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Computer Science

The Computer Science curriculum prepares students for careers in all areas of the computer industry as well as for graduate studies in computer science and computer related fields. Students have also found a computer science major to be excellent preparation for careers in law, medicine, business administration, industrial engineering, biomedical engineering, and other technical and non-technical fields.

Computer science is a rapidly changing discipline. The lifetime of a particular computer system or software package can be very short. The computer science curriculum is designed to prepare students for multiple careers in a rapidly changing environment. The department’s courses emphasize fundamental concepts and techniques that will last longer than present technology.

Computer science majors complete a core of basic computer science courses that includes the study of algorithms, data structures, database concepts, computer architecture, programming languages, operating systems, and software engineering. Majors also complete important courses in closely related fields, e.g., discrete mathematics, digital logic design, and probability and statistics. The major requires students to study all aspects of the science of computing, including hardware, software, and theory.

Courses in database systems, compilers, computer graphics, fractals and chaotic dynamical systems, artificial intelligence, theory of computation, analysis of algorithms, computer networks, computer vision, web-based information systems, and cryptography are available as advanced electives. A three-term senior project provides valuable practical experience in the specification, design, implementation, and documentation of large software systems. Qualified students can undertake independent study in advanced topics in computer science, participate in a research project with a faculty member, or complete a senior thesis.

Programming assignments and large projects are part of most computer science courses. These assignments familiarize students with the wide variety of tasks performed by software professionals. Programming assignments include system specification, system feasibility studies, system design, system maintenance studies, and user interface design in addition to system implementation (i.e., coding), testing (verification and validation), and documentation. Projects include both individual and team activities and require appropriate written and oral presentations.

Computer science majors have diverse interests and career goals. Five free elective courses allow students to tailor their undergraduate education to their specific goals. Students planning to undertake graduate study in computer science usually take additional advanced courses in computer science, electrical engineering, and mathematics.

The department has its own local area network. This network is connected to the campus-wide network and the Internet. Laboratory machines are mostly Sun Ultra workstations. Computer science majors have unlimited access to the department’s laboratories. Computer science majors are frequently employed by the computing center as user consultants, and by the department as system managers and course assistants.

The student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery provides seminars and other technical activities throughout the year and sponsors the school’s programming teams which compete in local, regional, and national contests. The national computer science honor society, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, has chartered its Indiana Alpha Chapter at Rose-Hulman.

Computer Science Program Educational Objectives

Graduates from the computer science program will be prepared for many types of careers in the field of computing and be prepared for graduate study in computer science and in closely related disciplines. In the early phases of their careers, we expect

Rose-Hulman computer science graduates to be:

1. Computing professionals in a variety of organizations, including ones doing traditional software development, technological innovation, and cross-disciplinary work
2. Business and technological leaders within existing organizations
3. Entrepreneurial leaders
4. Recognized by their peers and superiors for their communication, teamwork, and leadership skills
5. Actively involved in social and professional service locally, nationally, and globally
6. Graduate students and researchers
7. Leaders in government and law as government employees, policy makers, governmental advisors, and legal professionals

Computer Science Student Outcomes

By the time students graduate with a computer science degree from Rose-Hulman, they will be able to:

1. Effectively apply a variety of computing resources, programming languages, programming paradigms, operating systems, networks, and software development tools
2. Anticipate complexities and problems involved in the development of large computing systems
3. Analyze requirements, design computing systems that satisfy those requirements, and implement that system
4. Analyze problems and design solutions using ideas of problem complexity, models of computation, decidability, and scalability
5. Analyze algorithms in terms of correctness, as well as time and space efficiency
6. Evaluate and discuss the legal, social, and ethical aspects of significant events that arise in the field of computing both domestically and internationally
7. Interact effectively with colleagues and clients located abroad and overcome challenges that arise from geographic distance, cultural differences, and multiple languages
8. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
9. Collaborate effectively in teams
10. Recognize the need for, and engage in, lifelong learning

The faculty strives to maintain an open atmosphere that encourages mutual respect and support as well as learning and sharing of knowledge.

The computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET,