February 24, 2023 | Claire Tremont

First CyberLEAP Module Tackles Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design

CyberLEAP is an innovative path for non-computer scientists to break into the Computer Science industry.

School of Engineering prism sculpture outside the Castleman building at night on Nov. 5, 2019. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

By Claire Galvin, UConn School of Engineering Manager of Communications and Digital Strategy

A new UConn School of Engineering program launched this semester offers students a direct route into one of the most profitable fields in the job market.

CyberLEAP is an innovative path for non-computer scientists to break into the Computer Science industry. The online program is a partnership between the UConn School of Engineering Professional Education Program and the Computer Science and Engineering Department.

Computer Science and Engineering Department Head Sanguthevar Rajasekaran said the CyberLEAP program is a crash course in computer science requirements.

“CyberLEAP offers budding and working professionals the opportunity to gain key skills in high-demand fields,” Rajasekaran said. “Our faculty have carefully selected curriculum that offers the greatest advantage to enter the expansive field of computer science.”

CyberLEAP is designed to help meet the base admission requirements of the MENG in CSE and MENG in Data Science. Full admission requirements for the MENG in CSE program and the MENG in Data Science program can be reviewed online.

CyberLEAP also attracts individuals looking to gain skills outside of a credit program.

“The modules can also be taken independently for career enhancement and knowledge acquisition,” said Professional Education Program Director Nora Sutton. “We hope students take advantage of these programs, hit the ground running, and make the leap into the booming computer science industry.”

According to payscale.com, the average base salary of a MS in Computer Science graduate is $101,000.

Current CyberLEAP student Salvatore J. is a biology undergraduate alum, but was looking to learn skills in Computer Science before considering a master’s degree in that field.

“The fact that this special program was available to be taken asynchronously but still have a direct line of contact to professors and other students made it feel like a great way to continue learning something I felt so interested in while balancing the responsibilities of work and family,” Salvatore said. “So far it’s been a wonderful experience filled with learning about something I love and I’m excited to continue on my journey through UConn’s CyberLEAP.”

The school’s Computer Science and Engineering Department is growing significantly, with the undergraduate population increasing more than 30 percent over the last two years.

Two more modules are planned for the 2023 calendar year. Students can choose any or all of the modules.

The next module titled “Introduction to Discrete Systems” begins on May 1 and applications are due by April 24.

After completing the module, students will be able to: determine whether an argument is logically sound and write clear, thorough, and precise mathematical proofs; analyze discrete mathematical functions, sets, graphs, and recurrence relations; apply principles of set theory and the element method of proof to formally demonstrate equality of sets and subset relationships; apply counting principles to determine the order of magnitude of a computing problem or other related domain and; apply elementary probability concepts.

The cost of each module is $2,000.

More information about CyberLEAP is available here.