January 23, 2026Hack Ramapo 2026: AI Integration Challenge

The RCNJ Computer Science Club and Sky Academy is excited to announce Hack Ramapo 2026 – an official Major League Hacking (MLH) event where innovation meets real-world impact.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Theme: AI Integration in Everyday Life
Prize Pool: $1,000

The Challenge
Build a project that uses AI to improve everyday life. More specific guidelines will be announced at kickoff—come ready to innovate!

Team Formation
Teams consist of three students. Don’t have a team yet? No problem! Register as an individual and join others to form a group during the opening session.

Open to All
Students from outside Ramapo College are welcome to participate. Spread the word to friends at other schools!

Perks
MLH will be on-site providing swag, merch, and T-shirts for participants throughout the day.

Register Now
Spots are limited—register as soon as possible to secure your place.

Register Here
Bring your ideas, skills, and team spirit to Hack Ramapo 2026!

Categories: Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, News + Updates

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January 23, 2026Summer of AI 2026

Online • Asynchronous • 12 Transferable Credits

Master artificial intelligence, machine learning, and agentic systems in one intensive summer. Three 4-credit courses designed to take you from foundations to building autonomous AI agents—all online and asynchronous.

→ Register for Summer 2026

Session 1 (May 27 – June 30):

• Machine Learning

Session 2 (July 9 – August 11):

• Artificial Intelligence
• Agent Engineering

Take one, two, or all three courses!

CMPS 320: Machine Learning

Session 1 (May 27 – June 30) • 4 Credits

Build the mathematical and algorithmic foundation for modern AI. Implement regression, classification, and neural networks from scratch. Master the complete ML pipeline from data preprocessing to model evaluation and deployment.

Topics include: Linear & Logistic Regression, Decision Trees & Ensembles, Neural Networks & Backpropagation, Support Vector Machines, K-Means Clustering, Dimensionality Reduction (PCA), XGBoost & LightGBM, Deep Learning Foundations, Model Evaluation & Cross-Validation

CMPS 331: Artificial Intelligence

Session 2 (July 9 – August 11) • 4 Credits

Explore the core reasoning and representation techniques of AI. From search algorithms and game-playing to probabilistic reasoning and expert systems. Build intelligent systems that reason, plan, and make decisions under uncertainty.

Topics include: Search Algorithms (BFS, DFS, A*), Adversarial Search & Minimax, Alpha-Beta Pruning, Propositional & Predicate Logic, Bayesian Networks, Fuzzy Logic, Expert Systems, Planning & STRIPS, Knowledge Representation

CMPS 367: Agentic Software Architecture

Session 2 (July 9 – August 11) • 4 Credits

The cutting edge of AI engineering. Build autonomous AI agents that perceive, reason, and act. Master LLM integration, tool use, RAG systems, memory architectures, and multi-agent coordination. You’ll build a production-ready coding agent from scratch—then extend it with retrieval, memory, and skills systems.

Topics include: Transformer Architecture & LLMs, Agent Loop Design, Tool Use & Function Calling, Prompt Engineering & Context Engineering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Memory Systems (Conversation, Episodic, Semantic), Multi-Agent Patterns, Model Context Protocol (MCP), LangChain & Framework Evaluation, Guardrails & AI Safety

Prerequisites

Ramapo Students: You should have completed CMPS 231 (Data Structures) or CMPS 240 (Programming II). These courses are designed for Computer Science, Data Science, and Cybersecurity majors.

Students from Other Institutions: If you have coursework in programming (Python, Java, C++, or similar), you’re likely prepared. Earn 12 transferable credits applicable to your CS or related major. Contact us with questions about your preparation.

Technical Requirements: Basic programming proficiency is required. Familiarity with Python is helpful but not required—you’ll gain extensive Python experience throughout the sequence. All courses are fully online and asynchronous.

Questions?

Wondering if this sequence is right for you? Curious about transferring credits or your preparation level? Reach out—we’re happy to help.

