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Tennessee Tech University is now the top producer of computer science graduates among all public universities in the state of Tennessee, according to enrollment data compiled by Tech's Office of Institutional Assessment, Research, and Effectiveness.
Figures for the 2022 - 2023 academic year, the last full year of data available, show that Tech graduated 129 computer science students, ahead of its closest competitor at 113. The program, which is housed within Tech's College of Engineering, is poised to build on its record in the year ahead.
"We've been on this path of growth now for several years," said Gerald C. Gannod, professor and chair of the computer science department at Tech. "In some respects, it's an industry-wide trend. The growth of computer science programs across the country has been rising due to market demand, but we also work hard to recruit and retain students. They see that Tech is centered on student success and that employers are coming to us to hire our graduates."
Another factor Gannod attributes to the department's success: its emphasis on belonging and community.
"You can go to any computer science program in this state and they're probably going to offer similar courses," added Gannod. "Where I think we really stand apart is our strong culture and sense of community. This is a difficult degree program, so we want students to know that they will have faculty and peers to come alongside them and support them in this journey."
One way the department accomplishes that is through its house system. Once admitted into the department, students are sorted into six "houses" named after famous computer scientists. The groups, each comprising a mix of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate students and faculty, function as learning communities where students can find academic advising, peer mentoring, social activities and connection.
The computer science department also serves as the home for Tech's nationally renowned Cybersecurity, Education, Research and Outreach Center (CEROC), launched in 2015 by Tech Professor Emeritus Ambareen Siraj, and served as the launchpad for the university's new multi-disciplinary Machine Intelligence and Data Science (MInDS) Center, which is focused on education and workforce development in emerging A.I. technologies.
In the near future, Tech is set to further enhance its computer science offerings through the launch of its supercomputer facility in nearby Crossville.
"Each of these centers grew out of the department and grew from the vision of computer science faculty," explained Gannod. "We leverage all of these assets to give students the best possible experience here on campus."
For Gannod, the continued strength of Tech's computer science program is of both professional and personal importance: his three sons are proud students in the program. The oldest is set to graduate from the university with his master's degree this year.
"I believe in this program so much that I encouraged them, 'If you're going to study computer science, come to Tech,'" he concluded.
Computer science was Tech's top undergraduate degree program by enrollment in the 2023-2024 academic year with 722 undergraduate students. Concentrations include data science and artificial intelligence; information assurance and cybersecurity; and high-performance computing. For more information, visit www.tntech.edu/engineering/csc.
