The Computer Science Department recently added two new tracks within the department: cyber security and game design and development. The tracks were finalized at the end of 2016, but this is the first year that there have been students directly admitted into these tracks. “Cyber security is concerned with issues related to security and privacy when computing,” said computer science professor Dr. Joshua Gross. He said, “How do we ensure people don’t have access to you personal information, like your bank and medical records, is the basis of the program.” Game design and development is the process of making games. “We are interested in making games for the app world, mobile world, for web and education,” said Gross.
The department has seen a large increase in the number of students within the department, with 24 new incoming students. “24 new students is a large number for our department, even for almost any program,” said Gross. Even if the new students are not within the new tracks, the program is growing rapidly in the technology-based era everyone lives in.
New classes were added to the program for the new tracks, but all computer science majors take the same core courses, even for the new tracks. All of the students involved in the program have a junior year and senior year seminar, but for the students in these tracks, theirs are to be focused on their tracks, whether it is cyber security or game design. When asked what the difference between students in computer science and those in the other tracks, Gross commented, “All computer science students take three upper-division electives, but for cyber security, they have to take three specific courses, and for game design, it is four. Their electives are basically fixed, which could concern some students.” These new tracks also have required classes that are taught outside the department. Cyber security students have to take ethics. Game design students are required to take graphic design and creative writing.
Freshman Cyber Security student Kionte Baker has always had interest in technology. “I became a member of my high school’s cyber patriot team and loved it instantly,” He said, “I became the captain my junior year and we went to an event at McKendree and took 2nd place.” Blackburn wasn’t his first choice though, as Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville offers computer engineering. “Blackburn came to my school and presented an interesting pitch. As soon as I saw that Cyber Security was an option, along with the affordability, I was sold.” said Baker.