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The Concentration in Scientific Computing

Many disciplines in the natural and social sciences include a significant sub-discipline that is explicitly computational. Examples include astronomy, biology, chemistry, economics, and physics. In some fields, such as biology, the use of computation has become so widespread that basic literacy in computation is increasingly important and may soon become required. The concentration in scientific computing gives students an opportunity to develop a basic facility with the tools and concepts involved in applying computation to a scientific problem, and to explore the specific computational aspects of their own major disciplines.

Three of the six courses required for the concentration focus on general issues of computing (see Requirements A and B below): one is an introduction to computer science and programming, and the other two focus on the use of computation in a broad range of scientific disciplines. Students choose the remaining three courses from a list of electives (see Requirement C), using at least two to connect their computational work with their major (recall that 2-3 courses for a concentration must also count toward the student's major). Finally, the student must also complete a project-based experience, possibly during the completion of one of the courses (Requirement D).

Given the abundance of math, physics, and computer science courses listed under Requirement C, students with these majors should have no problem choosing courses (though one of the coordinators of the concentration should be consulted during this selection). Example "Requirement C" tracks for majors in astronomy, biology, chemistry, and economics are available, but a student may of course choose other courses (in consultation with one of the coordinators).

Coordinators for 2008-2009:

Concentration Requirements:

The concentration in scientific computing consists of six courses selected from the following list and approved by the student's concentration advisor. (Note: As per College rules, the CSC consists of 6 required courses. Of these 6 courses, 2-3 count toward both the student’s major and concentration. Students may not count among the 32 course credits required for graduation any course that substantially repeats the content of another course already completed, even though the course numbers may suggest an advancing sequence. For example, both introductory computer science courses, CS H105 and CS B110, cannot be taken for credit.)

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Computer Science Department, Haverford College.
Last Modified: 03/25/2008 11:49:12