The Computer Science program at Vassar integrates the study of important theoretical foundations with the study of powerful scientific methodologies that are central to the field, providing excellent preparation for graduate study in computer science as well as work in the profession. The program provides a solid background for further work in Computer Science. Intensive study of Computer Science in the context of a broad liberal arts education opens up perspectives and opportunities for cross-disciplinary work that are especially relevant in today’s world.

In addition to offering a full program of core computer science courses, Vassar’s Computer Science Department offers a range of courses in areas relevant to the broader liberal arts curriculum, including artificial intelligence, robotics, computational linguistics, graphics and animation, and bioinformatics.

The department houses two computer laboratories containing machines running the Linux operating system. Several on-going research projects within the department offer students the opportunity to work with faculty on real problems both during the academic year and over the summer.

Welcome back to all of our majors and correlates! We look forward to another great year working with you!

We hope you are enjoying Vassar so far. Please come by the Computer Science Department to talk to us if you are interested in taking a course or possibly majoring or doing a Computer Science correlate as a complement to your major. Our introductory course, Computer Science 101, is the place to start if you have little or no programming experience. Those who have had significant Java programming experience should take Computer Science 125.

Remember that Computer Science is the science of computation, involving much more than computer programming! Understanding and exploring the bases and potential of computation is exciting and increasingly important for everyone, especially students in the sciences.

Several Research Assistant slots, funded by National Science Foundation grants, are open to all students with or without programming experience. An interest in languages and/or linguistics is a plus. Please contact Professor Ide for information.

The annual attack on the Computer Science pinata at the end-of-year picnic is completed by Andrew Wood ‘08.