The purpose of the CSE Option at the University of Illinois is to foster interdisciplinary, computationally oriented research among all fields of science and engineering, and to prepare students to work effectively in such an environment.
Students electing the CSE Option become proficient in computing technology, including numerical computation and the practical use of advanced computer architectures, as well as in one or more applied disciplines. Such proficiency is gained, in part, through courses that are designed to reduce the usual barriers to interdisciplinary work. Thesis research by CSE students is expected to be computationally oriented and actively advised by faculty members from multiple departments.
CSE is administered by a Steering Committee composed of one representative from each participating department and chaired by the Director of CSE. All faculty members affiliated with CSE have regular faculty appointments in one of the participating departments. CSE is sponsored by the College of Engineering, but it is not limited to academic departments within the College. Departments involved include Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics and Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.
CSE is a cooperative effort among the participating departments. Each participating department has its own specific requirements for its CSE option, but all are similar and share the common goals of the program. Details are available by accessing the UIUC CSE website.
Upon satisfying the degree requirements of the student's graduate department and the CSE requirements, the student is awarded a CSE Certificate signifying successful completion of the CSE Option. Students must first be admitted to one of the participating departments before enrolling in the CSE Option.
All CSE courses are cross-listed with one or more of the participating departments. CSE instruction includes both core and advanced courses. A sampling of CSE courses includes numerical methods, parallel programming, computer architecture, combinatorial algorithms, data structures, software design, computer methods in civil engineering, computational solid and fluid mechanics, finite element analysis, computational aerodynamics, computer simulation of materials, parallel numerical algorithms, scientific visualization and grid generation.