When computer science is taught within the broad context of the liberal arts, students are even better prepared to excel in their chosen field. That's the philosophy behind a decision to add a major in computer science to the curriculum. Pending the recruitment of additional staffing that will augment regular course offerings with special topics courses such as web design and artificial intelligence, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science will begin offering the major in Fall 2000. The major will meet the needs of students who plan to teach computer science in secondary schools, pursue graduate work in computer science, work as professionals in government or industry, or use computing in the related natural or social sciences. Within the small liberal arts environment at Washington, students also find professors who are readily available to answer questions, to work with students on independent study projects, and to mentor members of the computing club.
Students can formally take courses in other departments.
Still, you don't have to be a computer scientist to have a strong background in computers. The best student programmer on campus, he says, is an English major. He and the other members of the computer club team won an honorable mention in problem-solving at an international programming competition run by the Association for Computing Machinery.