Department of Computer Science

Department of Computer Science
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1950s

1952 LeRoy Martin awarded mathematics degree

LeRoy Martin was awarded a master of engineering in mathematics degree. He later helped to establish the computer science program at NC State.

1960s

1962 Computing Center established
NCSU Computing CenterNCSU Computing Center
10/9/1963 New computer arrived on campus

A computer created by professors from NC State and built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at a cost of $50,000 arrived on campus. The computer, named Lincy, greeted professors with the message, "I want to be here," and was to be used in experiments to measure the distance between heartbeats, blood pressure, and brain waves.

1965 Committee on Computer Science formed

The Ad Hoc Committee on Computer Science formed and included a faculty member from the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Economics, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Statistics, and the director of the Computer Center, Paul E. Lewis.

1965 Triangle Universities Computation Center established

The Triangle Universities Computation Center was established by NC State, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill in the Research Triangle Park. It was one of the world's largest university computing centers.

1966 Faculty wrote report on Computing Center

Paul E. Lewis and John W. Cell of the Department of Mathematics wrote a report recommending the reconstitution of the Computing Center in the Department of Computer Science within the School of Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics.

Paul Lewis portraitPaul Lewis portrait
1967 Department of Computer Science established
1968 Department of Computer Science moved to Harrelson Hall
Student walking across University Plaza (the Brickyard) toward Harrelson Hall, North Carolina State University.Student walking across University Plaza (the Brickyard) toward Harrelson Hall, North Carolina State University.

1970s

1970 Department of Computer Science moved to Dabney Hall
Dabney Hall, front viewDabney Hall, front view
1977 Master's degree in computer studies first offered

1980s

1988 Department of Computer Science transferred

The Department of Computer Science was transferred from the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences to the College of Engineering.

1990s

1990 Department of Computer Science moved to Withers Hall
1992 Computer science history written

Clay Griffith and Paul D. Peterson Jr. wrote Computer Science and NCSU: First Twenty-five Years. More historical information was hosted on the department's website.