Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Computer science is a dynamic, versatile eld, full of open problems and opportunities for
creative invention. The concentration in computer science is designed to teach students
skills they will use immediately and ideas they will exploit in the future in ways
unimaginable today. Because information technology affects every aspect of society,
graduates with computer science degrees have open to them an enormous variety of
careersengineering, teaching, medicine, law, basic science, entertainment, management,
and countless others.
Computer scientists must know basic mathematics, the lingua franca of all the
quantitative sciences; they must understand the abstract models that describe universal
computational phenomena; and they must know how computers are designed,
programmed, and used. Concentration requirements are intended to ensure balanced
programs with emphasis on subjects that will endure through rapid technological change.
At the same time, therequirements are exible and permit students to choose courses
that reect their individual interests.
Students are advised to obtain the needed mathematical background early in their
careers. Computer Science 50 serves as the introductory course in computer science;
ideally prospective concentrators will take this course freshman year, but it is quite
possible to take Computer Science 50 during the sophomore year and still complete the
honors-eligible program. The Computer Science concentration is administered by the
Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and it is particularly easy to move
into Computer Science from the other SEAS concentrationsApplied Mathematics and
areas of Engineering.
The Computer Science concentration has the following learning objectives. Our graduates
should be able to:
REQUIREMENTS
There are four types of concentrations in Computer Science: Basic concentration, Honors
Concentration, Joint Concentration, and the Mind, Brain, Behavior track of the Computer
Science concentration.
The number of credits required for each degree depends on the students mathematics
placement. The ranges given here depend on whether the student starts mathematics at
the Mathematics 1a, Mathematics 1b, or Mathematics 21a level. (With good planning it is
also possible to earn a Computer Science degree starting with Mathematics Ma.) For
example, a basic concentration requires 48 credits (12 courses), of which Mathematics
1a and/or Mathematics 1b can be waived, depending on placement, to reduce the number
to 44 or 40 credits (11 or 10 courses). No student may reduce concentration requirements
by omitting other courses: any required course not taken must be replaced by a similar
course at a more advanced level.
The four concentration options share a common requirement structure, which is part
Required and part Elective.
Required
Basic mathematics
Basic software
Theory
Elective
1. Required courses:
1. Basic mathematics (2-4 courses):
1. 1. Mathematics 1a and Mathematics 1b, if needed as preparation.
2. Multivariable calculus: Mathematics 21a, Applied Mathematics
21a, Mathematics 23b, Mathematics 25b, or Mathematics 55b.
3. Linear algebra: Mathematics 21b, Applied Mathematics 21b,
Mathematics 23a, Mathematics 25a, or Mathematics 55a.
Students usually take two courses with the same number in the
natural sequence, but any combination is permitted, as long as it
includes both a multivariable calculus and a linear algebra course.
For example, it would be appropriate to take Mathematics 23a and
Mathematics 21a, but it would not be appropriate to take
Mathematics 21a and Applied Mathematics 21a. Students who feel
they have background equivalent to Mathematics 21a and/or
Mathematics 21b prior to matriculation may, with prior
consultation, substitute more advanced analysis and/or algebra
courses, respectively.
2. Basic software (2 courses):Two out of the following three courses: Computer
Science 50,Computer Science 51, and Computer Science 61. Since Computer
Science 50 is a prerequisite for both Computer Science 51 and Computer
Science 61, students who skip Computer Science 50 must take both Computer
Science 51 and Computer Science 61. Students who take Computer Science
50 need take only one or the other.
3. Theory (2 courses): Either Computer Science 121 or Computer Science 125,
plus any one additional theory course, including Computer Science courses
numbered in the 120s and 220s. Applied Mathematics 106, and Applied
Mathematics 107.Students may not receive credit for both Computer Science
125 and either Computer Science 121 or Computer Science 124.
4. Technical electives (4 courses):Courses may be drawn from the following list:
Computer Science courses numbered greater than 50 (including 91r). A
student who takes all three of Computer Science 50, Computer Science
51, and Computer Science 61 may count either Computer Science 51 or
Computer Science 61 as a technical elective.
Statistics 110
Mathematics 154
Applied Mathematics 106, 107, 120, and 121
Engineering Sciences 50 or Engineering Sciences 52
Manybut not allMIT Course 6 courses can be used as technical
electives. Consult the DUS before enrolling.
Breadth Requirement:In order to ensure breadth in the program two of
the four technical electives must be Computer Science courses from
different course groupings, identied by the penultimate digit of the
course number. For example, Computer Science 61 and Computer
Science 165 have penultimate digit 6.Physics 123 or Engineering
Sciences 153 counts as a Computer Science hardware (penultimate digit
4) course.
3: Economics and Computation
4: Hardware and Networks
5: Programming Languages
6: Systems
7: Graphics, Visualization, and User Interfaces
8: Articial Intelligence
Note that theory courses (penultimate digit 2) do not count toward the
breadth requirement.
