Computer Science
Students may complete a major or minor in Computer Science.
Computer Science is about the science of algorithms (theory, analysis, design and implementation) as well the design and implementation of computer systems. It is an interdisciplinary field with roots in mathematics and engineering and applications in many other academic disciplines.
The Computer Science Department is supported jointly by faculty at both Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges. The department welcomes students who wish to pursue a major in Computer Science. Additionally, the department also offers a minor in Computer Science. Students can further specialize their majors by selecting elective courses that focus on specific disciplinary tracks or pathways within the discipline.
The curriculum emphasizes foundations and basic principles of information science with the goal of providing students with skills that transcend short-term trends in computer hardware and software.
Major in Computer Science
Students must prepare a major course plan in consultation with their academic adviser in Computer Science. The requirements for a major in computer science are:
Three introductory courses:
- CMSC B109 (or CMSC H105A / CMSC H105B) Introduction to Computing, or CMSC B113 Computer Science I
- CMSC B151 (or CMSC H106 or CMSC H107) Data Structures
- CMSC B231/MATH H231: Discrete Mathematics
Four core courses:
- 200-level systems
- Any one of
- Designated theory course (writing intensive)
- CMSC B340 Analysis of Algorithms
- Any one of the 300-level systems courses
Four Electives in Computer Science:
- At least three must be 300-level or above
Senior Capstone Experience
- CMSC B399 Senior Conference
The Major requires students to take a total of eleven courses and CMSC B399 Senior Conference. If a student places out of a course (for instance an introductory course), another CS course must be substituted in its place from the Electives category. Please also take note of our outside credit transfer policy.
Note that CMSC H340 does not fulfill the writing requirement of the college and cannot be used in place of CMSC B340. All requirements must be completed with merit grades while some requirements must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.7. In particular, grades of 2.7 or above in CMSC B151 (CMSC H106) and CMSC B231 (CMSC H231) are required to declare a CS major.
Students declaring a CS major need to have completed at least three courses in computer science by the end of their sophomore year, typically: CMSC B109 / CMSC B113 (CMSC H105), CMSC B151 (CMSC H106) and CMSC B231 (CMSC H231).
Minor in Computer Science
Students in any major are encouraged to complete a minor in computer science. The requirements for a minor in computer science at Bryn Mawr are (Haverford equivalents are not listed, please see major requirements): CMSC B109/CMSC B113, CMSC B151 and CMSC B231, any two of CMSC B223, CMSC B240, CMSC B260, CMSC B340 or CMSC B355, and one elective chosen from any course in computer science, approved by the student's adviser in computer science. All requirements must be completed with merit grades. Any course taken CR/NCR cannot be used to fulfill CS minor requirements. The Minor requires students to take a total of six courses. If a student places out of a course (for instance an introductory course), another CS course must be substituted in its place from the Electives category.
CMSC B109 Introduction to Computing (1 Unit)
The course is an introduction to computing: how we can describe and solve problems using a computer. Students will learn how to write algorithms, manipulate data, and design programs to make computers useful tools as well as mediums of creativity. Contemporary, diverse examples of computing in a modern context will be used, with particular focus on graphics and visual media. The Processing/Java programming language will be used in lectures, class examples and weekly programming projects, where students will learn and master fundamental computer programming principles. Students are required to register for the weekly lab. Prerequisites: Must pass either the Quantitative Readiness Assessment or the Quantitative Seminar (QUAN B001).
CMSC B113 Computer Science I (1 Unit)
This is an introduction to the discipline of computer science, suitable for those students with a mature quantitative ability. This fast-paced course covers the basics of computer programming, with an emphasis on program design, problem decomposition, and object-oriented programming in Java. Graduates of this course will be able to write small computer programs independently; examples include data processing for a data-based science course, small games, or estimating likelihood of probabilistic events, etc.. No computer programming experience is necessary or expected. Students are required to register for a weekly lab.
CMSC B151 Introduction to Data Structures (1 Unit)
Introduction to the fundamental algorithms and data structures using Java. Topics include: Object-Oriented programming, program design, fundamental data structures and complexity analysis. In particular, searching, sorting, the design and implementation of linked lists, stacks, queues, trees and hash maps and all corresponding complexity analysis. In addition, students will also become familiar with Java's built-in data structures and how to use them, and acquire competency using a debugger. Students must also register for the weekly lab. Prerequisites: CMSC B109 or CMSC B113 or CMSC H105, or permission of instructor.
CMSC B223 Systems Programming (1 Unit)
Systems programming provides a foundation for the implementation of programs and toolkits that serve as infrastructure for other software, such as compilers, operating systems, networking APIs, and graphics engines. Topics include pointers, bit representations of data, x86_64 assembly, memory management, processes, and threads. In this class, students will gain hands-on experience implementing low-level algorithms and data structures using C. Furthermore, students will build technical skills related to makefiles, interactive debugging, version control, and command-line shell interaction. C++ and STL will be introduced at the end of the course.. Students must register for the weekly lab. NOTE: CMSC B223 and CMSC H251 cover overlapping material and students may not take both. Prerequisites: CMSC B151 or CMSC H106 or CMSC H107, and CMSC B231 or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231..
CMSC B231 Discrete Mathematics (1 Unit)
CMSC B240 Principles of Computer Organization (1 Unit)
A lecture/laboratory course studying the hierarchical design of modern digital computers. Combinatorial and sequential logic elements; construction of microprocessors; instruction sets; assembly language programming. Lectures cover the theoretical aspects of machine architecture. In the weekly laboratory, designs discussed in lecture are constructed in software. Prerequisite: CMSC B151, or CMSC H106, or CMSC H107, and CMSC B231 or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231.