Scott Frees, Ph.D.
Convenor, Computer Science & Cybersecurity
Ramapo College of New Jersey
sfrees@ramapo.edu

→ Register for Summer 2026

Categories: Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Mathematics, News + Updates

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December 1, 2025Ramapo DMC 12/1 - Updates and important events

Dear DMC Students – 

As we wind down on the Fall semester, please keep the following in mind:

Spring 2026 Registration

If you have not registered for your Spring 2026 classes yet please do so immediately.  The College modifies course offerings based on enrollment – over enrolled and under enrolled courses necessitate changes, and delaying your registration reduces our ability to make those adjustments for you.

If you are eligible for CMPS 366 (Organization of Programming Languages), please register for Spring 2026.  There is no guarantee an alternative will be available in Fall 2026, so do not delay taking this course.

Winter 2026 Registration

Two courses being offered relevant to your majors this Winter – CMPS 130 and CMPS 147.  CMPS 130 is a required course in Data Science, CMPS 147 is a required course in Computer Science and Cybersecurity.   If you have questions about the Winter session, please email me.

Graduate Students – Thesis Proposal Course

If you are an MS student and plan to do your Thesis in either Summer 2026 or Fall 2026, please register for your 1-credit Thesis Proposal in Spring 2026.  This is a required course that you must complete prior to your thesis semester.  It is currently open for registration.  Please contact me if you have any trouble signing up.

4+1 MSDS / MSCS / MSAM (Seniors)

Registration for graduate courses as an undergraduate requires an override (even if you are in the 4+1).  Email me to get the override for registration!Read more

Looking for a job?  ITS is looking for a programmer

See the job and apply here

Categories: Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Mathematics, MSCS, MSDS, News + Updates

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November 18, 2025DMC Partners with South Brunswick High School on AI in Computer Science Education

The DMC Center is collaborating with South Brunswick High School on a research project exploring how generative AI tools can support – rather than replace – student learning in introductory computer science courses.

As AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly common in education, there’s an open question: how do we help students use these tools effectively without short-circuiting the learning process? This partnership between DMC Director Scott Frees and SBHS Computer Science teacher (and Ramapo adjunct Computer Science professor) Steven Schiff aims to find out.

The study involves high school students across eight sections of “Computer Science in the 21st Century,” testing three different approaches to AI access: no AI, limited AI (where students use it only for understanding), and a custom-build AI assistant – built at the Ramapo DMC Center – designed to explain concepts without writing code for students. By rotating these conditions across different programming topics, the research team hopes to understand which approaches help students learn foundational concepts most effectively.

This collaboration represents the kind of practical research needed as educators adapt to rapidly evolving technology. Rather than banning AI or giving students unlimited access, the project explores middle ground—helping students develop both programming skills and the judgment to use AI tools responsibly. The findings will provide guidance for computer science educators navigating similar questions about AI integration in their own classrooms.

Learn more about the project at codewithgrace.com.

Categories: Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science

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October 30, 2025Highlight Your Internship Story: Pranish Khanal - Workforce Opportunity Services

Welcome to the DMC’s Highlight Your Internship Story series, where we showcase the impressive work our students are doing during their internships. These stories highlight how hands-on experience is helping them grow professionally and launch successful careers in tech.

Congratulations to Pranish Khanal, Computer Science major at Ramapo! This fall Pranish has been working for Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS) in New York City as a Junior Development Intern. So far he hashelped redesign two organizational websites. He also provide technical support, helping troubleshoot issues and adapt to various projects in a fast-paced small company environment. Beyond coding, He has had the chance to work on digital marketing campaigns across LinkedIn and Google Ads which has been a completely different experience that taught him a lot new perspectives. This provided valuable insights into marketing a company and the science behind it. Interning at WOS has been one of his best learning experiences, combining web development, data analysis, marketing strategy, and how businesses operate beyond just the technical side.

If you are in any of the DMC majors – Computer Science, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Mathematics, and Bioinformatics – and would like to be featured, please contact Dr. Al-Juboori (aaljuboo@ramapo.edu) or Dr. Frees (sfrees@ramapo.edu)!

Categories: Computer Science, Internship Story

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