Short description of the faculty and the department
The “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi is among the Romanian universities with a tradition in the field of Automatic Control and Computer Engineering. The first course of Automatic Control and later of Computer Science was introduced in the educational program of the Faculty of Electrotechnics in 1959 and 1963, respectively. Later in 1977, as a result of the development of these new branches of science and the accumulation of experience in these domains by the teaching staff, an entire academic program was organized in the field of automation and computers. The Faculty of Automation and Computers, as it currently operates as a stand-alone faculty, was set up in 1990.
The faculty comprises 2 departments: the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Department of Automatic Control and Applied Informatics. The creation of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering allowed for better coordination of didactic and research activities in these two fields. The department’s strategy has consistently focused on updating curricula and analytical programs in line with global developments and labor market demands, as well as conducting high-quality scientific research.
Starting with the academic year 2005-2006, based on the Bologna Agreement, the teaching process was restructured on a four-year basic cycle, within the field of Computer Science and Information Technology, a two-year Master’s degree course, and a three-year doctoral program.
Bachelor study programs
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering organizes two undergraduate study programs: Computer Science and Information Technology. These programs are organized on 8 semesters of 14 weeks, averaging 27 hours per week. They contain fundamental disciplines, field and specialty engineering training, and also complementary disciplines. For the two study programs, the first three years form a common trunk. Admission is given in the field, the division by specialization being made ahead of the 4th year, based on the school results from the first three years. Common disciplines are also in the 4th year, so the curricula for the two specializations overlaps 70% to 75%. The list of courses in each of the two specializations can be accessed under the Bachelor study section.
Starting October 2017, the two undergraduate study programs (Computers Science and Information Technology) have new education plans which are more student-oriented and suited to the requirements of the labor market.
The study programs have been in operation since the academic year 2005-2006, with the transition to the Bologna process, and the last re-accreditation took place in 2015. Through structure and content, the programs allow cooperation with other Bologna Bachelor’s degree programs as well and the exchange of students and teachers.
The mission of these four-year study programs is to train highly qualified specialists in the field of computing systems, embedded computer systems, and information-based technologies. The proposed curricula aims at a thorough engineering training covering both hardware and programming, and allowing specific issues to be addressed, as well as interdisciplinary ones.
Computer Science
The Computer Studies program assures future engineers a thorough training covering a vast array of computer science and engineering subjects, such as architecture and computer structure, microprocessor design, or programming algorithms and programming techniques for software application development. Starting from fundamental elements of mathematics, physics and electronics, the curriculum offers, on the one hand, specialized knowledge on the analysis and design of digital systems, computer architecture or microprocessor design, and on the other hand, programming knowledge, algorithms and data structures, modeling and simulation techniques, databases, distributed systems and real-time application programming, image processing techniques, VLSI circuit design and testing techniques, etc. The program also provides complementary knowledge of English, Economics and Marketing.
Information Technology
The Information Technology program provides future engineers with a thorough training covering a broad thematic area in the field of computers and information technology, with emphasis on programming engineering techniques for the development of complex applications. Starting from fundamental elements of mathematics, physics or computer programming, the study program provides, on the one hand, specialized knowledge of computer architecture, operating systems, computer networks and distributed systems, and, on the other hand, knowledge programming, algorithms and data structures, modeling and simulation techniques, databases, parallel and distributed algorithms, graphics processing techniques, web programming, information retrieval techniques on the web, etc. The program also provides complementary knowledge of English, Economics and Marketing.
Master study programs
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering organizes two master study programs: Embedded Computers and Distributed Systems and Web Technologies. These programs are organized on 4 semesters of 14 weeks, averaging 16 hours per week. For Distributed Systems and Web Technologies, there are two teaching lines, one in Romanian and one in English. The 4th Semester is devoted entirely to the dissertation work. In this semester, it is proposed to carry out scientific research, development and innovation activities as well as the valorisation and dissemination of the results.
Embedded Computers
The Master’s Degree Program of Embedded Computers provides students with a basic training on computer systems architecture and computer programming, in-depth knowledge of the development of embedded computer hardware and software applications. The program addresses the concept of the Internet of things and provides advanced knowledge of designing complex automation, self-testing and operational safety, reliability and fault tolerance, and knowledge of computing systems security, embedded computer network communication, and sensor networks. The program also addresses advanced graphics processing and signal processing techniques.
Distributed Systems and Web Technologies
The Master’s in Distributed Systems and Web Technologies provides students with basic computer programming and algorithm design, in-depth knowledge of parallel and distributed computing, including advanced algorithms specific to these paradigms, distributed application design, cluster technologies, grid and cloud concepts, service oriented programming techniques, modeling and estimation of distributed system reliability, image processing and distributed visualization as well as analysis and development of multi-agent systems. It is aimed at an international opening through the existence of a teaching line in English.