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COMPUTER SCIENCE IS SHAPING EVERYTHING AROUND US. GET INVOLVED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS & BUILD A BETTER WORLD.

Computer Science (CS)

com.pu.ter sci.ence

To conduct research to develop new methods, architectures, and algorithms in order to solve complex problems, then invent the future by developing the vast array of applications that operate within these frameworks.

Also Known As: Computer Scientist, Software Engineer, Software Developer, Artificial Intelligence Specialist, Computational Linguist, Information Scientist, +10,000 more

WHY CS AT MICHIGAN?

  • No. 7

    institutional ranking in CS at CSrankings.org

  • 96

    award-winning faculty

  • $24.8M+

    in research funding

  • 1957

    The CS program at Michigan is one of the oldest and most respected in the world

  • 4

    U-M alumni have received the AM Turing Award, considered the “Nobel Prize” of computing

Technical rigor and relevance
Interdisciplinary, teamwork, and entrepreneurial opportunities

Learn more about the CS Advance Selection Process

What do Computer Scientists do?

We understand how to design and analyze algorithms, how to store and retrieve information, how computers function, and how to develop software systems that solve complex problems. We master these skills and suddenly, we have an incredible power to create: to make something unprecedented, something noteworthy, something entirely ours, all using our ever-trusty sidekicks – computers.

ACADEMIC FOCUS AREAS

  • Computer Hardware

    Design the circuits and architectures, such as microprocessors, memories, and storage devices, for advanced computing systems.

    Courses: Logic Design, Embedded System Design, VLSI Design, Computer Architecture, Logic Circuit Synthesis & Optimization

  • Computing Infrastructure

    Develop the software systems that dictate how computers, networks, data centers, and applications handle and process data.

    Courses: Operating Systems, Compiler Construction, Database Management Systems, Computer Networks, Distributed Systems

  • Intelligent Systems

    Develop systems that can autonomously collect, analyze, and respond to their environments and other external stimuli.

    Courses: Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Autonomous Robotics Design Experience, Informational Retrieval & Web Search, Artificial Intelligence

  • Software Development

    Operate in the abstract- build the tools and systems that are used to store, retrieve, process, and display data for users..

    Courses: Object Oriented & Advanced Programming, Operating Systems, Database Management Systems, Web Systems, User Interface Development, Computer Game Design & Development

  • Theory of Computation

    Study the foundations of computing and push its limits through the development of new classes of algorithms, data structures, and cryptography..

    Courses: Cryptography, Algorithms, Programming Languages

  • Web Technology and Applications

    Build websites, user interfaces, and computing applications used for advertising, publishing, e-commerce, online games, chats, graphs, and so much more.

    Courses: Practical Programming in Java, Computer Security, Web Systems, Informational Retrieval & Web Search

  • Areas in which a student, through the use of technical and free electives, and in consultation with their advisor, could decide to focus.

Areas in which a student, through the use of technical and free electives, and in consultation with their advisor, could decide to focus.

Graduate receiving hood during ceremony

Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies Program (SUGS)

Complete your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in only five years with SUGS by taking some graduate-level classes during your undergraduate years, so you can save yourself one semester and complete the masters with only two additional semesters.

LEARN MORE

Sample Course List

First-Year

First-Year

  • Fall Semester
    • CoE Core Calculus I (Math 115)
    • CoE Core Engineering 101
    • CoE Core Chemistry (130/125/126 or 210/ 211)
    • Elective Intellectual Breadth
  • Winter Semester
    • CoE Core Calculus II (Math 116)
    • CoE Core Engineering 100
    • CoE Core Physics (140/141)
    • Elective Intellectual Breadth

Sophomore Year

Sophomore Year

  • Fall Semester
    • CoE Core Physics (240 / 241)
    • Major Requirement Discrete Math (EECS 203)
    • Major Requirement Prog. & Intro Data Structures (EECS 280)
    • Elective General Elective
  • Winter Semester
    • CoE Core Applied Lin. Algebra (Math 214)
    • Major Requirement Data Structures & Algorithms (EECS 281)
    • Major Requirement Flexible Technical Electives
    • Elective Intellectual Breadth

Junior Year

Junior Year

  • Fall Semester
    • CoE Core Math 215/216
    • Major Requirement Computer Organization (EECS 370)
    • Major Requirement Flexible Technical Electives
    • Elective Intellectual Breadth
  • Winter Semester
    • Major Requirement STATS 250, STATS 280, or STATS 412
    • Major Requirement Foundations of Computer Science (EECS 376)
    • Major Requirement Technical Communications (TCHNCLCM 300)
    • Elective Upper Level CS Technical Elective
    • Elective General Elective