CMSC B245 Principles of Programming Languages (1 Unit)
An introduction to the study of programming languages. Where do programming languages come from and how do they evolve? And why should a programmer choose one over another? This course explores these topics by covering several different programming language features and paradigms, including object-oriented, functional, and dynamic. It also looks at the history and future of programming languages by studying the active development of several real-world languages. The course has a weekly lab component where students explore several programming languages with hands-on exercises. Prerequisite: CMSC B151 or CMSC H106 or CMSC H107, and CMSC B231 or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231.
CMSC B283 Topics in Computer Science (1 Unit)
CMSC B311 Computational Geometry (1 Unit)
A study of algorithms and mathematical theories that focus on solving geometric problems in computing, which arise naturally from a variety of disciplines such as Computer Graphics, Computer Aided Geometric Design, Computer Vision, Robotics and Visualization. The materials covered sit at the intersection of pure Mathematics and application-driven Computer Science and efforts will be made to accommodate Math majors and Computer Science majors of varying math/computational backgrounds. Topics include: graph theory, triangulation, convex hulls, geometric structures such as Voronoi diagrams and Delaunay triangulations, as well as curves and polyhedra surface topology. Prerequisite: CMSC B151 or CMSC H106 or CMSC H107, and CMSC B231, or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231, or permission of instructor.
CMSC B313 Computer Graphics (1 Unit)
An introduction to the fundamental principles of computer graphics, including 3D modeling, rendering, and animation. Topics cover: 2D and 3D transformations; rendering techniques; geometric algorithms; 3D object models (surface and volume); visible surface algorithms; shading and mapping; ray tracing; and select others. Prerequisites: CMSC B231 or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231, CMSC B246 and MATH B203 or MATH H215, or permission of instructor.
CMSC B317 Computer Animation (1 Unit)
The goal of this course is to give students a foundation for programming animated and interactive graphics. In particular, we will "look under the hood" at the algorithms used by game engines and modeling tools to create authorable, interactive characters and special effects. Labs will give students hands on experience implementing algorithms in C++ as well as opportunities to derive their own unique animations. Topics will include mathematical foundations (coordinate systems, transformations, quaternions), interpolation techniques, keyframing, motion capture and procedural animation, and physically-based systems. Pre-requisites: permission of instructor.
CMSC B325 Computational Linguistics (1 Unit)
Introduction to computational models of understanding and processing human languages. How elements of linguistics, computer science, and artificial intelligence can be combined to help computers process human language and to help linguists understand language through computer models. Topics covered: syntax, semantics, pragmatics, generation and knowledge representation techniques. Prerequisite: CMSC B151 , or CMSC H106 or CMSC H107, and CMSC B231 or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231, or permission of instructor.
CMSC B337 Algorithms: Design and Practice (1 Unit)
This course examines the applications of algorithms to the accomplishments of various programming tasks. The focus will be on understanding of problem-solving methods, along with the construction of algorithms, rather than emphasizing formal proving methodologies. Topics include searching, sorting, search engine indexing, Page Rank, pattern recognition algorithms, decision trees, neural nets, graph algorithms, error correcting codes, data compression, public key cryptography, digital signatures, cryptographic hash functions, etc. Also includes measuring program performance, programing pitfalls, code optimization, etc. This writing intensive course also focuses on student-led class discussions and formal presentations. Prerequisites: CMSC B151 or H106 and CMSC B231 or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231.
CMSC B340 Analysis of Algorithms (1 Unit)
This course will cover qualitative and quantitative analysis of algorithms and their corresponding data structures from a precise mathematical point of view. Topics include: performance bounds, asymptotic and probabilistic analysis, worst case and average case behavior and correctness and complexity. Particular classes of algorithms will be studied in detail. This course fulfills the writing requirement in the major. Prerequisites: CMSC B151, or CMSC H106 or CMSC H107, and CMSC B231, or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231 or permission of instructor.
CMSC B355 Operating Systems (1 Unit)
A practical introduction to modern operating systems, using case studies from UNIX, MSDOS and the Macintosh. Topics include computer and OS structures, process and thread management, process synchronization and communication, resource allocations, memory management, file systems, and select examples in protection and security. This This is a challenging, implementation-oriented course with a strong lab component. Prerequisite: CMSCB223 or CMSC H251
CMSC B373 Artificial Intelligence (1 Unit)
Survey of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the study of how to program computers to behave in ways normally attributed to “intelligence” when observed in humans. Topics include heuristic versus algorithmic programming; cognitive simulation versus machine intelligence; problem-solving; inference; natural language understanding; scene analysis; learning; decision-making. Topics are illustrated by programs from literature, programming projects in appropriate languages and building small robots. Prerequisites: CMSC B151 or CMSC H106 or CMSC H107, and CMSC B231, or CMSC H231 or MATH B231 or MATH H231.
CMSC B383 Recent Advances in Computer Science (1 Unit)
This is a topics course. Course content varies.
CMSC B399 Senior Conference (1 Unit)
Seminar in computer science with regular oral presentations, weekly written reflections, and a final written report. Class discussions of foundational Computer Science research, oral and written presentations of research results will be emphasized. Required for all computer science majors in their senior year.
CMSC B400 Senior Thesis (1 Unit)
Seminar for seniors writing theses, supervised by a member of the Computer Science department. A senior thesis has an expectation of producing new knowledge or advancement in a specific research area, and working with oral and written exposition of advanced material, culminating in a written report. This course is optional and does not fulfill any major/minor requirement.
CMSC B403 Supervised Work/Independent Study (1 Unit)
Students wishing to engage in in-depth study of content not typically covered in a computer science course can engage in this under the guidance of a faculty member. Students should closely consult with a faculty advisor prior to registering for this class. This class does not fulfill any major/minor requirement.