Computer Science

theoretical computer science, practical computer science,

technical computer science / technical information systems,

applied computer science / applied information systems

generally follow in the more advanced study stages. Beyond these disciplines, computer science programmes nowadays always address the problem fields of arti- ficial intelligence, automated theorem proving, expert systems, linguistic and visual communication as well as robotics. Similarly, it has become practically incon- ceivable for a degree programme in com- puting not to offer studies in complemen- tary areas, in minor, core study areas or specialisation to provide insights into the problems and requirements of a selected field of application.

And so universities also offer special degree programmes in which the applied focus and computer science are closely combined in an integrated degree pro- gramme as has become common practice at the universities of applied sciences with their extensive focus on applications and practice. The degree programmes in

software engineering,

technical computer science / technical information systems,

business computing / business infor- mation systems

are found at both types of higher educa- tion institutions. Besides these fields, other study opportunities are also offered with a greater focus on a particular field of application, such as

media information systems, media computing or computer visualisation,

medical information systems, medical computer science,

biological information systems, bio- computing,

geo information systems (GIS), geo- informatics,

computer linguistics,

applied systems science, combined with mathematics plus an applied subject related, for example, to mathematical models for the field of environmental protection/ecology.

The study of computer science focuses cen- trally on providing a training that enables students to develop models for describing complex systems, to correctly identify the key factors of influence, to systematically find algorithmic solutions for detailed problems, and to produce or create practical, ready-to-use applied systems. This not only calls for good analytical skills and a well-founded knowl- edge of high-performance programming methods, but also for a broad foundation of concepts, models and methods from the fields of mathematics, logic and computer science theory plus a basic understanding of the logi- cal and technical structure and architecture of computers. In general, university studies concentrate on finding fundamental solutions and general methods as well as on developing new procedures and applications. By contrast, studies at universities of applied sciences aim to apply scientifically-proven methods and general procedures to solving concrete practical problems and to improving standard engineering solutions. The extremely high pace of innovation in IT makes it necessary to constantly update and adjust the knowledge and insights and to specialise more.

Studies at Universities of Applied Sciences

Practical experience/internships: Depend- ing on the school/vocational qualifica- tions, students are generally required to complete a pre-study internship of several

weeks. Practical phases of varying length are completed during the studies.

Studies: Modules on the mathematical, physical and technical principles: Intro- duction to computer science, theoretical computer science, data processing sys-

Studies at Universities

Studies: Early semesters focus on modules in the core areas of computer science and on the mathematical principles, including analysis, linear algebra, logic, principle of stochastic and statistical methods, algo- rithms and data structures, programme and software engineering, technical com- puting/technical information systems, operating systems and networks, databas- es, computer architecture, operating sys- tems, theoretical computer science/compu- ter science theory. This stage is followed by consolidation studies and profile-building through specialisation and the selection of minors or subsidiaries, such as phys- ics, mathematics, biosciences, medicine,

mechanical engineering, business manage- ment, linguistics, economics and business administration, for example with applied focuses like software engineering, com- munications technology, image processing, database systems, signal processing, simu- lation, parallel and distributed systems, medical information systems, robotics and process information systems, scientific computing, etc. The choice of minors and majors may differ from one institution to the next. Additional software internships, project assignments and theses (including an industrial internship/work placement) plus cross-disciplinary courses like team management, English, presentation tech- niques, starting up and managing software companies.

Programmes in this field

Aachen TH • Augsburg U • Bamberg U • Bayreuth U • Berlin FU • Berlin HU • Berlin TU • Bielefeld U • Bochum U • Bonn U • Braunschweig TU • Bremen Jacobs University • Bremen U • Bruchsal IU • Chemnitz TU • Clausthal TU • Cottbus TU • Darmstadt TU • Dortmund TU • Dresden TU • Duisburg-Essen U • Düsseldorf U • Erlangen-Nürnberg U (Erlangen) • Frankfurt am Main U • Freiberg TUBergAk • Freiburg U • Gießen U • Göttingen U • Greifswald U • Hagen FernU • Halle-Wittenberg U • Hamburg U • Hamburg-Harburg TU • Hannover U • Heidelberg U • Hildesheim U • Ilmenau TU • Jena U • Kaiserslautern TU • Karlsruhe U • Kassel U • Kiel U • Koblenz-Landau U (Koblenz) • Köln U • Konstanz U • Leipzig U • Lübeck U • Lüneburg U • Magdeburg U • Mainz U • Mannheim U • Marburg U • München TU (Garching) • München U • München UBw (Neubiberg) • Münster U • Oldenburg U • Osnabrück U • Paderborn U • Passau U • Potsdam U • Rostock U • Saarbrücken U • Siegen U • Stuttgart U • Trier U • Tübingen U • Ulm U • Wuppertal U • Würzburg U

