Standard Computer Engineering Curriculum

Computer Science applications range from electronics to business management. The three major fields covered by Computer Science engineers are : the design and development of computer systems, the management of computer equipment and networks, IT research and development. The department essentially focuses on the first of the above fields, namely the «design and development of computer systems».
The information system of any organization , whether public or private,in its daily operation,handles a set of data and softwares. By way of example, that of a manufacturing company monitors its business activities from production (manufacturing, supplies) to accounting let alone distribution and trade. On the other hand, where a public organization such as a health insurance fund is concerned, the information system allows m anaging thousands of insurance records from the perspectives of patients (insurance benefits), companies (contributions), medical doctors and healthcare establishments (Vitale medical smart card).In all instances, it is all about information systems and it is up to the «design and development» engineer in charge, to study, set up, optimize and update the information system.

Due to the wide range of industrial or business activities available, graduates are offered job opportunities either in the IT departments of large groups as design and development engineers- possibly as IT asset managers- or as a consultant engineers in IT services companies (SSII). Indeed the latter, since they offer services ranging from the preparation of specifications to the implementation and monitoring of solutions combining hardware, software and customer follow-up, are currently privileged partners of organizations and companies, who tend to outsource their IT systems. As a result, IT services companies are involved in a wide variety of activities : consulting, design, completion, deployment, maintenance and training.Thus they represent a major opportunity for our graduates. 

Our training program provides job opportunities such as:

• IT consultant,ERP, e-business,change management,
• IT project manager:program management as customer, as prime contractor,
• IT systems integrator,
• Expert in the fields of methods, tools, quality, security, data,
• IT auditor or IT consultant.

By the time they graduate, our students have a command of of all IT methods and tools of their trade.All along their professional lives, their thorough basic training will enable them to adjust to new methods and tools through self-learning.However, when asked to roll-out or to optimize a company’s IT system, they should demonstrate common sense as they listen and reach out to users, as well as strong analytical skills as they address their needs, quite apart from the technical know-how required to see the project through to the end. Again, they may have to train staff in the use of the newly installed softwares.In order to meet all the above requirements, our program provides for:

• a profession-oriented training focusing on IT: high-level IT literacy; design and development of information systems for business and industry. During the first two years of higher education, students are introduced to information systems (operating system,networks,IT security) and provided with in-depth knowledge of the tools necessary for their design and management (programming languages, advanced data bases,middlewares, Web service, mobile computing),
• an enhancement of business awareness: strategic and financial management, industrial and logistic management, decision- support mathematical and statistical tools.Since ongoing contacts have to be maintained with the various departments of a company,emphasis is placed on financial and accounting skills, on production management methods, on logistics, as well as the study of project management methods,
• an adequate openess to the techniques of technological intelligence and IT innovation: the teaching highlights the decision-support methods and tools: data mining , data warehouses, modeling and optimization of business processes, artificial intelligence’s mechanisms (multi-agent systems). The associated supervised project deals either with business intelligence or with mobile applications.

The 6 semester-curriculum alternates two in-school semesters and one in-house semester according to the following timetable:

The program focuses on three main areas: IT and numerical techniques (TIN), IT design and development (CDI), IT Sciences (SPI). The related courses are taught during the first three in-school semesters, in order to allow students to make good progress.The five month internship spent as « junior engineers » during semester 7 is meant to further the knowledge they have acquired during the first two semesters and to confirm their occupational choices when opting for IT.

The engineering degree program requires a total of 180 ECTS credits. A one- semester internship carries 30 credits. 22 credits are allocated to each semester of IT study while the common core courses (humanities and social sciences, languages, sport) translate into 8 credits. The following tables which give the programs of the various semesters of IT studies specify the number of face to face hours (lectures, tutorials, practical work) for each subject along with the number of allocated ECTS credits.

Head of the Department of Computer Science
Christine GERTOSIO