Studying Computer Sciences at the University of Tampere

http://www.cs.uta.fi/

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Studying Computer Sciences at the University of Tampere

Jyrki Nummenmaa

[email protected]

http://www.cs.uta.fi/

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History

• 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.

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Present major areas

• Algorithms

• Data management

• Human-Computer Interaction

• Information Systems

• Software Development

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Algorithms

• 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.

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Data management

• 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.

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Human-Computer Interaction

• New interaction methods• Speech interfaces• Gaze-based interfaces• Touch-based interfaces• Two-hand devices• Computer-supported

learning• General usability study• Emphasis on applied

research.

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Information systems

• Building large systems• Expert systems, esp. in

medicine• Medical information

systems• Security, viruses• eBusiness• Information systems and

society• Emphasis on practice.

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Software development

• Data-driven software development

• Software development tools• Simulation• Distributed and mobile

systems• Software agents• Reverse engineering• Earlier: Object-

technologies, frameworks• Current emphasis more on

practice.

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Departmental Staff

• 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.

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Student intake

• 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.

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Degrees

• We have now moved (with all other departments) to the presumably general European system:- 3-year BSc- 2-year MSc

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BSc degree

• 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 self-

study, then you may go and discuss possibilities with the teacher in charge.

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MSc programs

• 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.

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Seeing the teachers

• 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.

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”Official” forms of study work

• 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, ...

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Lectures

• ”Traditional”

• Typically not compulsory to attend – but you should somehow be aware of what the lectures contained.

• Some (but few) courses have compulsory lectures.

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Weekly exercises

• 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

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Weekly exercises / 2

• 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.

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Coursework(s)

• Separate assignment

• Separate schedules

• Usually much larger than single weekly exercises

• The expected outcome may include program code, documents, essays, evaluations,…

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Exams (cs, maths, statistics)

• 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).

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A typical course module

• Weekly lectures

• Weekly exercises

• Courswork

• Exam

http://www.cs.uta.fi/

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