ChooseWhy Choose This Program?
Why Study Computer Science at Goucher?
Technology is at the center and peripheral of our lives. At Goucher, the computer science major and minor explore a number of complex topics, such as computer security, networking, and more. The program also has access to excellent computing facilities, linked by a campus-wide network. Extensive software use is integrated into both the computer science and mathematics curricula.
LearnWhat Will You Learn?
What Will You Learn?
The program provides students with a solid foundation in analytical thinking as well as a spirit of creativity, enterprise, and ethical responsibility. Mastery of fundamental computing principles is essential as we step into the increasingly virtual future.
Regular coursework and independent and small group projects provide students the freedom to build programs and learn by doing. Students also design and create a computer from scratch, including the hardware logic and a game they build in their own programming language.
DoWhat Will You Do?
What Will You Do?
Students pursue their interests, which are often interdisciplinary, by researching alongside a faculty member and completing a senior thesis, and/or an independent study. Additionally, students intern in government, business, health care, and education both in Baltimore and in other parts of the country. Goucher prepares students for excellent professional opportunities and premier graduate programs. Recent alums have gone on to work at places like HP, Microsoft, and Redhat.
Course Curriculum
Computer Science Major Computer Science Minor Courses
Laptop Recommendation: If you are intending to major in Computer Science, you should have a laptop with the following minimum requirements: Quad-core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, Solid State Drive (SSD) with at least 100 GB of available storage.
This program is available in an accelerated 3-year degree. View the course mapping (PDF).
Faculty
Program Contact
Thomas Kelliher, Department Chair, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science: computer
architecture
Full-Time & Half-Time Faculty
Thomas Kelliher, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science: computer architecture
Jill Zimmerman, James M. Beall Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science: robotics, programming languages
Professor Emeritus or Emerita or Emeriti
Robert Lewand, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science: cryptology
Study Abroad
By studying abroad, choosing three-week intensive courses led by Goucher faculty or semester programs suited to their academic plans, Goucher computer science students gain a global perspective that enhances their course of study. Visit the Office of Global Education for more information.
Opportunities & Internships
Internships
Internships help students explore possibilities, apply classroom learning, and gain experience. Explore internships and credit options.
The mathematics and computer science faculty members consider well-structured internships to be essential to a student's education. The variety of internships that have been completed under the supervision of this department is evidence of the flexible and creative applicability of degrees in both mathematics and computer science. Students find internship opportunities through the Career Education Office, through faculty and staff members, or on their own.
A detailed description of the off-campus experience is published by the Career Education Office each year and fully describes the guidelines and timetable for internships. Students interested in arranging an internship in mathematics or computer science should contact their individual academic advisors.
The following are descriptions of some recent internships in mathematics and computer science:
- Two students participated in the University of Maryland's Research Internship in Science and Engineering. One of them designed a web-based tool for collecting data on pedestrian activity, while the other worked with an interdisciplinary group in meteorology.
- A mathematics and computer science double major worked at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in the Combat Systems Evaluation Lab, programming a GUI window as part of an interface with a large tactical display system being developed for the U.S. Navy and Joint Forces.
- A 3-2 engineering major worked on improving current text-to-speech and speech recognition techniques using a rules-based approach as opposed to strict combinations of statistical and corpus analysis. His duties included developing a model of the Human Vocal Production system and devising data structures for the learning and active phases of the model.
- A mathematics major and a mathematics and computer science double major worked with a Goucher College physicist to write software to test thermal calculations of high-temperature superconductors.
- A computer science major worked on the SPARTA (Simulation of Physics on A Real Time Architecture) project at the Pennsylvania State University. The goal of the project was to develop specialized hardware that would greatly accelerate physical modeling.
- A mathematics and computer science double major worked as a summer intern at the University of Utah, doing research in text classification, an area of artificial intelligence.
Student Clubs
The Mathematics and Computer Science Club
Membership in the Mathematics and Computer Science Club is open to all program majors, as well as other interested students. The club provides an opportunity for students to share their common interests in an informal way.
The most traditional of the club's activities is the annual Torrey Dinner, which is held each April to honor graduating mathematics and computer science majors. The officers and advisor organize the dinner. One highlight of the evening is a talk, usually about her/his work or research, given by an alumna/us. Another source of excitement is the announcement of the winners of the Torrey, Ekin, Leavitt, and Writing prizes.
