Program

Overview
Degrees
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Overview

Computer science is the study of computation and information and their implementation in computer systems.  There are many different parts to this problem, and each leads to an entire subfield.  For example,  programming language theory examines how best to describe computations whereas aritificial intelligence is concerned with building computers that mimic the intelligence of humans and other animals.

 The Computer Science Program at Bard offers three standard ways to enter the program.

• CMSC 110-119 Introduction to Computing (Great Ideas in Computing, Robotics, Simulating Reality, Semantic Web) is a course for the student with little or no background in computer programming.  The are many variants of the course, each of which has a different emphasis.  All of the courses introduce students to the fundamentals of designing algorithms in the context of applications of real-world computing.  For example, Introduction to Computing: Robotics engages students in programming small mobile robots.  Students with advanced placement would place out of this course.
  
• CMSC 141 Object-Oriented Programming in intended for students who understand the basic control structures and data types.  This course introduces more advanced software design using principles of object-oriented programming.  Students with advanced placement may place out of this course.
• CMSC 201 Data Structures introduces students to more formal elements of comptuer science, including algorithm analysis and numerous data structures.  After taking this course, students can go on to take almost any other course in the curriculum.