The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Department of Computer Science is among the Top 50 “Most Innovative” in the nation, according to an online resource focused on computer science programs across the U.S.

UALR Department Chair Dr. Kenji Yoshigoe said that he was honored to see the department ranked 50th among such prestigious institutions as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University, which took the top spots, according to Computer Science Degree Hub.

The hub cited as particularly notable the department’s facilities in the $40 million Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology building and a National Science Foundation award for the purchase of a pioneering data storage system.

The methodology took several variables under consideration, using rankings such as U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 “Best Grad Schools” Computer Science as a starting point.

From there, other criteria were used to compare programs, including the availability of state-of-the-art technology, advanced research facilities, laboratories and affiliated centers, faculty awards, quality alumni, groundbreaking research or technological contributions, and other features suggesting a different or innovative approach.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, more than 68 percent of computer science majors had at least one job offer before graduation. Computer science majors also boast one of the highest starting salaries for new college graduates.

UALR offers undergraduate and post-graduate computer science degrees in addition to an integrated computing doctoral degree.

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