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Leading to a bachelor of arts degree, Clark’s computer science major is designed to help our students solve complex challenges across a range of fields. You’ll develop a sound foundation in theory and practical applications while learning how computer science can improve humanity.
Through collaborations with faculty and exciting research opportunities, you’ll apply your knowledge to pursue new innovations limited only by your imagination. From exploring ways to make purchases with our smartphones to composing music, communicating via the internet, and improving health care, you’ll use creative problem-solving skills to better our world.
Computer Science
CSCI 110
PLSFrom TVs to medicine to microchips, plasmas play a big part in our lives. Learn how by studying and developing mathematical models that explain experimental work and help derive plasmas with specific properties.
CSCI 250
POPGain practical experience developing software to solve a concrete problem. Follow the project’s life cycle as you and your team define user requirements, and design, document, code, test, and maintain your product.
CSCI 265
Get hands-on robotics experience through computer simulation or physical experiments with robot project-component kits while exploring algorithmic issues, related engineering and system topics, and current research.
CSCI 121
Explore the role in computing of abstract data types, collections, and dynamic data structures like linked lists, stacks, queues, and binary trees. Then tackle projects that let you put these tools into practice.
CSCI 210
Using the language Lisp, you’ll learn to craft knowledge representation schemes and tackle sophisticated topics like search techniques, analogy and pattern recognition, and natural language parsing and planning.
As a computer science major, you will learn to solve problems by looking at them from different angles, breaking them down into manageable chunks, and creating efficient solutions. As you learn to think computationally and analytically, you will tackle problems of increasing difficulty — some on your own, and others by working collaboratively in teams. And by studying in a liberal arts setting, you’ll gain a broad perspective on the implications of computer science for human well-being.
Thirteen courses are required to complete the major.
You also can arrange to take a one-on-one directed readings course with a professor on a specialized topic of your choice, or take additional computer science classes at Worcester Polytechnic Institute through the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts.
Because computer science has so many applications, it is naturally interdisciplinary. You might choose to complete a second major, a minor, or a concentration in a related area of interest. Clark’s minor in innovation and entrepreneurship is particularly relevant if you’re interested in starting a business or bringing a product to market. You might also work with a faculty member in another department on a problem of mutual interest.
Skills you will learn include:
Outstanding Achievement in Computer Science Award
Mathematics and computer science students and faculty have access to 24 state-of-the-art computers running Linux and Windows; the Computer Science Department and its student systems administrators manage the Linux partition. Computer science students also use the lab to obtain teaching assistant (TA) hours and to participate in group projects.
In addition to the computer science laboratory, many mathematics and computer science majors work in the department’s research laboratory on projects in mathematical and computational biology. The research laboratory contains two iMac computers, one PC running Windows, and an LED screen for projecting images/presentations from these machines or personal laptop computers. The laboratory’s computers are linked by Ethernet to the general-purpose University computers and the University’s high-powered computing cluster. Learn more.
During your junior year, you might be accepted into the computer science honors program. Joining the program means you’ll work closely with a professor to create a thesis on a topic of your choice. Examples of recent honors thesis topics are:
Building your foundation
The Clark Core allows students to take courses across diverse disciplines, helping them develop critical thinking skills and respect for other cultures and perspectives. You’ll connect classroom learning with action through world and workplace experiences.
Hackathon!
Whether creating apps that provide commuters with the most carbon-neutral paths to their destination or connect victims of natural disasters with volunteers who can help, Clark computer programmers are winning prizes at hackathons at home and abroad.
