The Institute of Informatics at UFRGS (INF) offers two undergraduate courses: Bachelor in Computer Science and Bachelor in Computer Engineering. Both courses rank among the top in Brazil according to the Brazilian Ministry of Education and external reviews. The Computer Science course started in 1983, while Computer Engineering in 1998. With solid faculty research in all areas of Computer Science, our graduates are recognized as prepared for today’s challenging and dynamic IT scenarios, by both companies and graduate schools. While a few graduates follow the Academic path, most work in the private and public sectors in Brazil and abroad, where 24% work, according to a recent survey among past students.
Our graduates helped shape the IT and entrepreneur sectors in the south of Brazil, which today accounts for approximately 4.5% of the GDP of the Rio Grande do Sul state. Together with classes, 10% of our students engage in research projects from Faculty, working with Masters and Ph.D. students, creating an exciting and vibrant research community. Approximately 30% work part-time as interns in top local and international IT companies. The curriculum for both courses follows ACM guidelines. Computer Science has a recommended duration of 9 semesters. In the first 4 semesters, students build a strong base in the fundamentals of Computer Science (programming, architecture, data structures, theory). These are followed by 5 semesters of courses selected by the students, covering most areas in computer science, from theoretical to applied.
The Computer Engineering course has a recommended duration of 10 semesters. Besides a similar base on the fundamentals of Computer Science, Computer Engineering students also attend mathematics and physics courses. Later, the courses cover more specific professional aspects in many areas, such as microelectronics and hardware-software integration.
At INF, we work diligently to prepare our students for the demands of work and life in a rapidly changing landscape. We “Educate for the Future”, with a strong emphasis on fundamental Computer Science and Engineering concepts. Developing a solid education is our distinctive characteristic enabling our students to understand a problem from different perspectives and, ultimately, propose creative and effective computing solutions to increasing and varying societal issues.