Programmes in this field

Aachen FH • Aalen HS • Albstadt-Sigmaringen HS (Albstadt) • Amberg-Weiden FH (Amberg) • Anhalt HS (Köthen) • Augsburg FH • Berlin FHTW • Berlin FHVR • Berlin FHW • Berlin MDH (Berlin, Düsseldorf, München) • Berlin TFH • Bielefeld FH • Bingen FH • Bochum HS • Bonn- Rhein-Sieg FH (Sankt Augustin) • Brandenburg FH • Braunschweig / Wolfenbüttel FH (Wolfenbüttel, Wolfsburg) • Bremen HS • Bremerhaven H • Coburg HS • Darmstadt FernHS (Darmstadt, Pfungstadt) • Darmstadt HS (Darmstadt, Dieburg) • Dortmund FH • Dresden FHDW • Dresden HTW • Düsseldorf FH • Erfurt FH • Essen FOM (Berlin, Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Köln, München, Neuss, Nürnberg, Siegen, Stuttgart) • Esslingen HS • Flensburg FH • Frankfurt am Main FH • Fulda HS • Furtwangen HS • Gelsenkirchen FH (Gelsenkirchen) • Gießen-Friedberg FH • Hamburg HAW • Hannover FH • Hannover FHDW • Harz HS (Wernigerode) • Heidelberg HS • Heilbronn HHN • Hof FH • Ingolstadt FH • Isny NTA • Jena FH • Kaiserslautern FH (Kaiserslautern, Zweibrücken) • Karlsruhe HS • Kempten FH • Kiel FH • Köln FH (Gummersbach, Köln) • Konstanz HS • Landshut FH • Lausitz FH (Cottbus, Senftenberg) • Leipzig HfTL • Leipzig HTWK • Lippe und Höxter FH (Höxter) • Lübeck FH • Mannheim HS • Merseburg FH • Mittweida HS • München HS • München FHVerwaltung (Hof) • Münster FH (Steinfurt) • Niederrhein HS (Krefeld) • Nordhausen FH • Nürnberg HS • Offenburg HS • Oldenburg / Ostfriesland / Wilhelmshaven FH (Emden, Wilhelmshaven) • Osnabrück FH • Paderborn FHDW • Pforzheim HS • Ravensburg-Weingarten HS (Weingarten) • Regensburg FH • Reutlingen HS • Rosenheim FH • Saarland HTW • Schmalkalden FH • Stralsund FH • Stuttgart HdM • Stuttgart HFT • Südwestfalen FH (Hagen, Iserlohn) • Trier FH (Birkenfeld, Trier) • Ulm HS • Wedel FH • Weihenstephan FH (Freising) • Wiesbaden FH • Wildau TFH • Worms FH • Würzb.- Schweinf.-FH • Zittau/Görlitz HS (Görlitz, Zittau) • Zwickau HS

tems, programming languages, operating systems, mathematics and probability cal- culus, physical principles, business infor- mation systems. Consolidation in special fields with modules like software engi- neering, applied computer science, applied analysis, electrical engineering principles, operating systems, communications and networks, digital technology and engi- neering, microprocessor engineering and computer systems, software architecture, algorithms and data structures, compiler design, distributed information systems, information security. Depending on the institution in question, specialisation and core study areas in fields like software

engineering, process and automation engi- neering, autonomous intelligent systems, biological information systems, economics and law, environmental and natural sci- ences, multimedia applications, commu- nications systems, information and com- munications management are possible. In addition, practical seminars/project assignments plus modules with cross-dis- ciplinary content, such as the principles of economics and business administration, contract and liability law, project manage- ment, English.

Studies may be divided into a basic and a main study stage.

Studies at Universities

Practical experience/internships: Stu- dents are generally required to complete industrial internships of several months in companies working in the food and consumer goods industry, consultancy offices, etc.

Studies: A basic knowledge of natural sci- ences is delivered in modules like applied mathematics and statistics, physics, gen- eral and inorganic chemistry, organic and

physical chemistry, biochemistry, molecu- lar biology, microbiology and genetics, physiology. Students subsequently extend and consolidate their knowledge in spe- cialist subjects in modules like inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry, human biol- ogy, food biology, biochemistry of nutri- tion, food toxicology, food chemistry, food law, nutritional physiology, nutritional medicine, food quality and quality control, plus modules in product management in the food industry, the economics of pri- vate households and services companies

Study Field Outline

Domestic science (home economics) stud- ies the technical, business administrative and social problems that arise in the man- agement of private households and resi- dences or in canteens, student refectories, hospitals, homes, institutions, etc. Nutritional science/dietetics is concerned with studying the physiological, economic and technical aspects of healthy, balanced, whole food nutrition as a prerequisite for health and performance. It is clearly separated from food chemistry and food technology.

Nutritional sciences and dietetics pro- grammes are often offered as joint degree programmes, in most cases under the heading of ecotrophology (a term not generally used in English). Studies in food economics/economics of nutrition

focus on aspects of the food industry and the (retail) food trade (food industry) along with the economic problems faced by institutional and private households. Increasing importance is being placed on aspects of service management and facil- ity management, which are partly offered as independent degree programmes and partly as core study areas.

The natural sciences, social sciences, economics and business administration orientated training is very diverse to take account of the later career options, since technical, organisational and economic questions need to be addressed and solved, and, at the same time, cultural and social standards and habits of the recipients/con- sumers have to be considered.