Computer science is an intellectually rich and rapidly growing field that has had a profound effect on our society and everyday lives. Today, this field continues to expand in scope and depth and will remain an exciting place to work and learn in coming years. Computer Science majors are in high demand for well- paying jobs in technology, science, business, healthcare, and other sectors. At the same time, the wide- ranging impact of computer science tools and methods demands careful design of the algorithms and systems by which we deploy them, as well as an ability to critique their assumptions and effects in terms of social policy, media and communications, and the arts.The structure of the Computation and Design major combines foundational computer science knowledge with a diverse range of potential applications, which are presented within a wider context of scientific, social, and cultural challenges. Students in this major take five courses in common: Computation, Society and Culture; Computation and Problem Solving, Programming and Data Structures, Modeling and Predicting, and Digital Design.The major offers three distinct disciplinary tracks:The Computer Science track focuses on the fundamentals of program design, software development, computer organization, systems and networks, theories of computation, principles of languages, and advanced algorithms andThe Social Policy track focuses on database systems, semantic knowledge production, and structured data to inform policy and shape reflective analysis. The track allows students to pursue three domain concentrations: urban design, environmental sustainability, and globalThe Digital Media track focuses on the application of computational media methods to cultural production at the intersection of design, technology, and society. It combines core courses on web design and data visualization with a selection of advanced courses such as 3D programming, human-computer interaction, interaction and physical computing, geographic information systems, and speculative and criticalA focus on design thinking unites these tracks at the outset, and later in the senior seminar course, where students recombine into project groups to pursue collaborative projects.The deeply interdisciplinary focus of the curriculum allows students from a wide range of backgrounds and interests the opportunity to develop sufficient depth in computational methods to engage in informed realization of their potential. The tripartite structure of the major allows students to specialize within the context of Computation and Design while providing opportunities to come together in creative, problem- based teams. We anticipate that this sustained engagement with computation and design as the over-arching framework for their study will help to ensure that the students acquire breadth, depth, and an ability to collaborate in cross-functional teams.
