Objectives for
Computer Science Majors
As a computer science major at Connecticut College, you'll enter a variety of learning environments and gain an understanding of the discipline through courses, independent research, colloquia, workshops, internships and seminars.
Emphasis is placed on your ability to solve problems and think independently as well as understand the role of computer science in and amongst the liberal arts. Upon completing a challenging course of study, you'll be expected to possess a collection of broad characteristics. You will also be expected to acquire a specific set of capabilities and skills by the time you graduate: cognitive capabilities and practical skills related to computer science and additional transferable skills of a general nature that are applicable in many other contexts. The specific characteristics, capabilities and skills are listed below.
The comprehensive lists that follow have been taken, with modifications, from the ACM Computing Curricula 2001 report.
General Characteristics of Computer Science Majors
• System-level perspective. Students must develop a high-level understanding of systems as a whole, not just isolated concepts and skills.
• Appreciation of the interplay between theory and practice. Students must understand the balance between theory and practice and the essential link between them.
• Familiarity with common themes. Students should recognize and apply recurring themes such as abstraction, complexity, and evolutionary change.
• Significant project experience. Students must be involved in at least one substantial project that demonstrates the practical application of principles learned in different courses.
• Adaptability. Graduates must possess a solid foundation that allows them to maintain their skills as the field evolves.
• Role within the liberal arts. Students must understand the applications and implications of computer science within the context of the liberal arts and in the society as a whole.
Objectives for Computer Science Majors
Cognitive capabilities and skills relating to computer science
1. Knowledge and Understanding. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles, and theories relating to computer science and software applications; be able to incorporate technical results into that knowledge and understanding.
2. Modeling. Use such knowledge and understanding in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates understanding of the requirements, comprehension of the tradeoff involved in design choices, and awareness of critical evaluation and testing.
3. Professional Responsibility. Recognize and be guided by the social, professional, and ethical issues involved in the use of computer technology.
4. Liberal Arts. Understand the discipline of computer science as a liberal art and actively engage in exploring its connections to other disciplines.
Practical capabilities and skills relating to computer science
5. Problem-solving. Use appropriate theory, practices, and tools to specify, design, implement, test, and evaluate systems to solve problems in computer science and other fields.
6. Applications Understand applications of computer science in a range of fields.
7. Tools and Operation. Deploy effectively the tools used for the construction and documentation of software and be able to operate computing equipment and software systems effectively.
8. Research. Use computer science knowledge to conduct original research; read, understand, and produce technical papers.
Additional transferable skills
9. Communication. Make succinct presentations to a range of audiences about technical problems and their solutions.
10. Teamwork. Be able to work effectively as a member of a development team.
11. Numeracy. Understand and explain the quantitative dimensions of a problem.
12. Self management. Manage one’s own learning and development, including time management and organizational skills
13. Professional Development. Keep abreast of current developments in the discipline to continue one’s own professional development.
Last Modified: Monday, February 11, 2008 12:08