University of Illinois -- Springfield C.S. program?

Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone here has had experience with the C.S. department at UIS or knows about their reputation?

Thanks a lot!!

 

I haven't heard a single bad thing about them. They have a solid reputation. Not the same level of prestige as the flagship state school, UIUC, but solid nonetheless.

 

I can't speak either about the C.S. department, but, like mcjon77 said, UIS has a decent reputation. It won't be identical to UIUC in stature and prestige, but you will still get a solid education. Also, as I understand it, your degree ought to simply say "University of Illinois", not specifying which campus you attended. Perhaps, someone could correct me if I'm wrong!

 

UI diplomas for the 3 campuses are standard, but they do indicate the campus. You can find a lot of examples on the web. It'll read "By authority of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and on the recommendation of the Senate at [Springfield, Chicago, Urbana-Champaign]...

 

Thanks for all of your input. UIUC offers an M.C.S. whereas UIS offers the M.S.C.S. Does this really make a difference when considering a future doctorate? My thinking is that yes, the MS.C.S. would offer a more solid foundation. Any ideas?

 

It looks like a good program. The program is on a cohort system...they accept like 20 students each year (or maybe it was each term...) and you all go through the program together. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on how quickly you want to complete the program.

 

I believe the UIUC M.CS degree is pretty much identical to the MSCS offered at the same school, with the only difference being the thesis. They consider the people enrolled in the M.CS program as working professionals looking for a terminal degree. Though I can't imagine that a M.CS from UIUC would serve as a deterrent when looking to get into a PhD program. I'm sure others can answer this questions better...perhaps the thesis is very important for getting admitted to a PhD program.