General Information

When the University of Osnabrück was founded in 1974, the mathematics teaching unit also began operations. The courses on offer included a diploma programme in mathematics and the teacher training programmes for primary, secondary and grammar school teachers.

In the winter semester of 1977, the subject of Computer Science was added and finally, in 1985, the department was renamed the Department of Mathematics/Computer Science.

The Department of Computer Science originally consisted of three working groups: Applied Computer Science (Prof Dr Axel-Tobias Schreiner, since 1987), Theoretical Computer Science (Prof Dr Volker Sperschneider, since 1987). Practical Computer Science (Prof. Dr Oliver Vornberger, since 1988).

In addition to the "classical" disciplines of mathematics, the diploma degree programme in mathematics included larger computer science components and offered the opportunity to choose a specialisation in computer science or to write the diploma thesis in the field of computer science.

As part of the teacher training programmes, computer science was offered as an extension subject and computer science was also available as a minor subject for the master's degree programmes.

The Bologna reform began in the new millennium. Since the winter semester 2000/2001, a 6-semester Bachelor of Science degree programme in Mathematics/Computer Science has been offered, which requires certain mathematics and computer science components and allows students to specialise in mathematics or computer science.

Compulsory and optional courses are also offered for the Diploma programme in Applied Systems Science, the Bachelor's programme in Physics and the Bachelor's/Master's programme in Cognitive Science, and there is the opportunity to write Diploma, Bachelor's or Master's theses in Computer Science. Many other degree programmes use the Computer Science offer as a service and allow students to take examinations in Computer Science.

The founding of the Institute of Computer Science was announced in the university's official newsletter in August 2003. Its Board of Directors was constituted on 23 September 2003 and the current composition is as follows:

Board of the Institute of Computer Science for the term of office from 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2025:

• for the group of professors: Prof. Dr Nils Aschenbruck (Managing Director), Prof. Dr Markus Chimani, Prof. Dr Sigrid Knust
• for the group of research assistants: Dr Thomas Jarmer Staff: Dr Thomas Jarmer
• for the group of non-academic staff Employees: Franziska Kusch
• for the group of students: Alexander Böckenholt (for the term of office 01.04.2023- 31.03.2024)

A 4-semester Master of Science in Computer Science programme has been offered since the 2006/2007 winter semester.

From the winter semester 2011/2012, the Bachelor's degree programme in Mathematics/Computer Science, which was previously designed jointly with Mathematics, will be discontinued and replaced by two new degree programmes: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.