Senior Year

Senior Year

  • Fall Semester
    • Major Requirement Major Design Experience/Professionalism (EECS 496)
    • Major Requirement Major Design Experience
    • Major Requirement Technical Communications (TCHNCLCM 497)
    • Major Requirement Flexible Technical Elective
    • Major Requirement Upper Level CS Elective
  • Winter Semester
    • Major Requirement Upper Level CS Elective
    • Major Requirement Upper Level CS Elective
    • Major Requirement Flexible Technical Elective
    • Elective General Elective

Individualized schedules will be made by students in consultation with an advisor who will tailor their classes to better fit the student's needs.

Practice Your Purpose

Apply the skills you are learning in class to the real world.

Student Design Teams

A room full of students using laptops and wearing headphones
Wolverine Soft - Video Game Development
A drone with 4 propellers floats in the air with a pyramid shaped center with a white box on tip and wires sticking out
MAAV - Michigan Autonomous Aerial Vehicles
MDST Logo
MDST - Michigan Data Science Team
An electric racecar labeled with a large “Michigan” with a student driver wearing a full-face motorcycle helmet
Michigan Electric Racing
4 students wearing MRover shirts smile while carrying the rover, a machine platform with 4 tires and a robotic arm.
MRover - Michigan Mars Rover
2 team members wipe the completed maize and blue solar car. The car has a sleek design and half covered in solar panels.
Solar Car Team
A small vessel made up of two boxes sits in the NERS Fountain. The bottom box has a painted shark face
UM::Autonomy - Autonomous Boat
A student wears a powered exoskeleton. It is worn like a backpack and has metal pieces that extend down to the feet.
STARX - Strength Augmenting Robotic eXoskeletons
Students For Exploration And Development of Space
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
A student in a full-face motorcycle helmet sits nearly horizontally as he rides the maize electric motorcycle named “Chronos”
SPARK - Electric Racing
A woman atop a roof wearing a hard hat and holding a power tool in front of a set of solar panels.
Grid Alternatives

Professional Development

HKN Logo
Eta Kappa Nu - Honor Society
GEECS Logo
Girls in EECS
An aerial view of students with laptops gathered around a table
Michigan Hackers
M Sail Logo
MSAIL - Michigan Student Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
IEEE Logo
IEEE - Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Research

Making touchscreens more accessible
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Evaluating the energy consumption of AI
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Precision health in the palm of your hand
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Alumni Biographies

Each of these alumni are real people who were once in your shoes, deciding a major. Explore their path and how a Michigan education set their life in motion.

  • Zi Yang headshot
    • Yi Zang
    • Google
  • Aditya Ravi Photo
    • Aditya Ravi
    • Hudson River Trading
  • Eric Pesch headshot
    • Eric Pesch
    • Meta
  • Jim Boerkel headshot
    • Jim Boerkoel
    • Harvey Mudd College
  • Robert Reneker headshot
    • Robert E Reneker III
    • Community Mental Health Authority
    • Jessica Hirsh
    • Amazon
  • Alexandra Brown headshot
    • Alexandra Brown
    • Learning A-Z
  • Jill Bender photo
    • Jill Bender
    • TeraWatt Infrastructure
  • Rich Sheridan photo
    • Richard Sheridan
    • Menlo Innovations
  • Austin Yarger photo
    • Austin Yarger
    • University of Michigan
Zi Yang headshot

    Yi Zang

    Google

Aditya Ravi Photo

    Aditya Ravi

    Hudson River Trading

Eric Pesch headshot

    Eric Pesch

    Meta

Jim Boerkel headshot

    Jim Boerkoel

    Harvey Mudd College

Robert Reneker headshot

    Robert E Reneker III

    Community Mental Health Authority

    Jessica Hirsh

    Amazon

Alexandra Brown headshot

    Alexandra Brown

    Learning A-Z

Jill Bender photo

    Jill Bender

    TeraWatt Infrastructure

Rich Sheridan photo

    Richard Sheridan

    Menlo Innovations

Austin Yarger photo

    Austin Yarger

    University of Michigan

Not sure what major to choose?

Tap into our network of 85k+ engineering alumni. Do you have questions you’d like answered? Our alumni are always eager to talk about engineering.
(Current and admitted UM students only.)

