CS Department Objectives and Goals

Departmental Directions and Priorities

Back in 1996, when the computer science program was part of a joint Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, the combined department described general departmental objectives and learning outcome goals.

The combined department restructured on July 1, 2006, yielding a Department of Computer Science and a Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The computer science program remains committed to the same basic principles, focusing in particular on computing. The following objectives and goals are abstracted from our 1996 Department Review, with editing for the restructured Department of Computer Science.

General Departmental Objectives

1. The major objective: To teach the discipline to all students who are interested.
2. To stimulate interest in the discipline.
3. To help our majors (and other students with a strong interest in the discipline) to identify and prepare for satisfying careers.
4. To continue to grow as computer scientists by increasing our knowledge and by contributing to the discipline in scholarship and pedagogy.

Learning Outcome Goals

For Nonmajors:

1. Students should understand two of the four problem-solving paradigms of computer science: imperative, object-oriented, functional, and declarative programming.
2. Students should be able to apply relevant principles in the solving of some common problems.
3. Students should be able to collaborate on team-based projects, producing group programs and written reports.

For Majors:

1. Graduates should be competent solving problems using the four problem-solving paradigms of computer science: imperative, object-oriented, functional, and declarative programming.
2. Graduates should understand fundamental principles in all core areas of computer science (algorithms, programming languages, theory of computation, architecture, software development methodology).
3. Graduates should be able to apply fundamental principles in the solving of substantial problems.
4. Graduates should be able to work effectively in team-based development projects.
5. Graduates should be able to communicate ideas effectively both orally and in written form.
6. Graduates should find that they have had appropriate undergraduate preparation leading toward satisfying careers.