student talking to professor in computer lab

Computer Science

Hospitals. Schools. The military. Netflix. Amazon. Facebook. What do they have in common? They all employ computer scientists. Whatever your passion—whatever kind of work you want to do with your life and wherever you want to do it—a degree in Computer Science from McDaniel can help get you there.

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Degree Types

Major , Minor

Institution

Complementary Programs

Physics

Mathematics

Heart

Distinctive Requirements

Senior Project

We’re not exaggerating. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 58% of all new jobs in STEM fields are in computer science. And with multiple major and minor options at McDaniel, you’ll be well prepared for graduate school and the workforce when you graduate.

Computer science is the study of problem solving using algorithms. It encompasses a variety of topics, some of which overlap with disciplines of mathematics, logic, linguistics, philosophy, and engineering. True to the liberal arts tradition of the college, the computer science program emphasizes fundamental aspects of the discipline that develop critical thinking. It provides a solid foundation for graduate studies or a career in software development.

All About Algorithms

The major in computer science is designed to present students with the concept of an algorithm on four different levels. The Discrete Mathematics course provides a mathematical foundation for the study of this concept. The notion of algorithm first appears in The Art of Programming course, where algorithms are expressed in a language understandable by computers. The Computer Organization course addresses the way programs are internally processed by the machines. The Data Structures and Algorithms courses advance from programs in a specific programming language to a more general paradigm of a language-independent algorithm on abstract data structures. The Theory of Computation course concludes the required sequence with a general discussion of what an abstract computing device is and what classes of problems can and cannot be solved algorithmically. The electives are designed to provide exposure to some of the areas of computer science not presented in the required sequence and to introduce students to the research interests of the individual faculty members.

The minor in Computer Science is designed for students who want to supplement their major area of specialization with a strong set of computer skills that might be useful in their major. The minor is less mathematically demanding than the major.

Student on computer outside of Budapest campus.

Future Career Paths

Graduates of the Mathematics & Computer Science department distinguish themselves by acceptance into some of the finest graduate programs in the country, including:

Brandeis
Cornell
Harvard
Johns Hopkins
Michigan
North Carolina State
SUNY at Stony Brook
U. of California at Berkeley
U. of Maryland
U. of Michigan
U. of Pennsylvania
U. of Texas at Austin
U. of Virginia
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Washington at St. Louis

Frequently our graduates return to discuss career opportunities in mathematics and computer science at annual Career Nights. In the last few years, graduates with the following positions have been back on campus:

Mathematician, Pentagon
Systems engineer, EDS
Cartographer, Defense Mapping Agency
Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Senior programmer/analyst, Sentient HealthCare
NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Vice President, Dean Witter Reynolds
Chief, Computer Science Division, Department of Defense (NSA)
Senior Computer Programmer, National Geographic Society
Senior Accountant, Homewood Hospital Center
Programming Analyst, Datatel Corporation

Distinctive Courses

An introduction to the use of algorithms for problem solving. The course will focus on finding algorithmic solutions for a given problem and expressing these solutions in a programming language. This course includes a laboratory.

This course studies the abstract models of machines and languages recognized by them, and introduces the concept of computability. This course not only serves as the theoretical foundation of computer science, but also has wide application to programming languages linguistics, natural language processing, compiler design, and software design. Topics include finite automata and regular languages, pushdown automata and context-free grammars, grammar transformations and normal forms, Turing machines and computable functions, and unsolvable problems including the halting problem.

A study of software development models, requirements specification, and GUI design. Student will propose, design, implement, test, and document a substantial application or write a thesis containing original work in theoretical computer science. Projects and theses will be presented in class.

See More Courses

Computer Science Major Courses Computer Science – Mathematics Dual Major Computer Science Major with Education Minor Computer Science Minor

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Department Faculty

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Special Opportunities

You can major or minor in Computer Science, double major in Mathematics & Computer Science, or pursue a Computer Science major with an Education minor.