The fall semester traditionally starts with a program pizza party, at which majors share their summer internship, research, and international experiences with fellow students and faculty. Further club activities include field trips to Baltimore and Washington, DC, museums, films, guest lecturers about mathematics or computer science, fundraising events, a year-end picnic, and more.
The first club meeting of each academic year is announced in mathematics and computer science classes, as well as by email.
Pi Mu Epsilon
In 2005, Goucher College was awarded a chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national Honorary Society for Mathematics. The mission of the society is to encourage scholarship and scholarly activities among undergraduate mathematics students. Students, who by virtue of their academic promise and achievement are invited to join the society, meet on a monthly basis to support each other in their professional development. Activities include guest speakers, problem-solving sessions, book or film discussions, and practice sessions for upcoming mathematical presentations. The chapter holds induction ceremonies at the Torrey dinner in the spring.
Academic Competitions
During the academic year, there are a number of opportunities for mathematics and computer science students to participate in academic competitions, as individuals and in teams.
Each fall semester, the Association for Computing Machinery sponsors a Mid-Atlantic region programming competition whose winners participate in national finals. Each participating college or university fields teams (possibly including graduate students), which strive to solve the most programming problems in the shortest time. Although the competition is quite challenging, Goucher teams have placed as high as fourth place in the region.
Goucher mathematics students also have the opportunity to compete as a team. The annual Mathematical Competition in Modeling takes place early in the second semester. Each three-person team chooses one of two open-ended applied mathematics problems and then researches and writes a solution paper over the course of a single weekend. Goucher teams have received awards a number of times, competing against several hundred teams from other colleges and universities.
As a result of the problem of the month sponsored by our chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, we can send one student per year to participate in the U.S. National Collegiate Mathematics Competition. We have performed well in this competition.
In addition, our mathematics students have participated as individuals numerous times in the annual Putnam Competition and the Virginia Tech Mathematics Contest.
Special Prizes and Awards
The Marian M. Torrey Prize
The Marian M. Torrey Prize is awarded to senior majors in mathematics who are selected
by the program for their excellent records, firm grasp of subject matter, creative
imagination, incisive thinking, and ability to present ideas clearly.
The Mary Katherine Boone Ekin Prize
The Mary Katherine Boone Ekin Prize is awarded to a senior majoring in computer science
who is considered to have an excellent grasp of both theoretical and applied aspects
of the subject. The criteria for the award include high achievement in course work
and the ability to interpret the concepts of computer science in creative and imaginative
ways.
The Mathematics Writing Prize
The Mathematics Writing Prize is awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated
excellence in the exposition of classical mathematics. The winner is determined by
a contest which is open to majors and non-majors.
The Pearl Davis Leavitt Prize
The Pearl Davis Leavitt Prize is awarded to a mathematics major other than a graduating
senior who has exhibited meritorious achievement in mathematics courses beyond the
first-year level and is judged to have outstanding potential for further high achievement
in the discipline.
Student Employment
Student employment connects students to both on and off-campus opportunities. The Career Education Office provides resources and support to students with or without Federal Work Study to find jobs, submit applications, and learn more about the job search process. Students have access to Handshake — a website for job postings, events, resumes/cover letters, and career management.
Major & Career Exploration
Exploring career options, choosing a major, and making career decisions is a multi-step process in which all students are encouraged to engage early and often. Goucher students have a variety of resources available through the Majors and Career page to assist them in this process.
Job Search
A Goucher education prepares students for today’s job market and beyond. Students can explore job opportunities and access job search resources through the CEO Job Search page.
Graduate & Professional School
Students access resources for searching and applying to graduate and professional school through the CEO Graduate and Professional School page, through faculty and staff members, or utilizing their own resources, network and tools.
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School 4+1 BA/MS Program
Goucher College and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School are offering Goucher students a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program. This 4+1 program combines a bachelor’s degree from Goucher with a master of science degree from Johns Hopkins in business analytics and risk management, information systems, health care management, finance, or marketing. Students can apply during their junior year. GRE or GMAT tests have been waived but applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better and have passed some quantitative reasoning courses with a grade of B or better.
Student Projects & Awards
News
- March 6, 2023
Jack Topper ’23 interned at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where he worked on a neural network that predicts flux ropes caused by the sun’s eruptions.