Computation and Design with tracks in Computer Science, Digital Media, and Social Policy

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 and data.

• The 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 critical design.

• The 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 global networks.

A 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.

Major Requirements

(Not every course listed is offered every term, and the course list will be updated periodically. Please refer to the online Course Catalog for Courses offered in 2025-2026.)

Computation and Design / Computer Science

Divisional Foundation Courses

Interdisciplinary Courses

Disciplinary Courses

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Computation and Design / Digital Media

Divisional Foundation Courses

Interdisciplinary Courses

Disciplinary Courses

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

[55] This course was named MEDIART 208 Comparative Media Systems and Chinese Mass Media prior to fall term 2023.

[56] This course was named and numbered MEDIART 307 International Communication prior to the fall 2023 term

[57] This course was named MEDIART 213 Foundations of Web-Based Multimedia Communications prior to fall term 2023.

Computation and Design / Social Policy

Divisional Foundation Courses

Interdisciplinary Courses

Disciplinary Courses

[58] This course was names SOSC 320 Data in the World: Applied Social Statistics prior to Fall 2025.

[59] This course was named and numbered CULMOVE 101Cultures of Globalization prior to Fall 2025.

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

[60]This course was named CULANTH/POLSCI 314 Refugees and the Biopolitics of Citizenship prior to Fall 2025.

[61] This course was named and numbered CULMOVE 101 Cultures of Globalization prior to Fall 2025.

[62] This course was named GCULS 302 Gender in Global Perspective prior to Fall 2025.

[63]This course was named and numbered MEDIART 307 International Communication prior to fall 2023 term.