Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø offers a major and minor in computer science. As a computer science student here, you¡¯ll study more than algorithms and data structures, computer and network design, modeling data and information processes, and AI.
We're a liberal arts college. Here you can focus on computer science and whatever else interests you, whether it¡¯s graphic design, psychology, environmental studies or one of our 100 other areas of study.
? Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø computer science students build things! Our majors have channeled their creative energies into making real software, like a free ride-hailing app for Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students, and organizing the "Vibrant Augie Techest," an immersive interactive experience that blends art, music, sensors, virtual reality and other technologies.
? The computer science curriculum focuses on the representation, manipulation and storage of information in computer systems. Its range includes the study of programming languages, computer architecture, networks and the global internet, operating systems, data structures, algorithms and database management.
? Most computer science students will take an introduction to computer science during their first year, in which they will learn the Python programming language, followed up with a course on data structures where they will learn Java. Our majors take part in a significant semester-long team project in the Software Development class during either their second or third year.
? Mathematics is a fundamentally useful tool for computer scientists, and most students will take pre-calculus and/or calculus in their first year, followed up with a course on discrete mathematics in their second year, in which students will hone their logical thinking skills.
? Computer science majors often work part-time after their first year. Deere and Co., with its world headquarters less than 15 minutes from campus, recruits heavily at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø. Or you can stay on campus to work, analyzing data for the Institutional Research and Assessment Office or building websites for community clients with the EDGE Center¡¯s Web Guild.
? All Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students complete a Senior Inquiry capstone project that draws from their comprehensive learning experiences. Computer science majors apply the software development process to specify, design, implement and test a major software project in teams. This capstone project also incorporates social and ethical issues.
While attending Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, Nelly Cheboi and Danya Tazyeen engaged in a summer research project about swarm robotics. More recently, Cheboi was voted CNN Hero of the Year in 2023 (see story below), and Tazyeen is a Drupal developer at HNI Corporation.
At Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, you can create, innovate and make connections among seemingly unrelated subjects. For example, the class Artful Computing combined the creativity and passion of studio art with the logic and mathematics of computer code.
Plus, Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s small class sizes and faculty mentorships provide opportunities to:
? Apply what you learn (students recently developed an Uber-like student transport app and an event-planning app for the Office of Student Life, and of course there¡¯s our annual robotics challenge).
? Be a team leader and a team member ¡ª equally important skills to future employers.
? Connect with local companies for internships and part-time jobs. Studying computer science leads to careers in high-paying fields, including software engineering, web development, information technology, and network systems administration.
With its strong liberal arts focus, Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø supports your career goals and your personal goals as well.
Computer Science Honor Society Al-Khwarizmi members, front from left, Loc (Christopher) Le, Kirubel Mognehode and Viet Bui, and back from left, Tanner Klein, Dr. Labiba Jahan, Trang Hoang, Alex Fedor, Cameran Frank, Ryan Benac and Jordan Thompson. Mu?ammad ibn M¨±s¨¡ al-Khw¨¡rizm¨© was a Persian polymath, and is the namesake for the word "algorithm."
Jessica Cotturone '25 is pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Luke Heinrichs '25 is a delivery consultant with IBM in Rochester, Minn.
Gavin McCorry '25 is a reinsurance actuarial trainee at Aon Re, Inc. in Chicago.
Rim Nassiri '25 is in the Digital Leadership Development Program at Raytheon Technologies, starting her first rotation as a software developer at Collins Aerospace.
John Warhank '25 is a software engineer at John Deere in the Quad Cities.
Nhi (Stephanie) Le '24 is a software engineer at LexisNexis Risk Solutions based in Alpharetta, Ga.
Joonsoo Lee '24 is an inside sales account manager at Labelmaster in Chicago.
Sofia Briggs '23 is an integration specialist at RainFocus (software development).
Elizabeth Sloan '23 is a human computer interaction research assistant at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Trang Hoang '22 is a software engineer at TikTok in Bellevue, Wash.
Bryson Adcock ¡¯20 is a software developer at Integrated DNA Technologies.
Megan Janssen '18 Lederer is a lead software engineer for ESPN Fantasy Platforms in West Hartford, Conn.
Zineb Zirari '18 is an asset and liability management vice president for Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank in New York City.
“Dr. Stonedahl always had my back, highlighted my strengths and trusted my process, even staying late after office hours to talk with me.”Read More
“I certainly didn't expect to leave with a computer science major and to be pursuing a Ph.D. in the field at a top research institution.”Read More
“Professor Mueller and Professor Stonedahl have pushed me to strive for my best work, and then some more.”Read More
This fall Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is launching its STEM/Q Center, designed to support student achievement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). Find out more about the center and its coordinator, Karen Lindebrekke.
In this interview with StudyInternational.com, Quinxie Doan '26 shares her journey to Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø and her successes as a student majoring in both STEM and art.
Jessica Cotturone ¡¯25 received the Chambliss Award at the 245th American Astronomical Society meeting. The award recognizes Cotturone's work through the CIERA Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at Northwestern University.
