The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Yonsei University's Graduate School was established in 1988 as part of the College of Science's Department of Computer Science. In 1996, it moved to the College of Engineering to better reflect the diverse needs of applied sciences and engineering. Then, in 2022, it was re-launched as the College of Computing to lead the AI-centric paradigm of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and to strengthen convergence research and education both within and outside the university. For over 40 years, our department has been a leader in the field of computer science, producing exceptional talent and conducting world-class core and convergence research. Currently, there are about 200 graduate students (MS, PhD), and 25 professors. The essence of computer science education here is the mission to cultivate world-class experts in computer science, software, and artificial intelligence. These professionals are poised to become leaders in our information-driven and AI-powered society, contributing to national and human development. This core educational philosophy emphasizes fostering creative thinking and insights to understand and solve real-world problems, while also focusing on developing specific competencies in computer-related fields.

Research areas in computer science include data structures, algorithm analysis, and theoretical computer science, which form the foundation for problem-solving through software programs. In the field of computer systems, active research is conducted on computer architecture—which underpins computer hardware—modern GPU and many-core architectures, high-performance computing, and distributed systems. Operating systems, system software, compilers, and programming languages also constitute core areas of computer science. The fields of computer networks and the Internet, 5G/6G mobile communications, and the Internet of Things (IoT), which enable platform connectivity and communication, are rapidly evolving. Additionally, blockchain and information security technologies have emerged as essential research areas for ensuring secure communication in system and network environments. As a core of the data-driven society, database systems, big data analytics, data and text mining, and other data science fields also form major pillars of computer science. Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, deep learning, multimodal AI, and natural language processing (NLP) technologies—which lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution—stand at the center of modern computer science. Alongside these, new computing paradigms such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), computer graphics, multimedia processing, human-computer interaction (HCI), brain computing, and quantum computing are becoming key research areas that will shape the future.

Computer science plays a central role in leading core technology fields such as the information industry, data industry, and artificial intelligence industry of future society. In addition to the rising demand for software and AI talent, there is a rapidly growing societal need for computer science technologies across diverse areas of human life and throughout the future cyber space. For example, core algorithms and machine learning technologies for autonomous vehicles, perception and mobility technologies in the robotics industry, and computer science–based software and AI technologies in various areas of the healthcare industry are now essential. Graduates of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering go on to excel in a wide range of fields. Many become university professors, researchers in computer and software-related institutes and companies, or R&D personnel at major domestic and global corporations such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, Google, Apple, and Meta. They also work at consulting firms specializing in management and systems applications. Furthermore, graduates have established or joined startups such as Daum Communications, Virtualtek, SOCAR, and VIVE, contributing as researchers developing new theories and practical applications in cutting-edge fields like autonomous systems, quantum computing, and robotics. In addition, many pursue careers as public officials (technical administration) or patent attorneys, making vital contributions to technological innovation and intellectual property protection across various industries in an ever-changing digital environment.

Computer Science and Engineering BK21 Graduate Program for Core SW Researchers and Problem Identifiers has analyzed the limitations of the existing education and research to implement improvements. By benchmarking global top universities, the department seeks to advance toward the visions of "cultivating core SW research talents to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution” and “growing into a top-tier research institute in the field of AI and computing" with a specific goal of entering the global top 50 by 2030. To achieve these goals, we have identified 13 detailed tasks across education, research, industry-academia collaboration, and globalization; based on these tasks, we created a system for cultivating future talents.