Speak to an Alum

Industries & Occupations

  • Computer systems
  • Corporate consulting and management
  • Data processing and analysis
  • Finance
  • Intelligent and assistive systems
  • Network infrastructure and internet services
  • Scientific research
  • Software industry
  • Telecommunications
  • Transportation

Employers

  • Amazon
  • Bloomberg
  • Capital One
  • Deloitte
  • Epic
  • Facebook
  • Ford Motor Company
  • General Motors
  • Google
  • IBM
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • MathWorks
  • Microsoft
  • Oracle
  • Salesforce
  • University of Michigan

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Zi Yang headshot

Yi Zang

  • Google
  • Software Engineer

University of Michigan, BS Computer Science, 2019
Career Summary

During undergraduate, I gained a lot of experience while interning. The summer after sophomore year, I worked as a data analyst intern on a battery research project at Stanford University. I learned how to be self-sufficient and resourceful, building scripts and reporting tools from the ground up.

After my junior year, I interned at JP Morgan Chase as a Software Engineering intern working in Credit Risk Management Technology. Here I learned how to work on a team, communicate effectively, and gave me a sense of what it’s like to work in industry. I recommend undergraduates to look into both academia and industry to see which role would be the best fit for them.

I’m currently in an accelerated development program called the Google Cloud Technical Residency. The program is 12 months of in-classroom and on-the-job training, which includes 3 rotations in different roles within the Cloud organization. Residents will gain technical and customer-facing skills for a Cloud-first world. This new grad program will allow me to become well prepared to join Google’s fastest growing business, Cloud.

Career Timeline
  • Stanford University
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • Google
Favorite Student Orgs

Girls in EECS (GEECS), UM Beekeeping, Residential College Clay Club

Favorite classes

Web Systems (EECS 485), Intro to Computer Security (EECS 388), Software Engineering (EECS 481), Latin Dance (Dance 100), Collecting Stories: Audio Essay (Writing 201 mini-course)

Aditya Ravi Photo

Aditya Ravi

  • Hudson River Trading
  • Core Developer

University of Michigan, BSE Computer Science Engineering, 2022 and BS in Mathematical Sciences
Career Path:

This is my first job out of college. I previously interned at IMC Trading and DoorDash while in college.

Have you used your engineering degree in your job?

Absolutely — I use many of the engineering skills gleaned from CS classes daily. Some of the most useful skills have been the system-level understanding I learned from classes like EECS 482/EECS 491, and the research skills I learned from independent study opportunities with professors in the department.

What additional advice can you offer today’s students as they are thinking about majors?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to upperclassmen and alumni for advice on how to select a major that will set you up best for the career that you desire.

Eric Pesch headshot

Eric Pesch

  • Meta
  • Data Engineer

University of Michigan, BSE Computer Science Engineering, 2013
Career Summary

Through the career fair, I was able to network and build relations with various companies continuously and landed at Cisco via a recruiter I talked to 3 years in a row and who saw my growth. From there I “paid my dues” – did the legwork of busy technical documentation, basic design, and technical debt clean-up – that were core to applications I would later get to redesign and replace. Once I became too comfortable and felt my growth slowing down, I switched up roles and went from API development and application engineering to the data side at Disney. From there, I could mix the principles of end-user application design with the backend plumbing which would feed them instead. And from that I landed in a role where I now design both together – the applications and the backend.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

From UofM, the foundational knowledge I built in two key areas – software object-oriented design and technical communications (yes, that class is actually important) – differentiated me from other New Hires and Interns. There’s a very noticeable gap between a code monkey – someone who can sling code, brute force it – and a good software engineer. A software engineer can:

  • Make software scalable and efficient
  • Make software testable
  • Make software modular
  • Can communicate why all the above are important
  • Can communicate the business value (e.g. it helped the company process 600M records in minutes, every hour, saving $125k/day in manual labor) and NOT just the technical value (e.g. I built a system that can scale out to hundreds of compute nodes… because it’s cool) of all the above
Favorite Classes

Most of that difference I learned in a few classes I still remember today:

  • “Operating Systems” – The intricacies of working computer software
  • “Gaming for the Greater Good” – Scaling up ground-up developed code, building towards specific business requirements and goals, and communicating the value and worth of a project
  • “Data Structures and Algorithms” – Writing efficient, vs. functional, programs
Advice to Students

Take the classes I listed above, they will make your foundational software skills solid.

