Meet Christine Pinney, a master’s student born and raised in Boise Idaho.
Academic Journey
Christine holds two bachelor’s degrees. Her first degree is in English with an emphasis in Linguistics and Literacy from the University of Idaho. Her second degree is in Computer Science (CS) with an emphasis in Machine Learning, which she earned here at Boise State University.
The Path to a Master’s Degree
While working towards her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Christine became involved in research, a transformative experience that broadened her horizons.
“I got involved with research and have had the opportunity to work with some pretty incredible people on some really cool projects. I’ve even been able to present my work at some international conferences.”
The more she worked in research, the more her fascination and passion for the field grew.
“I realized pretty quickly how much I enjoyed research and with encouragement from my research team, it was an easy decision to pursue a master’s degree.”
Why Boise State?
With many graduate programs to choose from, Christine found that Boise State was the right fit for her academic and professional growth.
“While getting my undergraduate degree in computer science, I realized how broad of a field it really is and how many different paths one could explore. The skills and knowledge acquired with a degree in CS are incredibly valuable and applicable in any industry, so the possibilities are wide open.”
Thriving in the Classroom: Challenges, Growth, and Support
Reflecting on her coursework, Christine acknowledges that while she faced some challenges early on, the support she received from her peers, professors, and mentors made all the difference.
“The classes were incredible. I came into my undergraduate degree with no experience in computer science and I really struggled in the beginning, but I was able to learn everything I needed to know (and more) because my instructors, advisors, and tutors were so dedicated to helping me succeed and providing the guidance I needed.”
Christine’s perseverance paid off.
“The assignments were challenging, but they really enabled me to grasp the class content and develop my skills as a software engineer, a data scientist, an interface designer, and a critical thinker.”
Blending Language and Technology: Christine’s Thesis Research
Christine shares insight into her thesis research:
“I explored the effect of readability visual cues applied to a search results page on children’s metacomprehension of search result content. The goal was to incorporate research in education and cognitive science into the design of a children’s search engine interface to support their individual reading capabilities and enable them as they learn to search online.”
Advice for Future Graduate Students: Finding Your Passion
For students on the fence about pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Science, Christine offers this advice:
“Find what interests you and be as specific as you can. You might be motivated to tackle grand explorations and try to answer the big questions that fascinate you, but the best gift you can give yourself is a concise, measurable research question. The faculty and students in the CS graduate program at Boise State are incredibly supportive and inspiring, so lean on them to help you explore your interests and find your niche.”
Looking Ahead: From Master’s to Industry and Beyond
As Christine nears the end of her master’s journey, new opportunities await.
“I know I will eventually go after a PhD, but I’m excited to gain some experience in an industry position. My master’s in CS at Boise State prepared me for the next step in so many ways. I gained an incredible sense of confidence, and I’ve developed strong skills in critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration with others. I now have experience with several programming languages, foundational algorithms, and software tools used in industry, but I also feel as though I have been given a solid logical framework that will allow me to effectively tackle any new challenges and find new solutions to unique problems.”
We are excited to see where Christine’s journey takes her next!