Mathematics, Computer Science & Physics
Master of Science in Data Science
03/06/2025 9:58 am
The Master of Science in Data Science
The Master of Science in Data Science at Rockford University is designed to equip students with the skills and support needed to excel in the ever-evolving field. With a strong focus on career advancement, we provide mentorship opportunities, tailored resume workshops, and interview preparation specifically for data science roles. Our comprehensive approach ensures that graduates are well-prepared to succeed in a myriad of different fields and careers.
A Unique Approach
Cultivate Critical Skills
Courses
Required Courses:
- DATA 501 Introduction to Data Science
- DATA 502 Introduction to Data Science Programming
- DATA 503 Mathematics for Data Science
- DATA 519 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- DATA 540 Data Mining & Visualization
- DATA 554 Database Management Systems
- DATA 555 Advanced Database Management Systems
- DATA 557 Introduction to Big Data Analytics
- DATA 560 Text Mining and Language Processing
- DATA 580 Principles of Cybersecurity
- DATA 595 Data Science Capstone
For a full list of courses, including prerequisities, visit the academic catalog.
Career Paths and Opportunities
Look forward to a career that works for you.
Data Science is a growing field with graduates in great demand. Industries seeking data professional include banking, fintech, consulting, travel and transport, utilities, healthcare, retail, and many more.
You could work as a:
- Data Scientist
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Data Analyst
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Data Engineer
- Statistician
- Quantitative Analyst
Work for companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, DataRobot, Intuit, Johnson & Johnson, Tesla, JPMorganChase, Deloitte, Bank of America, Grammarly, and Spring Health.
Industry reports project a 36% growth in demand for Data Scientists by 2031, making it one of the fastest-growing careers. Forbes highlights a key trend for empowering entire workforces to effectively use analytics. This includes leveraging AI, Cloud technology, Data-as-a-Service, Real-Time Data, and adhering to Data Governance and Regulations. Gaining expertise in data across various fields of science will open doors to rewarding career opportunities.
Data Science Program
5050 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
Phone: 815-226-4050Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
Professor of Mathematics; Chair, Department of Mathematics, Computer Science & Physics
MDik@rockford.edu
Phone: 815-226-4135
Office of Admission
Johnson Center
5050 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
Phone: 815-226-4050
Fax: 815-226-2822
Email: Admissions@rockford.eduHours
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Sat: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Please call to reserve an appointment on Saturdays.
Rockford University to Present InnovateHER STEM Camp for Sixth-Grade Female Students
10/17/2024 11:37 am
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 17, 2024
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Starr Science Center at Rockford University. Rockford University is located at 5050 E. State St. in Rockford, Illinois.
WHAT: Rockford University’s Science, Math, and Nursing College will hold the InnnovateHER STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) camp for sixth-grade female students from two area middle schools: Galapagos Rockford Charter School and the Gifted Academy at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.
Each school will be sending about 40 students and a handful of chaperones to participate in hands-on activity sessions in the areas of Science, Healthcare, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
All sessions will be led by female STEM students and facilitated by female faculty/staff mentors. Each session emphasizes potential career paths in STEM fields that relate to the activity chosen and will consist of groups of about 8 middle school students.
This event is funded by an In Youth We Trust grant through the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois that May 2024 Biochemistry graduate Faith Gomez received before graduating. Melisa Kraus is the student who is taking over in Gomez’s place. Kraus is a Biochemistry and Psychology double major.
WHO: Rockford University faculty and staff involved in the event include Dean of College of Science, Math and Nursing Filiz Dik, Associate Professor Kari Severson, Lab Manager and Administrative Assistant Anya McIntyre, Lecturer Viktoriia Dobriak, Assistant Professor Melissa Korkmaz-Vaisys, Lecturer of Physics Susan Sorensen, Assistant Professor of Biology Emily Webb, and Beth Lipton.
Media interested in attending the event should RSVP to communications@rockford.edu no later than on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Contact:
Rockford University Marketing & Communications
OR
Kayla Eddy
815.394.5041
Faith Gomez ‘24 Awarded Grant
09/09/2024 4:15 pm
By Sara Myers, Digital Media & Communications Specialist
RU Student Faith Gomez was mentored by Dr. Filiz Dik, Dr. Deepshikha Shukla, and others in the SMN (Science, Math & Nursing) College and was awarded a $2,500 grant to create a STEM camp for middle school girls called “InnovateHer.”
The event will be held tentatively this fall 2024 and include 30 girls from local middle schools.