Find extracurriculars that mean something to you and own them. I continued exploring my music background (did the Michigan Marching Band, Campus Bands, etc.) and explored my software skills (Student Space Systems Fabrication Laboratory – S3FL – building software to track high-altitude weather balloons).

Don’t be a pure academic. Build a balanced class load. Take general electives like “linguistics” and “astronomy” because they help and pop-up in surprising ways down the road.

Be aware of what’s going on around you. Read the news. Get The Michigan Daily. What is current and popular may also lead to an opportunity to explore and get involved.

Knock on your neighbor’s door in the dorms and say hello. The dorms can be a little isolating unless someone takes the first step.

Jim Boerkel headshot

Jim Boerkoel

  • Harvey Mudd College
  • Assistant Professor

Hope College, BS Mathematics, 2006
Hope College, BS Computer Science, 2006
University of Michigan, MS Computer Science and Engineering, 2008
University of Michigan, PhD Computer Science and Engineering, 2012
Career Summary

Jim completed his doctoral thesis on developing distributed approaches for constraint-based, multi-agent scheduling under the supervision of Ed Durfee at the University of Michigan. In 2017, Boerkoel was recognized with an NSF CAREER award for his project “Robust and Reliable Multiagent Scheduling under Uncertainty.”

He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Harvey Mudd College where he leads the Human Experience & Agent Teamwork Lab. The goal of the HEATLab is to develop techniques that augment humans’ own cognitive and physical abilities to create integrated human-agent teams that are more capable than their individual counterparts.

Advice to Students

Be more; do less. Don’t underestimate the value of a negative result. There’s value in trying something out, even if only to discover it’s not for you.

Robert Reneker headshot

Robert E Reneker III

  • Community Mental Health Authority
  • Software Developer

University of Michigan, BSE Computer Science, 2015
Career Summary

After leaving the University of Michigan, I went to work for a company called Infosys Limited, which, while it provided me with many interesting opportunities, wasn’t a good fit for me. After leaving Infosys I took some time to think about what I wanted next in my career and I eventually got a job at Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, which is a job that I find professionally satisfying.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

The work I did at Michigan is crucial to my success today, as my education gave me a strong foundation of knowledge needed to succeed in Software Development. Not only did I learn skills related to programming and the fundamentals of Computer Science, but I also learned a variety of Soft Skills that help me be a better teammate and help my colleagues and I to work well together.

Favorite Student Orgs

I was a member of WolverineSoft during my time at Michigan and spent a year as the organization’s Social Events Coordinator, which allowed me to pursue game development as a hobby while also teaching me many things that also help me professionally.

Jessica Hirsh

  • Amazon
  • Software Development Engineer

University of Michigan, BSE Computer Science Engineering, 2019
Career Pathway:
  • Senior Intern for Mott Family Network (affiliated with U of M Professor David Chesney and Michigan Medicine) working on assistive technology.
  • Intern at Nike, working on accessibility and automation.
  • Software Engineer at Nike, working on full-stack web development for the performance and analytics team.
  • Software Development Engineer at Amazon working on backend services and full stack development for the Concessions Abuse Prevention team.
How have you used your engineering degree in your job?

My engineering degree provided me with the skills and foundation required to be able to jump in and deliver as a new member on each of my teams. The computer science fundamentals that I learned at Michigan have allowed me to pick up new programming languages, tools, and technologies as I’ve progressed through my career. 

What led you to choose your engineering major?

As a freshman, I chose Engineering 100: Gaming for the Greater Good with Professor David Chesney because it matched my interest in assistive technology. Working with classmates on our game was an adventure—we were all new to coding, making it a shared learning experience and a lot of fun. Seeing our ideas come to life confirmed that pursuing this major at UofM was the right path for turning my interests into a meaningful career.

