What Is Computer Science?

If you enjoy finding creative solutions to problems, then computer science might be an excellent career to pursue.

Computer scientists enjoy logical thinking and discovering innovative solutions to problems. They use their creative abilities and computing skills for the development of websites, programs, multimedia applications, games and computer networks. Computing professionals are employed in many areas such as business, consulting, engineering, research, science and teaching.

Why Study Computer Science At
Goshen College?

Computer scientists no longer sit in a closed room crunching out computer code. Employers expect their computer professionals to communicate well, to work in group settings, and to design solutions to problems in a variety of fields.

The computer science program at Goshen College is designed to produce graduates who are prepared for life-long learning in a rapidly changing discipline, who know how to communicate, and who have a broad understanding of other disciplines. Areas of study include problem-solving techniques, algorithm design and analysis, software design and development, computer hardware, mathematics, human-computer interaction and ethics.

About one third of your studies will be in computer science, another third will be general education courses, and the remaining third will be electives you choose. These electives can be in any subject area such as art, business, additional courses in computer science, mathematics, music, religion, or science.

At Goshen College you will be taught by experts in a variety of classroom, laboratory, independent study, and internship settings. Students have obtained additional training through paid jobs with the Instructional Technology and Media Services departments, internships with local firms, co-curricular technical theater activities, and summer research programs. Your professors will be available outside of class time to work with you on assignments, to answer questions, to discuss your academic plans, and to counsel you on personal and career issues.

College life is not entirely devoted to academic study. The computer science and mathematics departments sponsor social times for students to gather and watch movies, eat pizza, play games or hold discussions on various topics. These social times may be on campus, at the college cabin by the Goshen pond, or in faculty homes.

Beyond Programming

Computers are used in almost every discipline and many students combine computer science with another major or minor such as business, information systems, art, music, mathematics, biology, physics or chemistry. Almost any combination of majors and minors is possible.

A major in computer science and applied mathematics is offered for students who are interested in careers such as finance, statistics, computational biology and genomics, data mining, neuroscience, or computer animation and digital imaging.

Multimedia communication is a minor that is often combined with computer science. In this combination students take additional courses in digital design, web design and programming, and multimedia production.

Many Goshen College students go on to graduate school for advanced study at the M.S. or Ph.D. level.