What is Computer Science?

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.
