Mr. Lewyew Yirsaw (M.Sc.)
Head, Department of Computer Science
College of Computing & Informatics
Address: Seminar Building 2nd floor
Email: cs@mkau.edu.et
About the Department
The Department of Computer Science officially opened its doors in 2011 E.C. with an initial intake of 40 students under the College of Natural and Computational Science. Following the strategic restructuring of MAU’s academic units, the department transitioned to the College of Computing and Informatics, blossoming into a dynamic and vibrant hub for technology education.
To ensure students receive exceptional, hands-on technical training, the department has continuously modernized and expanded its infrastructure. Today, it has 3 modern laboratories, each equipped with 30 computers dedicated to rigorous practical coursework.
The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the growing demand for professionals in software development, networking, data analysis, and other areas of computer science.
The department is currently home to 80 talented undergraduate students and has successfully graduated over 150 BSc alumni who are actively making their mark across the industry. A crowning achievement of this academic excellence is the department’s remarkable historic hattrick achieving a 100% exit exam passing rate for three consecutive years.
The department’s vision is to become a center of excellence in computer science education and research, while its mission is to produce competent, innovative, and ethical graduates who can contribute effectively to the IT industry, academia, and society. Through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical training, the program seeks to fulfill this mission by preparing students for successful careers and lifelong learning in the rapidly evolving field of computing.
Mission of the Program
The mission of the B.Sc. in Computer Science program is to:
- Develop skilled and knowledgeable graduates in computer science and information technology.
- Conduct innovative, problem-oriented, and high-impact research in computing and emerging technologies.
- Deliver responsive and transformative community engagement initiatives that support digital development and technological literacy.
- Produce graduates with effective leadership and impactful decision-making skills in ICT policy, driving digital sector transformation and representing Ethiopian expertise on national and international platforms.
Objectives
The aim is to provide a comprehensive curriculum for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, focusing on the core scientific principles of computing to help students adapt to a rapidly changing technological world.
The program emphasizes practical skills tailored to Ethiopia, including specialized courses in emerging internet technologies to prepare students for future digital growth. The educational aims of a computer science program at MAU are:
- National Workforce: Train skilled computer science professionals to meet Ethiopia’s growing technological needs.
- Problem-Solving & Innovation: Produce entrepreneurial graduates with strong problem-solving skills.
- Practical Application: Equip students to apply their knowledge to real-world systems.
- Global Standards: Ensure the program meets international education standards.
- Quality Education: Deliver excellent instruction to build student confidence.
- Research: Conduct research that addresses national and international manpower demands.
- Community Service: Support and collaborate with local communities and institutions around Mekdela Amba University.
Program Education Objectives (PEO)
PEO1: To produce competent professionals who analyze, design, develop, and evaluate large-scale systems that effectively solve real-world societal and industrial problems through the application of modern computing technologies
PEO2: To produce disciplined Computer Science graduates who are capable of innovating and implementing creative, entrepreneurial technology solutions through the application of digital innovation principles, fostering sustainability and social responsibility.
PEO3: To prepare versatile professionals who are capable of demonstrating, applying, and integrating advanced technical, pedagogical, and communication skills to excel in leadership and strategic roles within technology-driven sectors such as software engineering, systems analysis, and quality assurance.
PEO4: To prepare graduates capable of conducting and applying research to design and evaluate intelligent, data-driven, and scalable solutions that respond ethically and responsibly to global and local challenges while embracing lifelong learning.
Department of Computer Science BSc Program
Admission Criteria
Regular undergraduate student placements are handled by the Ministry of Education (MoE) based on Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Certificate Examination (EHEECE) results.
Similarly, admission to the extension program is determined by EHEECE outcomes. Additionally, an entrance exam is administered for other candidates, including applicants with related diplomas (regular advanced), evening, distance (if applicable), and summer program students.
