Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

What is Computer Science?

Computer science is foundational in applying and studying interactions between humans and computers. Computer science and computer scientists study computers, computing, the software and hardware in a computer, and their applications in our modern society.

Software is arguably one of the most rapidly-changing fields in science and engineering. It exists everywhere in our daily lives, and the data it creates exists all around us.

What does a computer scientist do?

Students studying computer science at South Dakota Mines gain expertise and experience in all phases of software development, including design, architecture, implementation, testing, and deployment. Computer science students at Mines will become effective in communicating and operating in a team environment and will gain exposure to many different software languages, technologies, and platforms. The hands-on and immersive experience is at the heart of the computer science program at South Dakota Mines.

Students majoring in computer science at Mines gain exposure to robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, cybersecurity, virtual reality, data science, and application development.

Students prepare for these roles: software developer, software engineer, data scientist, data analyst, software tester, security analyst, and application developer.

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology was founded in 1885 to provide instruction in the region’s primary industry, which was mining. And now it includes so much more.

Over the years, South Dakota Mines evolved into a leading science and engineering university and is committed to excellence in science and engineering academics and research. We are working to develop the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers through STEM bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and all undergraduate engineering programs are also accredited through ABET.

We offer a rigorous academic experience at a reasonable cost, with small class sizes, dedicated faculty, cutting-edge research, and many student programs and organizations. By the time they graduate, 75-80% of our students have had hands-on, real-world experiences through internships, cooperative education, or research projects. Our graduate and undergraduate students have research opportunities in areas such as energy and environmental systems, underground science and engineering, and materials and manufacturing. A few research examples include energy storage, cold spray technology, biomedical applications, and even disrupting criminal networks.

You are always welcome to visit our beautiful campus, but in case you can’t make it in person, we offer a virtual tour on our website. We are nestled in the eastern slope of the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Whether you prefer exploring the city or pursuing outdoor adventures, Rapid City and the Black Hills offer many options for you.

South Dakota Mines has been named one of the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment by College Factual for several years. In addition to rankings, there are many reasons to attend South Dakota Mines – great location, maximum value, personal attention and so much more.