In this case, the inputs to the computer may be in the form of a set of records and the output may be in the form of a report. In the computer field, one often talks about programming languages and it is interesting to note that computer scientists are interested in questions about languages in much the same sense as are linguists. In computer science, a programming language must conform to some grammatical rules, and the language will not be well understood unless these grammatical rules can be specified. At Northwestern, there are actually two programs available that concern the use of computers, one in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and the other in the College of Arts and Sciences. The programs are very similar, but the requirements for the two colleges are quite different.
Students typically decide between the two programs on the basis of the non-major requirements.
In an absolute sense, neither program is better than the other. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and the choice will really depend upon a given student's interests and objectives for the future. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to transfer from Weinberg College to McCormick and vice versa. Career Opportunities for Majors Career opportunities in the computer field are available in every conceivable field of endeavor. Computers are used in industry, hospitals, banks, schools, local, state and federal government, commercial enterprises, publishing, etc.