Computer and Information Science

About CIS

Two individuals working on a robotic device in a lab setting, with one person controlling the robot with a remote and the other observing closely.

The Computer and Information Science Department empowers students to design intelligent, secure, and data-driven systems that power today’s digital world. From artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to software engineering and data science, our graduates drive impact across mobility, manufacturing, healthcare, and emerging digital industries.

Our degree programs focus on the emerging skill sets of next-generation computing professionals, including:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
GPU Computing and Quantum Computing
Cloud Computing and Edge Computing
Cybersecurity
Data Science and Engineering.

Undergraduate Programs Graduate Programs

Department Highlights

Three individuals at a conference booth labeled "CANQUEST," engaging in a discussion with promotional materials in hand. Two are wearing white hats and standing behind the booth, while the third person is interacting with them.

Senior Design Project: CANQuest

Created by Shams Ahson, Souad Omar, Ali Chowdhury, and Nizar Saleh, CANQuest aims to break down barriers for beginners interested in automotive cybersecurity. It simulates a vehicle with real-world vulnerabilities, enabling open-source knowledge sharing and technical skill advancement. With its interactive and fully integrated simulated vehicle interface, CANQuest provides valuable resources for members of the automotive community.

Learn more about Senior Design

New CIS course

A new CIS course, CIS 5550: Reinforcement Learning, will be offered for graduate and doctoral students in Winter 2027.

Explore reinforcement learning (learning to make decisions) from foundations to modern deep RL, including policy gradients, actor-critic methods, Deep Q-Networks, and RLHF for LLM alignment. Discover how RL powers intelligent agents, robotics, and autonomous decision-making. Build in-demand skills through state-of-the-art research paper discussions, hands-on assignments, and a final project, with in-person or online asynchronous attendance.

Course Catalog Information

A person in academic regalia holding a ceremonial mace leads a procession at a graduation ceremony.

Rankings

U.S. News and World Report: 5th in CS undergraduate degree program in Michigan
Princeton Review: 38th in Game Design (consistently been recognized since 2011) – Undergraduate Study, in the U.S.
U.S. News and World Report: 5thin Best CS Schools Graduate in Michigan, 151st in the U.S.
U.S. News and World Report: 2nd in Online MS Programs in Michigan, 44th in the U.S.
Programs.com: 19th in Top 25 Cybersecurity Master’s Degree Programs in the U.S.

Our department's mission is to provide an outstanding education in the various facets of Computer and Information Science. Through our multiple degree programs, we equip students with the knowledge and tools for a successful career in CIS. Our faculty, graduates of some of the best schools in U.S. and abroad, are actively engaged in both teaching and research across a wide range of areas, and seek to impart their knowledge and experience to their students.

Our professional advisory board, consisting of senior computing technologists and executives from leading global companies such as eBay, Google, IBM, GE, Ford and GM, provides timely input and guidance on our academic programs, research agendas, and professional/community service initiatives. We strive to be one of the highly reputed computer and information science departments in the country.

- Di Ma, Chair of Computer and Information Science

The Department continually seeks outside interactions with business, industries, and government through its Professional Advisory Board (PAB). The PAB is composed of senior computing technologists and industry leaders who provide valuable input and advice on curriculum development, potential employment for students, research opportunities for faculty, and a perspective on future challenges requiring collaboration. The current PAB members come from leading technology companies including eBay, Google, Amazon, IBM, GE, Ford, GM, Bosch, Workday, Carhartt, Lear, May Mobility, CNE Tech, etc.