How have your passions influenced your degree and career choices?
  • My journey in computer science began with hands-on experiences during my time as a Senior Intern for Mott Family Network, collaborating with UofM Professor David Chesney and Michigan Medicine on assistive technology projects. This early exposure sparked my interest in leveraging technology for positive change.
  • Interning at Nike provided me with the opportunity to work on accessibility and automation, aligning with my passion for creating inclusive solutions. This experience paved the way for my role as a Software Engineer at Nike, where I contributed to full-stack web development for the performance and analytics team.
  • Transitioning to Amazon as a Software Development Engineer, I joined the Concessions Abuse Prevention team, working on backend services and full-stack development. These diverse roles have not only expanded my technical skills but have also reinforced my commitment to using technology as a tool for impactful change.
How did Experiential Learning opportunities inform your career path?
  • Experiential learning is an engaged learning process whereby students “learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience.
  • Experiential learning has been pivotal in shaping my career path, allowing me to ‘learn by doing’ and reflect on meaningful experiences. As a Senior Intern for Mott Family Network, I delved into assistive technology projects, applying theoretical knowledge in a real-world context. This hands-on engagement not only sparked my passion for using technology to address accessibility challenges but also provided valuable insights into the practical applications of my studies.
  • Interning at Nike further emphasized the power of experiential learning. Working on accessibility and automation projects, I was able to directly see the impact of technology on user experiences. This experience not only honed my technical skills but also deepened my understanding of the real-world implications of software development.
  • Transitioning into my role as a Software Engineer at Nike and later as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon, the hands-on experiences from these opportunities have been invaluable. Applying classroom knowledge in real-world settings not only refined my technical skills but also deepened my understanding of the practical applications of technology
What additional advice can you offer today’s students as they are thinking about majors?
  • Stay curious and open-minded. Don’t rush the process; take the time to explore different subjects and gain hands-on experience. Seek guidance from mentors, peers, professionals — anyone in your area(s) of interest. Your major doesn’t define you or your career, so enjoy the journey of discovery and embrace new opportunities that come your way.
Alexandra Brown headshot

Alexandra Brown

  • Learning A-Z
  • Software Engineer

University of Michigan, BSE Computer Science Engineering, 2017
Career Summary

During my time as a student I had the opportunity to partake in two software engineering internships in the summer after my sophomore and junior year. I was also an instructor’s assistant for EECS 280, a second level introductory programming course. My internships gave me real world experience on what it would be like in a computer science career and practice with projects outside of schoolwork. I worked in industries I had never had experience in before. As a computer science engineer, there’s opportunity in every other discipline from health care to finance, so it was great to have experience beyond what a class could give me. My major design project was creating a tool for a blind person so they would be able to code, again giving me insights to the potential of my major. My time as an IA allowed me mastery of the basics and seeing how other people learn which helped me tremendously in interviews.

Working at Learning A-Z requires curiosity and passion, and my experiences leading up to a professional career were great in preparing me for such a role. I create software to improve literacy of elementary school students all over the world – something that is very motivating to me. In all my projects I made sure to understand truly what sort of impact it could have; it makes me proud to be an engineer.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

During my time as a student, I was a member of Eta Kappa Nu, an EECS honors society. I also made other nerdy, talented, smart friends in a theater group, Not Even Really Drama Students. I also made sure to have time for music, so I played in the campus orchestra. Make sure to set aside time for other passions and not just your engineering classes.

Advice to Students

Make the most of your time here. Spend time and get to know your professors. Take advantage of office hours not only for help, but also in networking with peers and faculty members. I’ve met really interesting and intelligent people at the University. It’s important to have a support system when classes become tough and stress is high.

Jill Bender photo

Jill Bender

  • TeraWatt Infrastructure
  • Software Engineer

University of Michigan, BSE Computer Science, 2014
Career Summary

I’m a Software Engineer based in Seattle, WA with a focus on IoT and distributed systems. I started my career at Microsoft which provided me with the opportunity to work on products that impact millions of users and taught me the foundations of building quality software and gave me experience with large-scale cloud systems. My career is driven by a passion for innovative technologies and a commitment to addressing global challenges. I am currently utilizing my skills to reduce the impact of climate change by working on large-scale EV charging infrastructure. In the industry, I’ve been working on the problems of EV charging interoperability and reliability to enable a smooth experience for the end-user trying to charge their vehicle.

It’s important to me to spend time in my career to mentor and support underrepresented groups in the tech industry. I’ve presented two talks through the North American Network Operators Group (NANOG) on inclusive hiring in tech. I hope to educate hiring managers as well as inspire and empower a more diverse community in the field of computer science.

For anyone looking to make a change into a career in climate I would recommend https://workonclimate.org/ and https://climatebase.org/. There are many opportunities out there where you can lend your skills and bring new ideas to the fight against climate change.

