachers
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Each teacher has a regular ”surgery hour”
(which, of course, may be cancelled due to a
trip, illness,...)
• It is usually a better idea to settle an
individual time for seeing the teacher.
• Electronic mail is often the most convenient
way to contact the teachers.
• The department generally has an open-doors
policy.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
”Official” forms of study work
University of Tampere, CS Department
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Lectures
(Weekly) exercises
Demonstrations
Coursework
Essays
Seminar works
Group supervision
Individual supervision
• Exams
– an oral examination may
also somtimes be
possible
• MSc thesis work
• All this requires
indivdual work: reading,
proglem solving,
programming, writing, ...
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Lectures
University of Tampere, CS Department
• ”Traditional”
• Typically not compulsory to attend –
but you should somehow be aware of
what the lectures contained.
• Some (but few) courses have
compulsory lectures.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Weekly exercises
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Exercises are given several days ahead
• At the session, the teacher collects a list of
who has solved what
• Students are to present solutions
• When all the exercises are dealt with, the
session is usually over
• Some percentage of the exercises may be
compulsory, or give bonus exam points
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Weekly exercises / 2
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Sometimes it is possible to hand in
written solutions and skip the session.
• Sometimes you need to have a reason
for this.
• If this is necessary for your schedule,
contact the teacher in advance.
• Weekly exercises are often the main
way of learning.
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Coursework(s)
University of Tampere, CS Department
• Separate assignment
• Separate schedules
• Usually much larger than single
weekly exercises
• The expected outcome may include
program code, documents, essays,
evaluations,…
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
Exams (cs, maths, statistics)
University of Tampere, CS Department
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Typically the following rules hold:
Exam time 4 hours.
You may leave after 30 mins.
Some exams allow you to have written
material and some don’t (both open book
and closed book exams are used).
• Typically a re-sit possibility at the start of the
following term (this is not so handy for
visiting students).
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
A typical course module
University of Tampere, CS Department
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Weekly lectures
Weekly exercises
Courswork
Exam
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
http://www.cs.uta.fi/
University of Tampere, CS Department
Thank you!