Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Developing Tomorrow's Leaders
Computer Information Science

CIS Student Information

Welcome CIS students. This page contains class related news and information. We wish you great success on the path toward graduation at Mansfield!  

Academic Tips

Students in computer labCIS can be a challenging major. However, if you work hard you can be successful. Good grades are important to many employers and therefore should be your top priority as well. Take advantage of instructor office hours, our free tutoring service, and the MU writing center. Ask for help and persevere until you really understand the material. Visit with your advisor on a regular basis and ask for advice on how you can best meet your goals.

Try the following tips as they can make a big difference in the grades you earn:

  • A runner at the MU track going the distanceNever miss a class
  • Sit in the front row
  • Take extensive handwritten notes during lecture
  • Rewrite and reorganize your notes before the next lecture
  • Do your homework early
  • Ask for help as soon as you have problems and keep asking until you understand
  • Read ahead so that you can ask questions about areas you do not understand during the next lecture
  • Rework homework problems early and often to prepare for a test
  • Find additional study time in a busy schedule by using wasted time -- for example, write keywords and questions on notecards with answers on the back; carry them with you everywhere to review as you wait in lines, between classes, etc.
  • Read Gordon Green's book Getting Straight A's for more tips

Internships

Obtaining CIS related work experience before you graduate can be very beneficial when you start looking for a job. Many of our students complete internships with local employers and across the country with large corporations. Students working through an internship can choose to earn up to 6 major-related elective credits plus an additional 6 free elective credits. Contact your advisor for more information on this important part of your education.

Get Involved

This MU CIS student team took 2nd place out of 23 teams in a state-wide PACISE programming competitionThere are so many ways you can get involved. Start by joining the CS Club. Get on one of the CS Club student programming teams and prepare to compete at the PACISE conference. Work with a professor on a research project and present your findings at the PACISE, CCSCE, or CCSCNE conference. Volunteer your help and computer programming expertise to a not-for-profit organization or to a student club.

 
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