We hope you had a refreshing winter break and are ready for an exciting Spring 2024 semester! Classes will begin on Tuesday, January 23. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your advisors with questions, concerns, or just to check in!

Summer courses are now available in Course Search and Enroll. Computer Sciences continues to work on our summer course offerings and will update CS course information as courses become available.

A course shows “available seats”. Why can’t I enroll? 

If a course is waitlisted and shows “available seats”, those seats will be given to students on the waitlist. If you enroll or swap into a course that is waitlisted with available seats, you will be placed on the waitlist.

When are seats given away?

CS is processing waitlists daily.

How do I enroll?

You will not be automatically enrolled in the course – you must take action and enroll through the enroll app. The waitlist invites expire after 24 – 48 hours, so make sure to enroll right away.

What if I absolutely need this course?

Please work with your CS advisor. Advisors cannot let you off a waitlist in appointments but can discuss options with you.

LIS 640: Introduction to Applied Deep Learning

Instructor: Chaowei Xiao 

Credit: This course can be used for Intermediate-Advanced LAS Credits

Description: This course serves as an introduction to deep learning. It covers the most fundamental topics related to applied deep learning. This course will introduce the essential knowledge of machine learning, including KNN, Linear Classification, Neural Networks, Optimization, Loss Functions, Backpropagation, Convolutional Neural Networks, Training Deep Learning Models, Deep Learning Programming, Transformers, Visualization, Generative Models, Foundation Models, and Prompt Engineering. The course will include demonstrations of how to leverage the most recent deep learning models, such as ChatGPT, to solve real-world problems. Throughout the course, students will gain a better understanding of deep learning algorithms and learn how to apply these algorithms to various applications, e.g., in the field of Vision. Researchers and faculty from other universities and industry leaders (e.g., Google, Meta, NVIDIA, Microsoft, etc.) will be invited to provide guest lectures, furthering the opportunity to learn about industry professionals and their work.

Requisites: The students should be familiar with linear algebra, probability and statistics. 

Course meeting time: 9:00-11:30 Mondays, Classroom TBD

CS Welcome Back Social

Tuesday, January 23: 1:00 - 4:00 pm, CS Building Lobby

CS Student Engagement Fair

Tuesday, January 30: 1:00 - 3:00 pm, CS Building Lobby

Undergraduate Research Fellowship Opportunities!

Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships and Holstrom Environmental Research Fellowships support undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff during summer 2024 or the 2024-25 academic year. The student researcher receives $3,000, and the faculty/staff research advisor receives $1,000 to help offset research costs. Students must have at least junior standing at the time of application. The Holstrom Fellowships require an environmental focus. Apply by February 14, 2024.

Sophomore Research Fellowships support undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff during summer 2024 or the 2024-25 academic year. The student researcher receives $2,500, and the faculty/staff research advisor receives $500 to help offset research costs. At the time of application, the student must be a second-year undergraduate, a first-year undergraduate who will have more than 24 credits after May 2024, or a transfer student in their first year of attendance at UW–Madison. Apply by February 26, 2024.

Lakeshore Nature Preserve Student Engagement Grants of up to $1000 each are available to facilitate the use of the Preserve as a resource for education among UW undergraduates. Any student, faculty, or staff member at the UW-Madison may apply. Groups of individuals may submit a proposal as a team. Every individual or team must have at least one faculty or staff member, who is expected to play an active role in overseeing the project. Apply by March 1, 2024. Funds should be expended by October 31, 2024 when a final report is due. 

Public Humanities Exchange for Undergraduates (HEX-U) is a high-impact program for undergraduate students that funds humanities-based projects that support a need in the Madison community beyond the university. The program provides training in community partnership, support for project development and implementation, and funding. Participating students receive a $600 stipend award and up to $2,000 in project funding. Students are encouraged to propose new, innovative ideas for engagement with the local community through a project. Apply for the spring 2024 cohort by February 12, and the fall 2024 cohort by March 18.

Wisconsin Idea Fellowships are awarded annually to undergraduate student projects that address a challenge identified along with a local or global community partner. Fellowships are awarded to semester-long or year-long projects designed by an undergraduate student (or group of students) in collaboration with a community advisor at a community organization and a UW–Madison faculty or academic staff member. Projects can receive up to $7,000 in total funding, and students receive 3 academic credits. Apply for 2024-25 fellowships by February 12, 2024. There is a priority deadline of January 29, 2024 for applicants seeking proposal feedback from the Wisconsin Idea Fellowship Advisor.

Plus One Pathway in Computer Sciences (POP)

Accepting Applications for Spring 2025 Admission

The Plus One Pathway in Computer Sciences (POP) is accepting applications for Spring 2025 admission!

POP is a direct path for UW-Madison CS majors to quickly earn a professional master’s degree before entering the workplace. The pathway is open only to UW-Madison CS majors graduating in a fall semester who want to continue their CS journey directly into the Professional Master’s Program (PMP) the following spring, making them more competitive when they enter the workforce. 

POP students can transfer up to 7 credits from their undergraduate degree and earn their professional master’s degree in about 3 semesters, compared to the “standard” 2 years. A professional master’s gives you increased earning potential, a broader professional network, and career specialization!

Interested students are encouraged to attend the spring POP information session on Wednesday, January 31 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Central Time) via Zoom [link].

Can’t make it to the info session? Feel free to connect with the Professional Master’s Programs Manager, Kyle Martinez, via email (klmartinez@wisc.edu) or schedule an appointment on Starfish.

TAPIA Conference 2024 Call for Participation is Open

The Call for Participation for Tapia 2024 is now open! TAPIA invites you to submit any of the following program components: 

• Panels and Workshops: Sessions on current technical topics such as AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity, as well as topics related to broadening participation in computing and professional development for diverse communities

• Birds of a Feather (BoF): Sessions that provide an informal, town-hall like forum for the discussion of technical or social issues among interested parties, providing a venue for communities (existing or dynamically organized) to network and collaborate

• Scholarships: Students and post-docs at institutions in the U.S. or U.S. Territories and faculty at Minority Serving Institutions are welcome to apply for a Tapia scholarship

• Student Posters/ACM Student Research Competition (SRC): Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to present their latest research results and methodologies

• Doctoral Consortium: PhD candidates have the opportunity to present and discuss their research with a panel of established researchers

The submission deadline for all components is: 

February 26, 2024, 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).

Undergraduate Research Experience Opportunity:

Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning + International Experience in Chile

Selected participants will get involved in research related to big data analytics and machine learning. Participants will also gain an appreciation of the research field via software development and engineering activities and field trips.

Participants will receive a stipend (up to $6,000), room and board, funding for travel to and from NDSU (up to $700) as well as to and from NDSU to Santiago, Chile (up to $1,500).

The summer 2024 REU program will run from May 20 until July 26, 2024. Application review will begin from February 15, 2024 and continue until all positions have been filled.

Participating undergraduates must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are enrolled in undergraduate degree programs. Women and members of traditionally underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply. In addition, all participants must possess a valid passport for the travel to Chile.

More information an be found here:

https://www.ndsu.edu/cs/current_students/research_experience_for_undergraduates_reu_program/

Apply Here: 

https://ndstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25X6MyljASYBRK6