Gomez is majoring in biochemistry and minoring in gender studies.
“Despite coming in on a grant for women in STEM I didn’t see a lot of outreach specifically for women in STEM even though we’re still underrepresented in the professional space,” Gomez said. “As a historically women’s college, I thought that it might be beneficial both for our history and for outreach purposes to create a more women-centric event, for STEM specifically.”
She had the idea for the camp for a while but it finally came to fruition when she started looking for grants when she was working on her capstone project.
“I want the activities to be focused on what the mentor is doing with their career in STEM,” she said. “For example, there’s a student who wants to get a master’s in forensic chemistry and she got into chemistry programs. I want her to feel like she can do a fingerprinting experiment and she can talk about how she found chemistry as a viable career path and what they have in Rockford.”
Gomez graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Biochemistry in May 2024.
—
This article is from the 2023-2024 issue of Catalyst.
Cybersecurity Degree
03/06/2023 8:34 pm
Cybersecurity
More than ever, businesses and other organizations depend on effectively managing and maintaining information and protecting digital infrastructures. When you major in Computer Science with a concentration in cybersecurity at Rockford University, you’ll learn the skills necessary to keep vital information secure.
With 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings projected worldwide by 2025, cybersecurity professionals are in high demand. Graduating with a degree in computer science with an emphasis in cybersecurity will create significant job opportunities in a variety of industries such as healthcare, technology, financial services, government, manufacturing and more.
At Rockford University, the cybersecurity track offers you the opportunity to learn to build and maintain secure networks while benefiting from a thoughtfully crafted curriculum. With required courses in statistics, criminal justice, and business law and ethics, in addition to core courses in computer science and information technology, you will receive a well-rounded education that will set you up for success in the cybersecurity industry.
Skills You’ll Build
- Software design techniques
- Development, testing, and implementation of web-based systems and technologies
- Procedural and object-oriented programming
- Designing and implementing solutions to business systems problems
- Fourth generation programming techniques
- Information assurance/cryptography
- Ethical hacking/penetration testing
- Statistics
- Nature, dynamics, and etiological theories of crime and criminal behavior
- Ethical and legal business decision making
Quick Facts
- On-campus, undergraduate degree program
- B.A and B.S. tracks available
- 49-50 credit hours required for degree completion
- Minor in another field is recommended but not required
Cybersecurity at a Glance
Median Annual Salary:
(Information Security Analyst)
$102,600
Job Titles:
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Information Security Analyst
- Cybercrime Analyst
- Digital Forensic Examiner
- Penetration and Vulnerability Tester
- Security Systems Engineer
- Cybersecurity Architect
Career Opportunities:
- Deloitte
- JPMorgan
- Homeland Security
- CIA
- IRS
- Apple
- And more!
Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu
Nursing Degree
08/05/2016 4:19 pm
Rockford University Nursing: BSN Degree
Empowering Tomorrow’s Healthcare Leaders
Welcome to the Rockford University Nursing Department, where we are dedicated to preparing professional nurses who make a meaningful impact on individuals, families, groups, and communities with diverse health needs. Rooted in the values of Nobel Peace Prize winner and university alumna Jane Addams, our nursing students are encouraged to think critically, act compassionately, and engage with their wider community through community-based learning projects.
Why Choose A Nursing Degree At Rockford University?
Rockford University’s nursing program may be the perfect fit for you if you possess strong abilities in the sciences and also aspire to create innovative solutions to patients’ and communities’ unique health challenges. With us, you become more than a care provider – you become a patient advocate, an educator, and a change-maker within your community. The bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) is a four-year, full-time program. Students complete approximately 2 years of prerequisite and degree requirement courses followed by 2 years in the nursing program if the student stays on track with full-time course completion. Upon program completion, graduates may be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam (Registered Nurse [RN] exam). Requirements for nursing licensure vary by state: Professional Licensure by State. This program is intended for students who do not hold an RN license.
Learn More about Rockford University’s Nursing Program
Find out more about Rockford University’s nursing program during one of our upcoming virtual nursing information sessions! Please check back here for future summer/fall information session dates.
Ready to Make a Difference? Apply Today!
Are you ready to take control of your career and make a real impact in your community? Apply to Rockford University today and embark on your journey towards becoming a nurse. Our Admissions Team is here to assist you:
- Phone: (815) 226-4050
- Email: Admissions@rockford.edu
Deciding to pursue a nursing degree empowers every student to choose their own career path. With a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you are more than a care provider. You are also a patient advocate, an educator, and a difference-maker in your community.
