FCS News

This article is part of a series on graduates of Spring Convocation 2017. For more on Convocation,visit its website.

At Spring Convocation on Monday, Dalhousie’s Faculty of Computer Science will graduate the next generation of technology leaders and innovators. Below, four of CS's 114 new graduates share highlights from their time at Dal and give their advice to current students.

Jennifer Terpstra graduates from the Bachelor of Computer Science program and has secured a job with Lixar IT in Halifax, her co-op employer.

“The thing I enjoyed most about studying within the Faculty of Computer Science is the friends I made, especially during my time in the Learning Centre where I got the opportunity to meet a wide range of students. I specialized in Communication Technologies and Cyber Security and Graphics, Gaming and Media. I would advise current students to try and spread the more difficult courses over multiple terms if you can. I didn’t do this but wish I did!”

Ryan Gosse leaves his studies with a Bachelor in Computer Science with a Communication Technologies and Cyber Security specialization but will not be leaving Dal completely.

“I have a job within the Steele Oceans Building working with oceanographic data as a data manager. This is an area that is rapidly developing. The wealth of Computer Science theory courses at Dalhousie is fantastic; the courses have helped me immensely as a programmer and during my current role.

Students should also really take the opportunities available to learn outside the classroom. I recommend undertaking personal programming projects. This is a great way to stay on top of emerging and popular technologies, giving you more experience and an edge when applying for jobs.”

Jacquie Saloum is using her experience outside the classroom to search for a job now that she is graduating from the Bachelor in Informatics.

“One of my big highlights from my time at Dalhousie was co-op. Beyond gaining work experience and networking with professionals within the field, it really helped me to figure out what I do and don’t want to do.

The other thing which has helped and I would highly recommend is to just GET INVOLVED! Get involved within your Faculty and the greater Dalhousie community; there are so many opportunities. You will learn so much from each person and experience you encounter.

Within my 5 years at Dalhousie, I have been a TA and a marker for Computer Science, a volunteer at ShiftKey Labs, a receptionist and a tutor at the Writing Centre, and the VP of the DalDance Society. Each position offered such a unique experience with life lessons that I will continue to apply to my life in the future, and I have met some of my closest friends.”

Graduate student Nabil Hannan is working as a technical solutions specialist for local start-up Pineapple Bytes in Dartmouth and graduates with a Master in Computer Science.

“There are so many opportunities inside and outside of the classroom in the Faculty of Computer Science. I have engaged with so much activity and had an amazing experience the Computer Science Graduate Society, the in-house conference (DCSI) and ShiftKey Labs. Attending the events and Hackathons, and volunteering at ShiftKey is a must for all Computer Science students, even if you are unsure if it is for you. The experiences on offer for students there will help you improve your technical and soft skills through real-life problem solving and networking.

Another big highlight for me has been publishing research papers. I recently presented my work in Intelligent User Interfaces (IUI) at a conference in Limassol, Cyprus. Overall, an amazing experience.”