The Program

The Computer Science program provides students with a broad foundation in the various aspects of the computing profession, ranging from pure theory to concrete practical applications, with an emphasis on the solution of actual problems. The core language is currently Java, an industry standard, but many other languages are utilized during a student's course of study, including Python, C++, and Web-enabled languages. Also a strong mathematical component is part of the program since the successful computer scientist must have a working knowledge of the mathematical concepts underlying all of computer science.

The Opportunities

The course of study is aligned with the Association for Computing Machinery Curriculum Guidelines and, as such, provides an internationally standard foundation for students to either enter the work force or continue their education. About 20 percent of our graduates continue on toward advanced degrees and the remainder find jobs in the workplace. Currently, Wheeling Jesuit graduates are pursuing advanced degrees at West Virginia University, the University of Cincinnati, Johns Hopkins University, and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Our graduates are currently employed in a variety of positions, some of which are: analyst at the National Security Agency, web programming, system administration at PPG in Pittsburgh, database analyst/programmer, programmer at the Lockheed Martin in Fairmont, WV, fingerprint program analyst for the FBI, IT manager for a local legal firm, programmers at a variety of large and small companies, and even teaching here. Starting salaries vary greatly, depending on location and type of job, but average in the range of $30K to $45K.

Facilities & Faculty

Facilities and equipment include, in addition to campus-owned and operated labs, a networked, multimedia classroom with 23 Pentium 4 machines, a computer lab with Linux and Solaris servers and a variety of other computers and networking machinery, and a computer haptics lab devoted to the investigation of virtual touch using a state-of-the-art PHANToM device and Pentium 4 machine.  The faculty is made up of three highly experienced and student-oriented teachers with a combined teaching experience of over 40 years and research interests in such areas as: extreme programming, software engineering, graphics, computer haptics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.

Please feel free to contact the department chair, Meg Geroch(geroch@wju.edu), if you have questions or would like to arrange a classroom visit.  

For more information on how Wheeling Jesuit University can help you realize your potential and own your future, call 1-800-624-6992 or e-mail admiss@wju.edu or visit Wheeling Jesuit online at www.wju.edu