It’s hard to read through a book on the principles of magic without glancing at the cover periodically to make sure it isn’t a book on software design.

—Bruce Tognazzini ("Magic and Software Design")

1. Facilities
2. Access to labs
3. I-270 Technology Corridor
4. Academic Guidelines
5. Software Information on pluto.hood.edu
6. Job and Internship information on the department's online forums
7. Useful Links

Facilities

The department is located in Hood’s new Hodson Science and Technology Center, which provides up-to-date labs, classrooms, seminar rooms and comfortable study spaces.

The department has an ongoing commitment to providing up-to-date computing facilities for courses. We acquired our first computer, a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8 dedicated to academic use, almost four decades ago. Today many computer science classes make use of a dedicated Linux lab. Computer science students also have access to public Windows-based PC laboratories on campus. Departmental servers can be accessed from all campus labs, from dorm rooms, and from off campus. The Information Assurrance Lab of the CCSIA has dedicated resources for classes in forensics and network security.. All facilities provide full Internet access.

The computer labs are generally open on weekends and there is 24-hour access to the servers. The College provides wireless access to the campus network in selected locations, including the Whitaker Campus Center and most areas in Hodson.

Campus computing facilities are administered by the Information Technology department. The IT department’s Labs page, on the main Hood web site, gives a complete listing of campus labs.

Students intending to study computer science are strongly encouraged to bring their own computer to campus. Notebook computers may be used for note taking in classes.

Through a contract arrangement with Microsoft Education Division, our students and students currently taking courses at the department have access to the entire line of Microsoft software products (except Office) for free.

Network and lab access

When you register for classes at Hood, you are automatically assigned a username and password that gives access to the campus network and to your Hood email account. Tech support is available from the IT department's End User Computing (EUC) weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; phone 301-696-3622 or email euc@hood.edu. The EUC office is located on the fourth floor of the Administration building. They usually have staff available in Whitaker Campus Center during the drop-add period at the beginning of each regular semester to help new users get on the system.

The IT department’s Helpdesk FAQs, on the main Hood web site, includes information about network access, network storage, using the email system, and network printing services.

You will need a separate username and password to use the Computer Science department’s Linux lab and servers. If you take a class that uses these facilities, your instructor will give you the necessary information.

Hood provides wireless in major buildings on campus, including most areas of Hodson. You will need a Network Key (WEP Key) to connect to the network. FOr more information about the wireless access, see the IT department's Network Access.

I-270 Technology Corridor

Hood College is located at the upper end of the I-270 Technology Corridor. The Corridor extends between Frederick, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. and hosts a large concentration of high-tech businesses and government agencies. Numerous software development companies, consulting agencies, and statistical analysis firms are a short drive from campus and offer internship opportunities for students, as well as regular employment after graduation.

Hood students have also completed internships with international businesses in the United States and abroad. Undergraduate internships are coordinated through the Career Center, linked in the Hood Resources menu. The department does not currently offer formal internships for graduate students.

Academic Guidelines

The Software Engineering Project Guidelines provides detailed information about prerequisites, forming a project committee, developing a project proposal, required deliverables, and project completion.

Also see the Master's Thesis Manual, available in printed format in the Graduate School Office.

Useful Links

These links take you away from the Computer Science department site.

• Computing Community Consortium: Summer Research Opportunities - A Resource for Undergraduates
• Association for Computing Machinery
• Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges
• IEEE Computer Society
• IEEE
• Internet FAQ Archives - includes all RFCs.
• The Chronicle of Higher Education
• Career Section for Students and Employers--at The Job Resource