BPC Programs & Activities for Students

Our  BPC programs and activities seek to inspire all voices, imagine the future, and invest in the next generation of computing leaders and professionals. Programs serve many populations including K-12, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students, as well as post-doctoral, faculty, and staff development.   Additionally, collaboration with external partners allow us to leverage an extensive network of resources and allies to support our students and faculty during and after their time in our programs.

Learn More Below!

Including all voices.

Making  computing available to people from all backgrounds at all levels.

Pathway Programs

Our pathway programs seek to provide an accessible introduction to computing to people ages- pre-college through postbaccalaureate.

  • K-12 Outreach Programs raise awareness about computer science in young people.
  • AI4ALL offers three programs that help undergraduates learn about artificial intelligence (AI) and discover new opportunities to use AI: Discover AI, Apply AI, Experience AI.
  • The Pre-Engineering Program (PREP) provides opportunities for highly-qualified University of Illinois students to prepare themselves to transfer into The Grainger College of Engineering.  
  • The year-long iCAN certificate program helps non-computer science college graduates get ready to pursue a graduate degree in computer science or a high-tech career in computing. 

Innovative Degrees

Unique degree programs and minors allow students to pursue a flexible program of study incorporating a strong grounding in computer science with technical or professional training in the arts and sciences. 

Imagining the future.

Providing a strong foundation in computing research and BPC Education.

 

Research Opportunities

  • Illinois Computer Science has a dynamic research culture with nearly 150 potential faculty advisors, covering 11 research areas.
  • In the 10-week long Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), students work with Illinois CS faculty mentors and graduate students over the summer to get an introduction to computer science research.
  • Undergraduates can also get involved in CS research through semester-long programs like PURE or summer programs like ISUR.
  • During the Summer Predoctoral Institute, incoming graduate students from populations underrepresented at Illinois gain an early introduction to graduate study and an opportunity to work with a summer research advisor.  
  • The Illinois Computer Science Speaker Series brings prominent leaders and experts to the department to share their ideas and promote conversations about important challenges and topics in the discipline.
  • The department also hosts a variety of technical conferences and workshops benefiting the CS academic and research communities. 

BPC Educational Activities

We offer a number of cross-cutting BPC educational activities that serve all levels in our department and broader CS community. From workshops to thought-provoking speaker series, these opportunities help our CS community grow in their knowledge and understanding of broadening participation in computing within our department and beyond.

Learn More

Investing in the next generation.

Fostering an inclusive environment through professional development, mentorship, and community building 

 

Leveraging External Partnerships.

 Connecting with an extensive network of resources and allies to support our students and faculty .

 

 

Some of the NCWIT Aspirations Central Illinois Chapter winners pose with Illinois CS Department Head Nancy Amato, second from right.

Some of the NCWIT Aspirations Central Illinois Chapter winners pose with Illinois CS Department Head Nancy Amato, second from right.