Rich Sheridan photo

Richard Sheridan

  • Menlo Innovations
  • CEO, Co-founder & Chief Storyteller

University of Michigan, BS, CCS, 1980 and MS 1982
Career Summary

I touched a computer for the first time in 1971 as a freshman in high school. I was hooked. I got my first paying job as a programmer in 1973 before I could drive. I decided I needed a formal education in computer science and decided there would be no better choice than Michigan. Upon graduation, I took a job as a lead programmer at MDSI in Ann Arbor, a high-flying entrepreneurial venture in the manufacturing software industry. I eventually joined Interface Systems and went from a programmer in 1984 to VP of R&D of Interface in 1997, a public company that would become the number 1 public company in Michigan based on stock growth. The CEO of Interface credits me for the software team process changes I led for fueling that stock growth. It led to our acquisition by a California technology company in 1999. That amazing success was instantly thwarted when the internet bubble burst and I was suddenly out of work. At that point, I chose entrepreneurship over unemployment and co-founded Menlo Innovations in 2001.

My company, Menlo Innovations chose culture over technology as its primary focus. Our aim, as a custom software design and development firm is to end human suffering in the world as it relates to technology. We want to return joy to what we believe is one of the most unique endeavors mankind has ever undertaken: the invention of software.

I have written two award-winning, best-selling books (published by Portfolio at Penguin Random House) on the subject of joy in the context of work:

Joy, Inc. – How We Built a Workplace People Love

Chief Joy Officer – How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear

I have stayed very involved with my alma mater and had the absolute honor of being the commencement speaker for the May 2015 College of Engineering graduation at Crisler Center. 

Advice for Students

Raise your hand. My career advanced by leaps and bounds because I was willing to volunteer to help the companies I worked for with important initiatives outside of my expertise. Helping run trade show booths at industry exhibitions, accompanying salespeople when making client presentations, and assisting in manufacturing when there was a big order to get out the door. All of these experiences rounded out my engineering background and put me in a much better place to advance my career. It also gave me opportunities for public speaking. All of these extra duties gave me great confidence in leading others.

What were your favorite classes at U-M?

I had so many favorites. In my field, Artificial Intelligence with John Holland, Operating Systems with Larry Flanagan. CCS  376 with Bernie Galler. Outside of my field, I thoroughly enjoyed all of my German classes and the Psychology of Perception class.

What else was valuable about your time at U-M?

I loved the camaraderie of my fellow students and the support and access I had to my professors. I fell in love with the town so much that I decided to stay in Ann Arbor, buy a house, raise a family, and build a business. I have never regretted those decisions.

Austin Yarger photo

Austin Yarger

  • University of Michigan
  • Lecturer II (Game Dev / Computer Science)

University of Michigan, BSE CS 2015, MSE CSE 2108
Career Summary

A long-time hobbyist game developer (with fond memories of smuggling his far-too-difficult games into his middle school and high school computer labs), Austin got his taste of professional game development in the summer of 2014 with an internship at Maxis (Electronic Arts) where he helped engineer 2015’s top-selling computer game, The Sims 4. Austin joined the faculty in 2018 and has since taught EECS 494 (www.eecs494.com) for 10+ semesters, EECS 498.003 (XR – bit.ly/umich_xr) for three, and will launch a new course on Game Engine Architecture in the Winter of 2024 (bit.ly/game_engines). His students have achieved positions at prestigious game developers such as Naughty Dog, Niantic, Sony Santa Monica, 343 Industries, Volition, Zynga, Google, Gaudium, NetEase, Jackbox Games, and Amazon Game Studios among many others.

In addition to stops at EA Mobile and Facebook, Austin served as President of the Wolverine Soft game development organization from 2011 – 2014. In 2017 He co-founded the Ann Arbor chapter of the International Game Developers Association (www.igda2.org). Austin curates the MichiGames Arcade Cabinet, consults with technology startups in downtown Ann Arbor, and organizes multi-university exhibitions with Eastern Michigan University. He acquired a Bachelors and Masters degree from the University of Michigan in 2015 and 2018, respectively. His research interests include non-gaming applications of game development tools, technologies, and techniques. Learn more at www.ayarger.com.

Advice for Students

Be ambitious and make the most of your time. Take challenging courses, engage with your professors, make friendships, and find yourself as best you can.

What were your favorite classes at U-M?

EECS 494 : Computer Game Design (which I now teach)
EECS 482 : Operating Systems

What else was valuable about your time at U-M?

The wonderful student organizations and communities that afforded me friendships, leadership opportunities, and those warm, “small campus” vibes.

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