What is Computer Science?

A laptop screen with code reflects the face of the user.

Computer science is the study of information processing, algorithms, and computing systems that power today’s digital world. It focuses on designing efficient software, developing secure systems, and creating intelligent applications that transform data into actionable insights.

While many associate computer science with programming and app development, it also includes critical areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, natural language processing, and computational social science. These technologies impact industries like healthcare, finance, communications, and more.

At the University of Rochester, computer science research combines strong theoretical foundations with interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, mathematics, medicine, and social sciences. Our faculty lead innovative projects in system security, algorithmic game theory, social and health data analysis, and advanced video and language understanding—advancing both the infrastructure and practical applications of computing. Notably, researchers are using AI and machine learning for groundbreaking applications such as developing AI-powered tools that support child development and learning and developing sophisticated AI-generated video technologies—pushing the boundaries of educational technology, accessibility, medical diagnostics, and multimedia intelligence.

Computer Science Concepts

How AI is transforming business, education, and the future of work

Computer science professor Chris Kanan explores the critical role of AI in education, highlighting the balance between leveraging powerful tools and maintaining student motivation. Discover how AI research at the University of Rochester is shaping new approaches to teaching the next generation.

Watch on YouTube

Computer Science at Rochester

An aerial view of River Campus in fall.

Computer science research at the University of Rochester is characterized by its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to tackling complex real-world challenges. Collaborations across the Departments of Linguistics and Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, the Center for Language Sciences, the Center for Visual Science, and the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, provide students with rich opportunities to engage in cutting-edge projects that span from fundamental theory to impactful real-world applications.

Our department specializes in several areas of computer science research including: