Courses

This course will introduce you to computer programming and the design of algorithms. By writing programs to solve problems in areas such as image processing, text processing, and simple games, you will learn about recursive and iterative algorithms, complexity analysis, graphics, data representation, software engineering, and object-oriented design. No previous programming experience is necessary.

In this hands-on course, taught (in an art studio) by a sculpture professor and computer science professor, we'll explore and create interactive three dimensional art. Using basic construction techniques, microprocessors, and programming, this class brings together sculpture, engineering, computer science, and aesthetic design. Students will engage the nuts and bolts of fabrication, learn to program microcontrollers, and study the design of interactive constructions. Collaborative labs and individual projects will culminate in a campus-wide exhibition. No prior building experience is required. Not open to students who have taken previous offering of Art, Interactivity and Robotics.

In this hands-on course, taught (in an art studio) by a sculpture professor and computer science professor, we'll explore and create interactive three dimensional art. Using basic construction techniques, microprocessors, and programming, we bring together sculpture, engineering, computer science, and aesthetic design. Students engage the nuts and bolts of fabrication, learn to program microcontrollers, and study the design of interactive constructions. Additionally, students will deliver technical presentations describing their work and receive feedback for improvement. Collaborative labs and individual projects culminate in a campus-wide exhibition. No prior building experience is required.

Students will begin the first steps of building an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). Using an open-source project as a guide, students will explore and apply various skills needed to create an AUV from the ground up. This work will prepare students for a summer research project in which they will continue building and adding functionality to the AUV. Students will meet weekly with the faculty supervisor and submit weekly summaries of material read and work completed. By the end of the term, they will have acquired both Engineering and Computer Science skills needed to begin their summer work.

What makes computers computers? Are computers defined by their existing functionalities, future capabilities, individual components, or something else? Are there inherent risks to the technologies we surround ourselves with, and are there ways we can mitigate those risks to live happier lives? How do we arrive at a ‘true’ interpretation of data, and does its presentation and visualization matter?

By peering into the black-box of everyday technologies alongside the philosophical discussions they engender, we will investigate the fundamental questions computing technologies and its mind-bending pace of advancement are posing in our lives, communities, and society. Technical communication is emphasized through student-led discussions, project pages for written and visual communication, and presentations.

Scientific simulations, movies, and video games often incorporate computer-generated images of fictitious worlds. How are these worlds represented inside a computer? How are they “photographed” to produce the images that we see? What performance constraints and design trade-offs come into play? In this course we learn the basic theory and methodology of three-dimensional computer graphics, including both triangle rasterization and ray tracing. Familiarity with vectors and matrices is recommended but not required.

Though the wealth of data surrounding us can be overwhelming, we have evolved incredible tools for finding patterns in large amounts of information: our eyes! Data visualization is concerned with turning information into pictures to better communicate patterns or discover new insights, drawing from computer graphics, human-computer interaction, design, and perceptual psychology. In this junior seminar, we will learn different ways in which data can be expressed visually and which methods work best for which tasks, with a particular focus on technical communication. Using this knowledge, we will critique existing visualizations as well as design and build new ones.

Have you ever wondered how a robotic vacuum is able to navigate back to its charger after cleaning? In this course we will explore concepts of robotic systems including: kinematics, sensors and perception, path planning, and control. In addition to learning the theory behind these topics, students will have the opportunity to design, program, and deploy behaviors for a mobile robot. This course emphasizes technical communication, including both writing and speaking components.

The Internet is composed of a large number of heterogeneous, independently-operating computer networks that work together to transport data all over the world. The fact that it does this so well given its complexity is a minor miracle. We’ll study the structure of these individual networks, of smaller-scale local networks, and of the Internet, and learn how this “magic” takes place. Topics include protocols, routing, security, network architecture, and performance measurement along with economic, ethical, and privacy issues. Students will develop technical communication skills in writing and oral presentations through several network analysis projects.

Database systems are used in almost every aspect of computing, including managing data for websites and apps, but also large-scale data science archives. Why, and how? This course takes a multi-pronged approach. From a systems perspective, we will look at the low-level details of how a database system works internally, studying data storage, indexing, and query optimization. From a theory perspective, we will examine ideas such as normal forms and relational algebra. From a utilization perspective, we will look at how query languages such as SQL interface with the database system, and understand how SQL queries really work.

Computational models have become a fundamental part of how we make sense of the world, doing everything from economic forecasting to simulating the birth of the universe. But we need to understand how to use models effectively. In this class we’ll explore computational models used across many disciplines, including: agent-based models to prevent forest fires, compartmental models to protect endangered species, N-body models to track the spread of germs from a sneeze, and more. We’ll learn about what problems are (and are not) suited for computational modeling and engage with extensive datasets to evaluate and refine models for practical use.

We are building a tool to facilitate the visual comparison of clonal trees (which represent the evolutionary history of a tumor). This term, I'll be giving a short talk at GLBIO. I will also be mainly working on documentation and preparing our code base to be able to be passed on.

As part of their senior capstone experience, majors will work together in teams (typically four to seven students per team) on faculty-specified topics to design and implement the first stage of a project. Required of all senior majors. Students are strongly encouraged to complete CS 252 and CS 257 before starting CS 399.