Students who graduate from Rockford University with nursing degrees have the knowledge, preparation, and experience necessary to contribute to their field immediately. We go beyond the basics, providing a broad base of skills that can be practiced at every step of your nursing career.
If you have been admitted to Rockford University and are interested in the nursing program, apply to the nursing program today! * Please confirm you have been admitted to Rockford University before applying to the nursing program. Also, specify the semester of your intended start date for the nursing program. See the Nursing Degree Paths options below for nursing program prerequisite requirements.
Nursing Degree Admission Paths
- Early Action (EA) for High School Seniors:
- Ideal for high-achieving seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 that includes the completion of biology, chemistry, English (4 years), and math (2 semesters, including one semester of algebra).
- Competitive selection with notifications by April 1st, if application is submitted by March 1st.
- Conditional acceptance pending fulfillment of admission criteria and submission of final transcripts by July 1st.
- First-Year Standard RU Students:
- For students already admitted to Rockford University, aspiring to join the nursing program.
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and science prerequisite GPA of 2.5 required for admission.**
- TEAS exam proficiency within 3 months of the start date.
- Deadline for priority application consideration: September 1 (for Spring program start) or February 1 (for Fall program start).
- Notification of status by November 1 (for Spring program start) or April 1 (for Fall program start).
- Transfer Students:
- Tailored for students transferring from other institutions.
- Admission and minimum cumulative GPA: 2.75, science prerequisite GPA: 2.5.**
- TEAS exam proficiency within 3 months of the start date.
- Deadline for priority application consideration: September 1 (for Spring program start) or February 1 (for Fall program start).
- Notification of status by November 1 (for spring program start) or April 1 (for fall program start)
**For students entering the Fall 2026 cohort and any cohorts thereafter – A minimum science GPA of 2.7 will be required on the science support courses.
To view the complete prerequisite course list and details on admission requirements such as the TEAS exam, please see the Admission and Prerequisite Requirements page.
Additional Information:
- Regardless of the entry path, all nursing program applicants must meet specific grade and conduct stipulations, including background checks and drug testing.
- Maintaining requisite GPAs and ethical standards throughout the program is essential.
Student Involvement
At Rockford University, we believe in providing students a community in which they can learn, grow, and develop.
First and foremost, we encourage all nursing students to join the Nursing Student Organization or NSO during their time at RU. This organization brings together nursing students and others interested in a healthcare-based career to offer support and fellowship. They organize activities, community events, and educational opportunities that bring together a diverse student population.
Beyond the NSO, Rockford University also offers student organizations that encourage campus involvement. These groups turn the campus into a community while allowing for the exchange of ideas and cultures across demographics.
Exploring Nursing Careers and Internships
Expanding Career Horizons in Nursing
In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, nursing careers offer many exciting opportunities. The aging U.S. population coupled with a shortage of nurses has created a surging demand for skilled professionals in the field. Nursing has evolved beyond traditional roles, propelling nurses to the forefront of healthcare delivery thus opening up expansive career prospects.
With a 4-year nursing degree, you embark on a rewarding career and position yourself for one of the highest starting salaries in any field. Furthermore, as you continue your education, your earning potential can soar, potentially exceeding $100,000 annually.
Diverse Career Paths
A nursing career is both challenging and diverse. Nurses have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and extended-care facilities. Alternatively, you might collaborate with private practice healthcare providers, contribute to community health agencies, work in federal nursing agencies, enter the corporate world, join educational institutions, or even serve in the military. Over the course of your career, you can explore various client populations and settings as your interests evolve.
Nursing specialties include medical-surgical, cardiac, pediatrics, neonatal, women’s health, critical care, forensic, community, psychiatric nursing and many others. Nurses may also go on for graduate degrees to become nursing practitioners, midwives, nurse educators, and nurse anesthetists, to name a few. Employment opportunities abound in the Rockford area’s local hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, school systems, and other community settings.
Entrepreneurial Nursing
Innovative nurses are exploring entrepreneurial avenues by combining their nursing expertise with other specialty skills to establish new businesses. Possibilities range from nursing informatics (melding nursing with technology) and legal nurse consulting (merging nursing with law) to various home healthcare ventures. With creativity and determination, the possibilities in nursing are virtually limitless.
Explore the diverse world of nursing, where opportunities abound and your journey to making a significant impact begins!
