Computer Science
The goal of the Computer Science Department is to prepare students to adapt and excel in an ever-changing field by combining a strong foundation in mathematics, logic, and language with exposure to the latest innovations in technology.
About the Major
The question at the root of computer science is: What can be automated? Hamilton students explore that question through hands-on courses and research. Focusing on both the experimental and theoretical sides of computer science, they also consider the growing place computing has in the modern world. What are the ethical and social risks and benefits of such technology, and how do we manage them?
Students Will Learn To:
- Apply core principles of program execution by developing an assembler
- Demonstrate knowledge of programming language environments by implementing an interpreter
- Solve a given problem by writing an efficient algorithm that uses an appropriate data structure, analyzing its running time, and demonstrating that their algorithm works
- Demonstrate their mastery of appropriate programming constructs in written code
A Sampling of Courses
Computer Architecture
Study of how computers are built. Starting with fundamental logic gates, students will learn how to construct fundamental computational, memory and control components using digital logic. Students study the implementation of arithmetic logic units, processor control and datapath design. Topics will include performance analysis, pipelining, cache design, virtual memory, disk storage, and multicore design. Theory intensive.
Explore these select courses:
Introduction to the theory and implementation of artificial intelligence. This course covers both foundational and modern approaches to AI, and explores a common thread of searching intelligently for solutions. Students will learn to select an appropriate AI representation to solve a problem and empirically analyze the performance of AI systems. Topics include heuristic search, game playing, evolutionary computation, machine learning, and the ethics of artificial intelligence. Programming Intensive.
Meet Our Faculty
the boundary between hardware and software, including program optimization, embedded systems, computer architecture and computer security
genetic programming; evolutionary computation; program synthesis from examples; artificial intelligence; functional programming
computer science; human-computer interaction; accessibility; computer-supported cooperative work; gestural interactions; human subjects research
algorithms and data structures, computational geometry, graph theory, and discrete mathematics
Explore Hamilton Stories
Kim ’23 Applies Comp. Sci. Skills at Tech Startup
For some college students, the jump from classroom to professional work is a daunting one. For Jungwon Kim ’23, the transition into software engineering for a tech startup was not difficult at all — despite it being his first foray into the commercial world.
The existential themes of love, death, and time were explored in the AI-scripted and human-performed musical production Channelers, an interdisciplinary art project funded by the Dietrich Inchworm Grant and headed by Assistant Professor of Digital Arts Anna Huff.
Valencia ’22 Awarded $10,000 Project for Peace Grant
Computer science major Adam Valencia ’22 was awarded a $10,000 Project for Peace grant, which he’ll use this summer to address inequalities in the technology industry.
Careers After Hamilton
Hamilton graduates who concentrated in computer science are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:
- Emergency Preparedness Officer, International Atomic Energy Agency
- Senior Technical Program Manager, amazon.com
- Vice President, Goldman Sachs
- Engineering Project Manager, Apple Computer
- Director of Global Relationship Management, International Lawyers Network
- Aviator, U.S. Marine Corps
- Product Manager, YouTube, Google
- Elearning & Multimedia Developer, Coca-Cola
- Software Engineer, Monster.com
Explore Our Spaces
The Taylor Science Center houses the offices for faculty members in computer science. The complex contains an atrium with a coffeehouse, an auditorium, and more than 100 teaching and student research laboratories.
Contact
Department Name
Computer Science Department
Contact Name
Mark Bailey, Chair
Clinton, NY 13323
