Mission & History

Since its early days at the University of California, Irvine, computing has been viewed as much more than a new technical discipline; it has been approached as a new human-technology frontier. Half a century later, with information technology permeating every aspect of our society, our human-centered perspective on computing innovation in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) is more relevant than ever before.

At ICS, we help shape the future by advancing fundamental computing technologies and exploring the applications and interaction of computing with humans. Our broad range of academic programs in information and computer sciences emphasizes foundations, experiential learning, discovery, and entrepreneurship and prepares our students to lead the computing revolution through careers in academia, industry, non-profits, and the public sector.

Over the years, our faculty, students, and alums have made pioneering contributions to the field of computing, including the design and implementation of early networks for parallel and distributed computer systems, the establishment of the UCI Machine Learning Repository—one of the earliest efforts to establish common datasets for evaluating machine learning algorithms, the design of DNS and specification of HTTP which enabled the adoption of the Internet by billions of users, and the REST software architectural style that has been used throughout the software industry to create web-based applications. A hallmark of research at ICS has been its interdisciplinary character, leading to core technology advances by looking at key challenges in applied circumstances or by working with researchers in cross-disciplinary fields such as human-computer interaction.

Today our researchers continue to advance the core and applications of computing, expanding the frontiers of artificial intelligence and data science, advancing the performance, security, and energy efficiency of computer systems, enabling discovery in science and engineering through computing, exploring new modalities for human-machine interaction, and promoting accessible information technologies for equity and social justice. Through authentic and diverse collaborations, we study the economic, commercial, and social significance of information and computing technologies and help reshape domains as far reaching as education, art and entertainment, business and law, health care and medicine, biological systems, and the environment.

One of the most diverse and intellectually rich schools of computing in the nation, ICS is a vibrant learning community with more than 3,600 undergraduate students, 400 doctoral students and postdocs, 600 research and professional master’s students, and 100 faculty representing 3 departments (Computer Science, Informatics, Statistics), many of whom hold joint appointments at schools across campus, including business, education, engineering, medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences. The ICS community includes a network of more than 15,000 alumni spread across the United States and around the globe.

I encourage you to learn more about ICS by visiting our web pages and invite you to join us as a member, partner, or supporter of our community in our efforts to build a better world through computing.

Marios C. Papaefthymiou
Ted and Janice Smith Family Foundation Dean
Professor of Computer Science