2017-18 Pomona College Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2017-18 Pomona College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Use the dropdown above to select the current 2023-24 catalog.

Computer Science


Associate Professor Yuqing Melanie Wu, department chair

Professors Bruce, Bull, Chen1
Associate Professors Kauchak3, Wu
Assistant Professor Greenberg, Papoutsaki
Visiting Assistant Professor Devanny , Roshanaei
Lecturer Kampe
Lori Keala, academic coordinator

Advances in computer science are responsible for technological innovations that have revolutionized many aspects of our lives. Computer scientists and computational thinkers will achieve further breakthroughs that can only barely be imagined today. To accomplish these tasks in ways that are sensitive to the needs of individuals and society, we need highly educated computer scientists with strong backgrounds in the liberal arts. The courses offered by the Pomona College Computer Science Department, together with those offered by Harvey Mudd and Claremont McKenna Colleges, empower both majors and non-majors to leverage and contribute to this rapidly evolving field.

Computer science investigates the nature of computation, with applications ranging from the design of sophisticated programs and machines for solving difficult problems to understanding how the mind works. It is a science, but it is not about nature. Like a natural science, computer science has theoretical and experimental components. It is unlike a natural science in that computer scientists design some of their own objects of study. It has links to mathematics, linguistics, philosophy and cognitive science, as well as applications in the arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities.

In computer science courses, students learn to work alone and in teams to analyze, decompose and solve complex problems. They learn to conceptualize multiple views of a problem, to develop solutions grounded in theory and to evaluate their solutions using a range of metrics. In addition to mastering overarching principles, students also become skilled in the core areas of computer science: theory, systems, programming languages and algorithms. They then apply their knowledge in advanced electives on topics including operating systems, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, human computer interaction, natural language processing, high-performance computing, computer security and robotics. Students also learn about the theoretical, practical and ethical ramifications of computational solutions to problems. Bi-weekly colloquia expose students to current research in computer science and introduce them to career options in the field.

Students will develop the ability to independently explore technical innovations. The senior exercise allows students to practice communicating their ideas through both oral presentations and technical writing. An optional senior project allows students to design, implement and analyze the solution to a modern computing problem of their choice.

 

1On leave fall 2017 2On leave spring 2018 3On leave 2017-18
     

 

Introductory Courses

The department offers introductory courses designed for students with a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. Like first courses in other sciences, CSCI051x (CSCI 051G PO , or CSCI 051J PO , or CSCI 051P PO ); CSCI 052 PO  and CSCI 062 PO  are suitable both for students who want to broaden their liberal arts education and for those who seek preparation for more advanced courses. CSCI030 PO - Computation and Cognition with Lab , is intended especially for students majoring in cognitive science but will also be of interest to other students interested in the connections between computing and human cognition. Because CSCI 030 PO  does not serve as a prerequisite for most advanced courses in computer science, students who contemplate majoring or minoring in computer science are urged to start with a course numbered CSCI051x or higher.

CSCI 030 PO  and CSCI051x are designed for students who have no experience in programming. Students who have Advanced Placement or similar preparation may enter directly into CSCI 052 PO . Contact the department for more information.

Pomona collaborates with the other Claremont Colleges in the offering of advanced coursework in Computer Science. The introductory sequence of courses (CSCI 051G PO  , or CSCI 051J PO , or CSCI 051P PO ; CSCI 052 PO  and CSCI 062 PO ) prepares students for advanced courses at Pomona, Harvey Mudd and Claremont McKenna Colleges and provides preparation equivalent to the Harvey Mudd sequence of CSCI 005 HM , CSCI 060 HM  and CSCI 070 HM . However, the introductory courses at Harvey Mudd College beyond CSCI 005 HM  are not guaranteed to be available to Pomona College students. Anyone contemplating a major or minor in computer science should start in the appropriate course in the Pomona College sequence. For advanced courses, a prerequisite of CSCI 060 HM  will be satisfied by CSCI 052 PO , while a prerequisite of CSCI 070 HM  will be satisfied by taking both CSCI 052 PO  and CSCI 062 PO . The classes

  and   at Claremont McKenna are considered equivalent to the Pomona classes of the same name and number.

 

 

Read more about our learning objectives:
www.pomona.edu/administration/academic-dean/learning-objectives