School of Computer and Data Sciences

two female students on laptops in a campus cafe

 

The University of Oregon's new School of Computer and Data Sciences opened in fall 2023. The school combines the university’s established and growing strength in computer science with its five-year investment in data science­. The new school, housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, offers courses to all UO students and is a home to research and experiential education activities.

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200
Data science majors
650
computer science majors
1,750
students served across campus annually

SCDS's first double major on what made her degree valuable 

Last year, Liza Richards was a member of the first cohort of University of Oregon students to graduate with a degree in data science. Not only that, but she was also the first person to graduate with a double major in data science and computer science.  

“It was a big honor,” Richards, ‘22, said. “Being a woman and doing it too—hopefully, it inspires other people.”

Richards started an internship with Thermo Fisher Scientific, a biotech company with headquarters in Eugene, two days after graduating from UO. After four months at her internship, she became a full-time financial analyst at Thermo Fisher. 

She uses both computer and data science daily in her job. “A big part of computer science and data science is the fact that it’s not always going to work out the first time. And it's just a trial-and-error process, which I think is really applicable to life.”  

Read Liza's Story

student in graduation cap and gown posing in front of Autzen Stadium
SCDS_Interdisciplinary Specializations  

Computer Science Interdisciplinary Specializations

We are home to state-of-the-art research in natural language processing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. We offer students and faculty a close-knit community in which to learn, discover, and innovate in a shared quest for solutions to a spectrum of challenging problems that stretch across campus:

SCDS_UG program domains  

Data Science Undergraduate Program Domains

Data science undergraduate students can choose from a variety of domain areas from across the university. Domain specialization provides students with the opportunity to apply core data science knowledge and skills to an area of interest, including:

Undergraduate Program

 

2023 Grad Spotlights

male student in graduation regalia standing in front of white studio background

Gabriel Peery

Math and Computer Science major, Physics minor

Gabriel is a Summit and Pathway Oregon scholar in the Clark Honors College from Klamath Falls, OR. Gabriel was a part of the cybersecurity club, philosophy club, and Oregon ballroom dance club. With Professor Thanh Nguyen as his advisor, Gabriel conducted research that explored the security of machine learning and presented it at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. He also worked as a learning assistant for CS classes and helped students understand class content. 

portrait of woman outdoors

Rudi Madala

Data Science major, Mathematics emphasis, Biology minor, Business Administration minor

Rudi is a Presidential scholar from Portland, OR. She has been working for the math and science libraries on campus since her sophomore year. Working these jobs has made her more confident when teaching math and talking to other students and coworkers while also creating an opportunity to give back to the math department. After graduation, Rudi will be moving to Texas to work for JP Morgan as a data science and AI analyst.

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 Joe Sventek

“SCDS is a hub of innovation and exploration where students explore the limitless potential of computational technology. They dive into coding challenges, unlock data insights, and develop futuristic solutions. The school engages in cutting-edge research, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary collaborations, preparing students for the ever-evolving world of technology and data-driven fields.” 

—   Joe Sventek, Interim Executive Director, School of Computer and Data Sciences

313
grants submitted in last 5 years
153
grants funded in last 5 years
$24,000,000+
total amount funded in last 5 years

Research & News Stories

aerial view of Eugene campus
COMPUTER SCIENCE - The University of Oregon jumped to a tie for 98th in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings for best national universities. The College of Arts and Sciences landed at 71st in computer science, 88th in economics and 51st in psychology.
cybersecurity professionals at computers

COMPUTER SCIENCE - The 2023 Oregon Cyber Resilience Summit, the UO's sixth annual gathering of cybersecurity experts and practitioners, is Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Erb Memorial Union. UO students, staff and faculty members can register for free.

high school students in front of The Duck

COMPUTER SCIENCE - Students from metro and rural high schools attended a cybersecurity camp hosted by the Department of Computer Science. The event is part of a statewide effort to introduce high school students to cybersecurity and is the first year the University of Oregon participated. The department's cybersecurity major launches fall 2023.

phone screen displaying overview of chat gpt
COMPUTER SCIENCE, DATA SCIENCE - From Bing to Google Bard, artificial intelligence chatbots are suddenly emerging as a powerful communication tool with impacts across society, but how they work is not broadly understood. Nor are the ways in which AI can be misused.
portrait of female student in graduation stole posing in front of white columns
COMPUTER SCIENCE, DATA SCIENCE - Last year, Liza Richards was a member of the first cohort of University of Oregon students to graduate with a degree in data science. Not only that, but she was also the first person to graduate with a double major in data science and computer science.  
Thien Huu Nguyen posing with a lake in the background

COMPUTER SCIENCE - Assistant Professor Thien Nguyen has won the Faculty Early Career Development award from the National Science Foundation. The five-year grant of $582k will support Dr. Nguyen’s project titled “Multilingual Learning for Event Structures from Text.”

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