1. Required courses:
1. Basic mathematics (2-4 courses):Same as Basic Requirements. Note: for the
Honors requirements, students who start with Mathematics 1a may not
replace Mathematics 21a with Computer Science 20.
2. Basic software (2 courses):Same asBasic Requirements.
3. Theory (2 courses):Same asBasic Requirements.
4. Technical electives (6 courses):Courses may be drawn from the following list:
Computer Science courses numbered greater than 50 (including 91r).
Note that a student who takes all three of Computer Science 50,
Computer Science 51, and Computer Science 61 may count either
Computer Science 51 or Computer Science 61 as a technical elective.
Statistics 110
Mathematics 154
Applied Mathematics 106, 107, 120, and 121
Engineering Sciences 50 or Engineering Sciences 52
Manybut not allMIT Course 6 courses can be used as technical
electives. Consult the DUS before enrolling.
Breadth Requirement:
In order to ensure breadth in the program, three of the six technical electives
must be Computer Science courses from different course groupings identied
by the penultimate digit of the course number. For example, Computer Science
61 and Computer Science 165 both have penultimate digit 6.Physics 123 or
Engineering Sciences 153 counts as a Computer Science hardware
(penultimate digit 4) course.
3: Economics and Computation
4: Hardware and Networks
5: Programming Languages
6: Systems
7: Graphics, Visualization, and User Interfaces
8: Articial Intelligence
Note that theory courses (penultimate digit 2) do not count toward the breadth
requirement.
Computer Science courses with penultimate digit 0, 1, and 2 are valid technical
electives, but do not contribute to the breadth requirement. However, no
Computer Science course numbered less than 20 may be used in a
concentration program, and Computer Science 20 only in honors programs.
Requirements for Joint Concentrations: 36-44 credits for CS eld (9-11 courses for CS
eld)
Joint concentrations with certain other elds are possible. This option is intended for
students who have interests in the intersection of two elds, not simply in the two elds
independently; for example, a combined concentration in computer science and
linguistics might be appropriate for a student with a special interest in computational
linguistics. Course requirements are the same as for the Requirements for Honors
Eligibility, except that only three technical electives are required. These three technical
electives must satisfy the breadth requirement as stated in 1D, with the further provision
that one semester of Computer Science 91r may be used to satisfy the breadth
requirement for joint concentrations. Such courses may also be double-counted towards
the requirements of the other eld. Joint concentrations are not double majors. Joint
concentrators should be interested in the overlap between two elds, not simply in both. A
thesis in the intersection of the elds is required for joint concentrators, read by both
concentrations. The student is typically awarded the minimum honors recommended by
the two concentrations separately. These requirements, including the thesis requirement,
are the same whether Computer Science is the primary eld or the allied eld of the joint
concentration. Students interested in combined programs should consult the Director of
Undergraduate Studies at an early date and should work carefully with both
concentrations to ensure all deadlines and requirements of both concentrations are met.
Students with separate interests in more than one eld should consider a secondary
rather than a joint concentration, or simply using some of their electives to study one of
the elds.
Statistics 110 or Computer Science 124 replaces the second theory course.
Statistics 110 is an option for the theory requirement only in the MBB track.
In item 1d, the six courses comprise:
MCB 80,
one approved biology or psychology course,
an approved MBB junior tutorial,
Computer Science 181 or 182,
and two courses from different course groupings, identied by the
penultimate digit of the course number (3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Group 8 is not
an option for the breadth requirement in MBB programs, but
Computer Science 91r may also be used to satisfy the breadth
requirement. (SLS 20 is not an approved course for the Computer
Science MBB track.)
In item 3, a computationally-oriented thesis on a Mind, Brain, and Behavior-related
topic is required. Students pursuing thesis research may want to enroll in Computer
Science 91r under item 1d.
Students pursuing the Mind, Brain, and Behavior track are assigned an adviser in the eld
and are expected to participate in the University-wide Mind, Brain, and Behavior research
milieu, including a non-credit senior year seminar for Mind, Brain, and Behavior thesis
writers. To participate in the MBB track, students must both complete the Computer
Science concentration Plan of Study and register at the beginning of every academic year
onthe MBB website. Interested students should contact the Computer Science liaison to
the MBB program, Professor Stuart Shieber (shieber@seas.harvard.edu).
ADVISING
Students interested in computer science are invited to join the mailing list for the
Computer Science Newsletter, which carries announcements of new courses, colloquia,
job and internship opportunities, and a variety of get-togethers for the Harvard computer
science community. Information about the newsletter and other community resources
can be found onthe Computer Science website.
For further information, students should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies,
(cs-dus@seas.harvard.edu).
ENROLLMENT STATISTICS
Number of Concentrators as of December
Concentrators 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Computer Science +
4 7 10 13 17 22 32 42 47
another eld
Another eld +
4 8 10 15 7 18 21 24 25
Computer Science