About
CS offers degrees at all levels – bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate. Graduates are prepared for admission to graduate study or for immediate employment in business, industry or government computer system positions.
Message from the Department Head
Welcome to the Department of Computer Science at The University of Alabama! Our department is committed to creating a dynamic and collaborative environment where innovation flourishes and ideas are transformed into impactful solutions. Whether you’re a prospective student, current member, or industry partner, you’ll find numerous opportunities to engage, learn, and contribute to groundbreaking advancements in various fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Software Engineering, Human Computer Interaction, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, and more. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, pioneering research, and meaningful community engagement, we strive to equip our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to address real-world challenges. We encourage you to explore our programs, connect with our exceptional team, and join us in shaping the future of computer science and technology. Welcome to the Crimson Tide family!
Dr. Shahram Rahimi
Department Head & Professor
Department Updates
We are now on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter: @alabama_cs.
Site Updates News Feed
New Fall 2025 CS Faculty
April 22, 2025
📝 CS Undergraduate Newsletter: 04/14/25 – 04/18/25
April 14, 2025
Need Help? Submit a Ticket.
January 14, 2025
E-Day 2024 Photos
February 27, 2024
Have you heard? We’ve Moved. The Department of Computer Science is now located in 3027 Cyber Hall.
February 9, 2024
Congratulations to our Computer Science awards winners
April 5, 2023
Dr. Jeff Gray receives Morris Lehman Mayer Award
March 1, 2023
The Crimson Autonomous Racing (CAR) Team, in partnership with Team Polimove, secured their third win and set a new world record for the fastest autonomous lap on a racetrack at the Indy Autonomous Challenge in Las Vegas. Congrats and Roll Tide!
January 13, 2023
Congratulations to our Crimson Autonomous Racing (CAR) Team, collaborating with Team Polimove, for their second win at the Indy Autonomous Challenge in Texas! Roll Tide!
November 14, 2022
Cyber Security Lab Opening: Building a More Secure Tomorrow
October 25, 2022
Interested in Human Technology Interaction? Join the Brain-Drone Race Team!
September 22, 2022
We are now on Instagram and Twitter! @alabama_cs
August 29, 2022
UA’s Cyber Security Program Hosts Virtual Capture the Flag Competition
April 19, 2022
Computer Science Awards Ceremony April 7, 2022
April 7, 2022
Congratulations to Sahuj Mehta and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, who received first place in the Cybersecurity division at the UA Innovate Hackathon last weekend!
April 3, 2022
Mission
The mission of the Department of Computer Science is to provide a broad-based, high-quality education in computing. Our programs will provide its graduates with a body of knowledge and an attitude toward learning that enables them to contribute positively to the profession and, ultimately, to society. In order to accomplish this task, we must provide an academic experience sufficiently rich in both theory and practice to ensure the development of fundamentally sound, skilled graduates.
Accreditation
The undergraduate Computer Science degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Computer Science Program Criteria.
The undergraduate Cyber Security degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org under the General Criteria and the Cyber Security Program Criteria.
Cyber Security at The University of Alabama is recognized as a leader in the field. We are designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R) by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. We are at the forefront to proactively increase the understanding of robust cyber technologies, policies, and practices that will enable our nation to effectively prevent and respond to a catastrophic cyber event. We are also a member of the United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) Academic Engagement Network. Through this engagement network, we work with USCYBERCOM to Support and enhance our future workforce, to develop applied cyber research programs, applied analytics, and work on strategic issues.
Departmental History
The Department of Computer Science has been in existence for more than 30 years. The Bachelor of Science degree was approved on June 2, 1978, and the first degree awarded in August 1981. The Master of Science degree was approved on April 17, 1976, and the first degree awarded in 1978. The doctorate was formally established on Aug. 30, 1991.
The department has grown significantly from its initial size of seven faculty members and one program assistant. We presently have 15 tenured/tenure-track research faculty members and nine instructors. The department currently enrolls about 700 undergraduate and 70 doctoral and master’s students. We also teach more than 10,000 students in our computer technology applications courses. The department is funded by agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Google, departments of education and commerce, various defense agencies, multiple state agencies and other sponsors.
Our research focus areas include cyber security, software engineering, big data analytics, distributed autonomy and human-computer interaction, networking and its applications, and computer science education.
