Computer science --- what
is it?
Computer science is a discipline that involves
the understanding and design of computers and computational processes... Particular interest is placed on making processes efficient and endowing them with some form of
intelligence. The discipline ranges from theoretical studies of algorithms to practical problems of implementation in terms of computational hardware and software....In computer science there is an inherent intermingling of the theoretical concepts of computability and algorithmic
efficiency with the modern practical advancements in electronics that continue to stimulate advances in the discipline. It is this close interaction of the theoretical and
design aspects of the field that binds them together into a single discipline.
--from Computer Science: The Profession (CSAB)
Computer science is a scientific discipline that
focuses on the theoretical aspects of improving computers and
computer software.
--from Webster's New World Computing Dictionary
Computer science at
Stonehill-- what is it?
Here, we have two definitions of computer
science: one somewhat technical, the other quite simple.
Nonetheless, both emphasize theoretical foundations coupled with hardware and software design. The curriculum at
Stonehill reflects this blend of theory and practice. At
Stonehill, computer science courses fall roughly into
three overlapping categories: computer theory, computer architecture
(hardware), and computer software.
Courses in computer theory
provide
the foundation for tomorrow's technology. Under the rubric of
theory, students study theoretical topics like " computability,"
"finite state machines," and "graph theory" as well as
the design and analysis of algorithms.
The architecture sequence
consists of several courses which explore the computer "under the
hood." In one such course, students design their own
small computers using a bit of mathematical theory. Architecture
courses allow students to understand computer hardware from both the engineer's and the programmer's
point of view.
The software
component of the curriculum begins with elementary computer programming and progresses to more advanced
topics like database management systems, artificial intelligence, and operating
systems. In the final capstone course, seniors, working in
teams, develop large software systems using the principles of
software engineering.
Through problem solving and
lab work, computer science majors develop an understanding of each of these
subject areas
as well as the strong relationships among them. This balanced mix of theory and application, provides
graduates with the
requisite background for both entry into the computer profession and further graduate
study in computer science.
Stonehill
computer science team
takes first place at CCSNE programming competition.
Read more
Read the recent
article about the CS Department in the Alumni Magazine
Read the recent
article about the CS Major and chess champion Jesse Suero in the Alumni Magazine
Stonehill Senior Wins
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
From more than 9000
applicants, the National Science Foundation recently awarded 1021
graduate research fellowships, including 77 including in computer
science. Read more
Stonehill
Receives Clare Boothe Luce Grant for CS Scholarships
The The Henry Luce
Foundation recently awarded Stonehill College a grant of $101,224
designated for computer science scholarships. This grant, which is
part of the Clare Boothe Luce Program, will fund for two
undergraduate scholarships for highly qualified female students who are
computer science majors. Stonehill is one of only eighteen colleges and
universities selected by the Clare Boothe Luce Program for awards in
2001.
Read more.
Stonehill Professors
receive 158K grant from the National Science Foundation
Professors Ralph Bravaco and
Shai Simonson, both of the Department of
Computer Science, have received notification from the National Science
Foundation that their Teacher Enhancement proposal, Java and Object
Oriented Design: Professional
Development for Secondary School Computer Science Teachers, has
received funding. The grant
of $158,368 will provide a series of workshops for secondary school
teachers of computer science over a two-year period.
The topic of the workshops will be Java and Object Oriented
Programming. In addition to serving a core group of
twenty-five local high school teachers, the project will feature a
regional conference and the development and dissemination of
instructional materials. Read more about the program
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