Study Guide

• General description of the department
• Foreign student adviser
• Degree programmes
• Degree structure
• Teaching in English
• Course descriptions

1. General description of the department

Foreign student adviser:

Risto Honkanen, PhLic, senior assistant
University of Kuopio
Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
P.O. Box 1627
FIN-70211 KUOPIO
Finland
Tel: +358-17- 163 793
Email: Risto.Honkanen@cs.uku.fi

Staff

The staff at the Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics (in spring 2002) consists of the following members: 6 professors (one in mathematics), 2 research directors, 5 senior lecturers (2 in mathematics), 8 senior assistants, 7 assistants, 9 researchers and 7 other staff.

The research activities focus on structured documents, software engineering, structured documents, parallel computation, intelligent systems, signal processing, and computational bioprocessor technology.

Facilities

The Department is situated in the new high technology campus, in Microteknia and Centek buildings, in the neighbourhood of the main university campus.

Computing resources used in teaching include four PC workstation laboratories double bootable to Linux or Windows. In addition, there are Unix and PC workstations for research and independent studying. Computers are connected to the Internet.

A sublibrary of computer science and mathematics is situated in the department. General library services are offered by the main library of the university.

2. Degree programmes

The main degree programme of the department is the Degree Programme in Computer Science. The department also co-hosts the Degree Programme in Information Technology together with the Department of Applied Physics.

The most important element in all degree programmes is computer science, that covers more than half of the studies. Depending on the programme and the study line, the degree also contains studies in mathematics, business, physics, and other subjects such as biotechnology, environmental science, health care management.

Studies for the (optional) BSc degree take in the average 3 years and for the MSc degree 4-5 years. To complete the PhD degree will take about 4 years after the MSc.

Teaching

The most widely used teaching method is lectures with labs. Individual and group projects with written reports, and exams based on books are also used. Written exams are made after each course during. The proportion of independent studies, workshops, written and oral seminars, and reading of text books increases towards the end of studies. The written thesis, either in Finnish or English, is based on guided research work in the field or lab.

Grading scale

The courses are credited in Finland with credit units, cu for short. One unit should correspond to 40 hrs work, which may include classes, and independent or other forms of studies mentioned. A typical course of 3 cu could consist of 32 h lectures, 14 h of laboratory work and an examination. For foreign students, participating European exchange programmes, the ECTS system is applied. 1 cu = 1,5 eu (ECTS credit unit).

3. Degree structure

The degree programme divides in two study lines, Computer Science line and Software Engineering line. In both lines about half of the basic and subject studies are the same. Advanced studies are adjusted to the different needs of the lines. The general line gives a scientific education in the computer science. The Software Engineering line prepares for working in software industry. In this line the practical training in industry is an important part of the studies.

3.1 Qualifications

The students are enrolled in the Degree programme after completion a national test or based on transcript of records and other documents.

To fulfill the degree qualifications, the students must follow an approved programme, participate in the compulsory practicals, pass all the examinations, and complete the advanced studies and the thesis.

3.2 Course structure

Computer Science, basic studies (22.5 eu)

• Information technology
• Introduction to computer science
• Programming I
• Project in basic studies in computer science

Optional courses in both lines are for example:

• Project in subject studies in computer science
• Programming in C
• Programming in C++
• Human information processing
• Operating systems
• Advanced course in programming languages
• System programming
• Data communications
• Unix

Optional courses are for example:

• Pattern recognition
• Innovative projects in software engineering
• Neural networks
• Programming techniques
• Parallel computing
• Testing software systems
• Database management systems
• Knowledge engineering and expert systems
• Computer graphics and image processing

Minor subjects, (67.5 eu)

Courses in Mathematics:

• Analysis I
• Analysis II
• Differential calculus
• Differential equations
• Discrete mathematics
• Fourier analysis
• Integral calculus
• Introduction to calculus 1
• Introduction to calculus 2
• Linear algebra and matrix calculus
• Mathematical logic
• Numerical methods

Courses of free choice (37.5 eu)

 4. Teaching in English

 5. Course Descriptions