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Computer science is the study of the structure, transformation, and limits of information.

Computer scientists use the notions of algorithm and representation as a means to understand nature and to design artificial systems.

Software engineering is one of the key applications of computer science today. From handheld wireless devices to supercomputers, software is pervasive. The analysis, design, construction, and maintenance of these vast yet highly intricate software systems is one of the greatest practical challenges in the world today.

The undergraduate computer science curriculum at NKU consists of classic computer science mixed with a strong component of programming and software design. Students begin their study of programming in the Java language, then move on to learn about data structures, algorithms, computer systems. Electives include courses in web programming, databases, networks, artificial intelligence and 3D graphics programming. In their final year computer science majors take a capstone project course in software engineering, in which teams of students compete to build a single complex software application.

The graduate curriculum is described at mscs.nku.edu.

The study of computer science cultivates talents in many different areas. It develops imagination (the ability to create and relate new and unforeseen objects), mathematical skill (the ability to think abstractly and logically), technical virtuosity (mastery of complex computer languages such as C++), and discipline (adaptation to the rigors of large and demanding projects).

These analytical and creative talents give our majors a dramatic edge in business leadership.

As of 2007, there is still a strong demand for software develepers, which is projected to continue growing well into the future. The hot area of parallel programming is suffering from a lack of new programming talent.

Computer science touches nearly every human endeavor, and students majoring in other disciplines are invited to consider a minor or double major with computer science:

"We need more computer scientists whose passions are art, language, literature, education, entertainment, psychology, biology, music, history or political science. We need them because computers have an impact on all areas in our world. We need people with passion and vision from every area to drive the development of computer technology as well as applications."
— Maria Klawe, "Refreshing the Nerds", Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery (July 2001)