About Our Nursing Faculty
The nursing faculty at Rockford University are experienced nurses who possess the skills and dedication to educate future members of the nursing community. These faculty members are not just nurses. They are also authors, researchers, and leaders in their areas of specialty. Their depth of knowledge includes over a century of real-world nursing experiences, and their willingness to impart their learned lessons allows students to begin their career with a head start.
Nursing Department
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4152Malina Campos, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nursing Department, Chair
mcampos@rockford.edu
815-226-4126
Nursing Department Handbook and Policies
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
P. (404) 975-5000
IDFPR Information
All Inquiries: 1-888-473-4858
Professional Licensing: 1-800-560-6420
TTY: 1-866-325-4949
Faculty
08/05/2016 4:16 pm
FACULTY
Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4198
Fax:815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu
Math Lab
08/05/2016 4:13 pm
Math Lab
Got a Math Problem? There is free help at the Math Lab, Starr 302A!
Math Lab is open (closed during breaks such as holidays, Fall and Spring breaks etc.) from the second week of classes through the last day of classes.
Math Lab Assistantships
Students who have successfully completed the calculus sequence are eligible to work in the Math Lab. Interested and eligible students can apply for a Math Lab Assistant Position on the first or second day of classes at the start of each Fall and Spring semester. Several paid hours are available each week. To apply, please contact Dr. Mehmet Dik at MDik@rockford.edu.
In addition to the limited paid Math Lab Positions, many students choose to volunteer in the Math Lab as a part of their community service projects.
Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu
“The Math Lab exists as a refuge and haven for those who ‘get it’ and salvation for those who don’t.” – Bern Sundstedt ‘77
Faculty
08/05/2016 4:13 pm
FACULTY
Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu
Programs of Study
08/05/2016 4:10 pm
Programs of Study
Mathematics
Students majoring in mathematics at Rockford University are introduced to the incredibly diverse universe of mathematics, crossing the threshold from the mechanical nature to the theoretical nature that characterizes advanced mathematics. Our students learn to think creatively using inductive logic, to discover patterns using mathematical relationships, and to connect concepts using critical thinking skills. The Program offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees in Mathematics with concentrations in General Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, and Data Science.
While some courses fulfill a service role for all-university requirements (notably, statistics and other applied areas) and for majors in the sciences and social sciences, a resurgence of majors in mathematics is underway nationally and at Rockford University.
Major and Track/Concentration
- Mathematics Major, Data Science Track, B.A. or B.S.
- Mathematics Major, General Track, B.A. or B.S.
- Mathematics Major, Computational Track, B.A or B.S.
- Mathematics Minor
- Data Science Minor
- Master of Science in Data Science
Sample Math Major(BS)- 4 yr study plan
Additional information for this program can be found in the Academic Catalog.
Computer Science
The Computer Science program offers a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with concentrations in Management Information Systems (MIS), Web Development, Game Development, and Cybersecurity.
Major and Track/Concentration
- Computer Science Major, Cybersecurity Track, B.A. or B.S.
- Computer Science Major, Management Information Systems Track, B.A. or B.S.
- Computer Science Major, Web Development Track, B.A. or B.S.
- Computer Science Major, Game Development Track, B.A. or B.S.
- Management Information Systems Minor
- Web Development Minor
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) Fundamentals Minor
- Cybersecurity Minor
- Game Development Minor
A professional in Game Development must also possess a strong understanding of computer systems and programming languages, along with solid skills in graphic design and animation to create immersive and engaging gaming experiences
Additional information for this program can be found in the Academic Catalog.
Search course offerings and descriptions
Physics
The Physics program offers a minor in physics. One advanced course is offered every fall and spring for those students minoring in physics. The concentration of mathematics and physics can prepare students for graduate school in physics. Additional advanced courses in physics are offered as required.
Course Descriptions and Requirements
The Physics program offers the following courses every year:
| Physics 105 Lecture Physics 105 Lab |
4 Credit Hours Every Fall |
| Physics 106 Lecture Physics 106 Lab |
4 Credit Hours Every Spring |
| Physics 201 Lecture Physics 201 Lab |
5 Credit Hours Every Fall |
| Physics 202 Lecture Physics 202 Lab |
5 Credit Hours Every Spring |
| Physics 101 Lecture Physics 101 Lab |
4 Credit Hours Every Fall & Spring |
300-level courses are offered upon request if enough students are enrolled.
More information can be found in the Academic Catalog.
Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu
Faculty
08/05/2016 4:09 pm
