About CS

Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.
John Dewey

We live in an age of rapidly expanding technology. Harnessing the power and potential of complex thinking machines demands an "audacity of imagination'' from those who will direct the course of new generations of computer innovation.

The student who masters the tools and absorbs the experience of a computer science education at Trinity holds the reins to a bright and challenging future.

What Is Computer Science?

Computer science is a broad discipline that employs a variety of approaches in an effort to advance our understanding and use of computing. Study in computer science can range from mathematical work aimed at understanding the theoretical and practical limits of what can be computed, to experimental work aimed at understanding the functioning of existing computing languages and systems, to design work aimed at building algorithms and computer systems that help people solve problems.

Computer Science at Trinity is a small, cohesive department offering a close working relationship between faculty and students, both in and out of the classroom. The department has been able to react quickly to the latest developments in computer technology by introducing new languages and systems in both elementary and advanced classes. Students in computer science classes have numerous opportunities for developing Internet skills and have access to state-of-the-art workstations.

In classes, internships, and research projects Computer Science majors design systems, solve problems, determine and address sophisticated communication needs and processes, and, in general, explore the world of computer science from the platform of a liberal arts education.

In addition to being well educated in the practical and theoretical aspects of computing, the Computer Science major at Trinity learns to be an effective communicator. In fact, this is a focus of the Computer Science Seminar for seniors. Verbal and written communication skills complement the mental discipline and scientific expertise required of professionals in this field, and serve graduates well in their chosen careers.

True to the overall mission of a liberal arts institution like Trinity, the faculty is principally concerned with teaching. Yet they are at the same time active researchers in such areas as artificial intelligence, distributed computing, and computing theory, and are open to collaborative research efforts with interested students.

For example, Eric Akstin, now a Trinity graduate, was introduced to computer science in his first year as an interdisciplinary science student. Working with computer science professors Ralph Morelli and Ralph Walde, and biology professor Craig Schneider, Eric developed computer graphics models of algae, which were presented at Trinity's undergraduate science symposium. This resulted eventually in a scholarly article describing their collaborative work in The Journal of Theoretical Biology.

Prospects For Success

Computer Science majors leaving Trinity command immediate positions of substance, earning power and advancement potential in business and industry. Graduates are equally well prepared to pursue paths of continued study in computer science and a broad spectrum of other fields. In recent classes, eight of ten graduates have chosen employment in industries that appreciate and reward the dual emphasis on practical application and theoretical understanding represented by Trinity's Computer Science degree. Other alumni pursue graduate studies, from computer science to business administration to law. The thorough and well-rounded education they received at Trinity prepared these graduates for challenging and rewarding careers, and placed them in the forefront of technological opportunity.

Computer Science Curriculum

Computer Science majors at Trinity follow a flexible curriculum in which they are challenged to incorporate computer studies with the broadening influence of other disciplines. Students acquire problem-solving, reasoning, and design skills that can be useful on a wider scale, from the natural and social sciences to the creative arts.

Requirements For The Major

The Computer Science major requirements are 13 courses, consisting of one year of calculus, and 11 courses from the following list (required courses are indicated by an asterisk):

• *Introduction to Computing
• *Data Structures and Algorithms
• *Mathematical Foundations of Computing
• Theory of Computation
• Machine Organization and Assembly Language
• Foundations of Programming Languages
• Analysis of Algorithms
• Graphical Software: Design and Implementation
• Systems Software
• Artificial Intelligence
• Distributed Computing
• Database Fundamentals
• Special Topics in Computing
• Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
• Numerical Analysis
• *Computer Science Seminar

Degree Options include:

• B.A. or B.S. in Computer Science
• Master's degrees in Computer Science & Engineering, a five-year combined program offered between Trinity and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute through Rensselaer at Hartford, leading to bachelor's and master's degrees in Computer Science
• Honors Program in Computer Science requiring two semesters of research in computer science concurrent with the Computer Science Seminar

Flexibility is a benchmark of Computer Science at Trinity, and opportunities exist for combining computer science with other disciplines through Computer Coordinate Major, designed for students who seek to combine an interest in computers with the traditional disciplines offered by other departments

Internships And Work-Study Positions

Internships have been developed between Trinity and a number of local and regional companies and organizations, including United Technologies Research Center, Aetna Life & Casualty, The Travelers Companies, the Institute of Living and the University of Connecticut Health Center. Positions are made available for participation during the academic year or over the summer.

There are also work-study opportunities for Computer Science majors in related areas of endeavor, as well as a limited number of funded research assistant positions. Many Computer Science majors further their knowledge and gain practical experience through computer-related on-campus jobs.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

The Computer Science Department is housed in the Mathematics, Computing, and Engineering Center (MCEC), which provides a comfortable and fertile environment for instruction and research. Computer laboratories at Trinity offer students 24-hour access to state-of-the-art hardware and software, with low student-to-workstation ratios. From Linux workstations to PCs and Macintosh computers, Trinity's computing facilities represent the cutting edge of modern technological innovation.

In addition, the departement has two dedicated parallel computers for teaching and research in high-performance computing: a cluster of 9 Alphaservers and a cluster of 20 Sun Ultra workstations. Both systems are connected via high-speed network switches which make them suitable for numerically intensive applications.

As part of Trinity's comprehensive commitment to computer access for all students, every dormitory room at the College is wired for direct computer networking, offering links to other students, to the CTW library system, as well as to the campus-wide Local Area Network, and, through the College's subscription, to the Internet international computer network and the World Wide Web.

Location

Trinity is located in the Northeastern corridor, a focus of high-tech industry and application. Not only does Trinity offer traditional links to a diverse range of companies and scientific organizations in the Hartford area, but also convenient access to the vast resources and opportunities in the Northeast. In the era of the Internet, however, geography for the computer science student is becoming less relevant than the links he or she has to the universe of computer networks, and students at Trinity have that universe right at their fingertips.