Computer Science

Converse’s small student-to-faculty ratio allows classes to be tailored to the interests and abilities of each student. Our instruction strikes a balance between hands-on practice, how things are done today, and foundational concepts which will continue to inform how things are done tomorrow in this fast-changing field.

Our Computer Science students develop the ethos and practice of continued learning needed for sustainable success in the highly dynamic world of computing. Solving real-world problems is a consistent focus throughout Converse’s Computer Science curriculum, so our graduates arrive in the workplace experienced with how to address issues that extend beyond the classroom.

Computer Science at Converse offers motivated students rich opportunities for taking part in original research. These experiences give students an understanding of real-world computing challenges that classwork alone cannot match.

Student Achievements

• Computer-science minors Gretchen Marlow ‘18 and Alex Schlesener ‘18 built the first site on the World Wide Web for assisting American Sign Language students with finding the meaning of an unfamiliar sign.
• A team of students built a visualization tool for organic chemistry reactions that we currently use to teach Converse’s organic-chemistry sequence.
• Haley Cromer ’20 worked on tools that use sound and kinesthetics to assist students who are blind or visually impaired in programming computer graphics.

BS in Computer Science Requirements

Required courses: 26 hours
CSC 201 Introduction to Computer Programming 4 hours
CSC 202 Data Structures 4 hours
CSC 203 Algorithm Design 3 hours
MTH 205 Discrete Mathematics 3 hours
CSC 321 Essential Architecture I 3 hours
CSC 322 Essential Architectures II 3 hours
CSC 392 Software Development 3 hours
CSC 492 Computer Science Capstone 3 hours

Five electives: 15-17 hours
CSC courses numbered above 210

No more than one of the following:
MTH 117 Data Science I
MTH 118 Data Science II

No more than one course from the calculus sequence:
MTH 120 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
MTH 210 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
MTH 220 Calculus and Analytic Geometry III

No more than one MTH course numbered above 300

No more than one of the following statistics courses:
MTH 113 Introduction to Statistics
ECN 300 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
PSY 311 Statistics and Experimental Design II
POL 303 Social Statistics

Total hours for the B.S. in Computer Science: 41-43 hours

Computer Science Minor

Using computers to solve general problems requires programming. Accordingly, the computer science minor sequence begins with two courses on programming and the principles that shape it. The other prescribed course in the minor is database design, which is essential to data science and to a great deal of business programming.

Beyond those three courses, you are free to choose three more electives from a wide variety of CSC courses, as well as discrete mathematics and statistics. The minor consists of 20 credit hours.

View the Computer Science Minor requirements.

Course Offerings & Academic Catalogs

A Computer Science foundation is an asset in a wide variety of fields. Converse graduates who studied computer science have gone on to careers and graduate studies in a wide variety of areas, including:

• English
• Mathematics
• Operations research
• Digital production arts
• Software
• Information technology
• Banking and finance
• Business