Course Breakdown of Our Computer Science Curriculum
Year 1 Semester I
| No. | Course Code | Course Title | ECTS | Cr. Hrs. | Lec. Hrs | Lab. Hrs | Tut. Hrs |
| 1. | Math1011 | Mathematics for Natural Science | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2. | FLEn1011 | Communicative English Language Skills I | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | Phys1011 | General Physics | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 4. | Psch1011 | General Psychology | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 5. | LoCT1011 | Critical Thinking | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 6. | SpSc1011 | Physical Fitness | 2 | 0(P/F) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 7. | GeES1011 | Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 8. | Hist1011 | History of Ethiopia and the Horn | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sub Total | 37 | 21 | |||||
Year 1 Semester II
| No. | Course Code | Course Title | ECTS | Cr. Hrs. | Lec. Hrs. | Lab. Hrs. | Tut.Hrs . |
| 1. | FLEn1012 | Communicative English Language Skills II | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | Anth1012 | Social Anthropology | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | Math1041 | Applied Mathematics I | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Econ 1011 | Economics | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | EmTe1012 | Introduction to Emerging Technologies | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MCiE1012 | Moral and Civic Education | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | CoSc1012 | Computer Programming I | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Sub Total | 31 | 19 | |||||
Year 2 Semester I
| No. | Course Code | Course Title | ECTS | Cr. Hrs. | Lec. Hrs. | Lab. Hrs. | Tut. Hrs. |
| 1. | EENG2041 | Digital Logic Design | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2. | MATH2052 | Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | MATH2011 | Linear Algebra | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 4. | CoSc2041 | Fundamentals of Database Systems | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 5. | CoSc2011 | Computer Programming II | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 6 | SINE2011 | Inclusiveness | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sub Total | 29 | 21 | |||||
Year 2 Semester 2
| No. | Course Code | Course Title | ECTS | Cr. Hrs. | Lec. Hrs. | Lab. Hrs. | Tut. Hrs. |
| 1. | CoSc2052 | Object Oriented Programming | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2. | CoSc2042 | Advanced Database Systems | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 3. | MATH2082 | Numerical Analysis | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 4. | CoSc2031 | Data Communication and Computer Networks | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 5. | CoSc2092 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 6. | CoSc2022 | Computer organization and Architecture | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 7. | STAT2015 | Probability and Statistics | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Sub Total | 35 | 21 | |||||
Year 3 Semester 1
| No. | Course Code | Course Title | ECT S | Cr. Hrs. | Lec. Hrs. | Lab. Hrs. | Tut. Hrs. |
| 1. | CoSc3023 | Operating Systems | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2. | CoSc3081 | Web programming | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 3. | CoSc3053 | Java Programming | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 4. | CoSc3061 | Software Engineering | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 5. | CoSc3101 | Automata and Complexity Theory | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 6. | CoSc3025 | Microprocessor and Assembly Language Programming | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Sub Total | 32 | 19 | |||||
Year 3 Semester II
| No. | Course Code | Course Title | ECT S | Cr. Hrs . | Lec. Hrs. | Lab. Hrs. | Tut. Hrs. | |||
| 1. | IRGI3021 | Global Trends | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2. | CoSc3032 | Network and System Administration | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |||
| 3. | CoSc3094 | Design and Analysis of Algorithms | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 4. | CoSc3072 | Computer Graphics | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |||
| 5. | CoSc3122 | Industrial Practice | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 6. | CoSc3112 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |||
| 7. | CoSc3026 | Real Time and Embedded Systems | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |||
| Sub Total | 32 | 19 | ||||||||
Year 4 Semester I
| No. | Course Code | Course Title | EC TS | Cr.H rs. | Lec. Hrs. | Lab. Hrs. | Tut. Hrs. |
| 1. | CoSc4035 | Computer Security | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2. | CoSc4113 | Computer Vision and Image Processing | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 3. | CoSc4123 | Research Methods in Computer Science | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | CoScxxxx | Elective I | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 5. | CoSc4103 | Compiler Design | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 6. | CoSc4125 | Final Year Project I | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sub Total | 33 | 20 | |||||
Year 4 Semester II
| No. | Course Code | Course Title | EC TS | Cr.H rs. | Lec. Hrs. | Lab. Hrs. | Tut. Hrs. |
| 1. | MGMT4102 | Entrepreneurship & Business Development | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | CoSc4038 | Introduction to Distributed Systems | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 3. | CoSc4138 | Selected Topics in Computer Science | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 4. | CoSc4034 | Wireless Communication and Mobile Computing | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 5. | CoScXXXX | Elective II | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 6. | CoSc4126 | Final Year Project II | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sub Total | 30 | 18 | |||||
Our Staff Profile
| No | Full Name | Academic Rank | Specialization | Qualification | Institutional Email | Research Interest |
| 1 | Abraham Belete Aynalem | Lecturer | Computer Science | MSc | Abraham_belete@mkau.edu.et | |
| 2 | Mebitu Kefale Getahun | Lecturer | Computer Science | MSc | Mebitu_kefale@mkau.edu.et | |
| 3 | Shimelis Kasa Alemu | Lecturer | Computer Science | MSc | Shimelis_kasa @mkau.edu.et | |
| 4 | Agegnehu Teshome Zerihun | Lecturer | AI and Data Science | MSc | Agegnehu_zerihun@mkau.edu.et | |
| 5 | Misge Desta Akalu | Lecturer | AI and Data Science | MSc | Misge_desta@mkau.edu.et | |
| 6 | Melese Alemante Alemuneh | Lecturer | Computer Science | MSc | Melese_alemante@mkau.edu.et | |
| 7 | Tahayu Gizachew Yirga | Lecturer | Computer Engineering | MSc | Tahayu_Gizachew@mkau.edu.et | |
| 8 | Leweyehu Yirsaw Kebede | Lecturer | Computer Science | MSc | Leweyehu_yirsaw@mkau.edu.et | |
| 9 | Fuad Seid | Lecturer | Computer engineering | MSc | Fuad_seid@mkau.edu.et | |
| 10 | Asefa Belay | Lecturer | Computer Science | MSc | Asefa_belay@mkau.edu.et | |
| 11 | Ahmed Siraj muhye | Assistant Lecturer | Computer Engineering | BSc | Ahmed_siraj@mkau.edu.et | |
| 12 | Temesgen Tirite Gobena | Senior Technical Assistant | Computer Science | BSc | Temesgen_tirite@mkau.edu.et | |
| 13 | Endris Yesuf Aragaw | Senior Technical Assistant | Computer Science | BSc | Endris_yesuf@mkau.edu.et |