Honors Applications for 2017-2018 Due March 27, 2017

February 20th, 2017

Calling all Juniors interested in applying for honors next year.  Applications are due March 27, 2017 Meet with your advisor if you have additional questions.

Thinking about honors in Computer Science?  Awesome, read on!

Overview

The honors program provides an opportunity for an in-depth and independent study of a particular topic or problem within Computer Science.  While this program is very demanding, many find it very rewarding as well – honors allows for a deeper understanding of an area of interest, and provides valuable experience in the reading, writing, and presentation of scholarly work.  There are a number of types of possible projects, but most involve either original research in computer Science or the development of an application that makes use of algorithms and techniques from recent papers.  All honors projects include a thorough exploration of the primary literature.

Honors students are required to prepare an honors thesis which includes an introduction to their chosen topic or problem, a thorough summary of relevant research, and a detailed discussion given to the department faculty at the end of the fall semester, followed by a public presentation in the spring.  Finally, honors students take a comprehensive honors exam in the spring, which includes both a written and oral component with an external examiner.

Eligibility

To apply to the honors program, you’ll need to:

  • Have a GPA of at least 3.3 both overall and within Computer Science
  • Have completed at least two 300-level courses that count towards a Computer Science major prior to your senior year.
  • Have at most three courses remaining to complete the Computer Science major by the start of your senior year. (Note that honors does not count as an elective for the major.)
  • Be enrolled and on campus for your senior year. (You may not need to be on campus for Winter Term, but you are expected to spend January working on your thesis.)

Keep in mind that these are minimum requirements.  Successful candidates have generally finished or nearly finished their major requirements before their senior year, and usually have a GPA above 3.6.  Students also often spend the summer prior to their senior year doing work related to their project, whether that be on-campus research, an REU program, or independent study.

Please note that even strong applications may be denied due to staffing limitations.

Proposals should be submitted to Department Chair by Monday, March 27, 2017

Bob Geitz, Chairperson of the Computer Science   King 223A    

Best Security Hack @ Kent Hack Enough 2016

October 14th, 2016

kenthackenough2016small

Congratulations to our students: David Learner,  Anders Cornell, Adam Cooper, and Jakob Cornell!  They received the “Best Security Hack” award from Securable.io at the Kent Hack Enough 2016

Oberlin was represented by 9 students who participated in this event Oct 7-9,2016. They all did a great job!

Welcome to OCCS

October 11th, 2016

Computer Science encompasses both the theoretical and the practical aspects of the study of computers and algorithmic processes. Students majoring in computer science at Oberlin are prepared both for further graduate studies in the discipline and also for careers in the industries and businesses that actively recruit computer scientists with a liberal arts background. Computer Science at Oberlin is taught within the context of a liberal arts degree, with emphasis on the lasting principles of the discipline rather than on specific training in particular tools and techniques. The CS Department stresses the fundamentals of computer science while maintaining a highly current and relevant curriculum utilizing state-of-the-art methodologies and tools. More detailed information about the Computer Science major and minor and a complete list of courses can be found in the course catalog.

CSCI Faculty 2021-22

Grad School Info Session

April 4th, 2015

Are you considering going to graduate school to continue studying computer science?  Thinking you’d like to know more about the process and get some info from others about it?  Then come to our Q&A session on Tuesday, April 7 at 12:15pm for a PIZZA LUNCH and more info.

Topics to be covered include:

  • What CS grad school is like — the first two years and beyond
  • What is CS research like?
  • Is grad school right for me?
  • Masters or PhD?
  • How do you apply?
  • How to choose schools/advisors?
  • Getting good letters of recommendation
  • Things you can do now to improve your chances of being accepted
  • and any other questions you might have

RSVP required! Sign up in the CS office (King 223) by Monday to attend.

Deciding between graduate school vs. industry?

April 18th, 2014

Applying to Graduate Schools

Question and Answer Session

 


Are you considering going to graduate school to continue studying computer science?  Thinking you’d like to know more about the process and get some info from others about it?  Then come to our Q&A session on Tuesday, April 22 at 12:15pm for a PIZZA LUNCH and more info.  King 235.

Topics to be covered include:

  • What CS grad school is like — the first two years and beyond
  • What is CS research like?
  • Is grad school right for me?
  • Masters or PhD?
  • How do you apply?
  • How to choose schools/advisors?
  • Getting good letters of recommendation
  • Things you can do now to improve your chances of being accepted
  • and any other questions you might have

RSVP required! Sign up in the CS office (King 223) by Monday to attend.

Bob Geitz recognized for Excellence in Teaching

February 28th, 2014

Our very own Bob Geitz was awarded Oberlin’s 2013-14 Excellence in Teaching award for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics division.  Click on the image below to read more.

Oberlin's 2013-14 Excellence in Teaching awardees

Oberlin’s 2013-14 Excellence in Teaching awardees

Cynthia Taylor Publishes on Peer Instruction In Small Liberal Arts Colleges

February 13th, 2014

https://oncampus.oberlin.edu/faculty-staff/notes/2013/09/04/cynthia-taylor-publishes-peer-instruction-small-liberal-arts-colleges

CSCI MAJORS – Winter Term Informational Meeting

October 30th, 2013

Thursday, Nov. 7     12:15 p.m.  KING 327
Have a great idea for a Winter Term project, and want to recruit people?  Have no idea what to do for Winter Term, but think you might like it to involve Computer Science somehow?  We’ll be having an organizational meeting at 12:15 on Thursday Nov 7th, to allow people to come together and talk about what they would like to do for Winter Term, and see if any project groups coalesce.  
Deadline to register for Winter Term 2014 is Friday, Dec. 6

Programming Skills Workshop

October 29th, 2012

CSMC presents… Programming Skills Workshop!

Thinking about applying for jobs or taking the CS GRE for grad school?  Worried that your data structures and algorithms knowledge is a bit rusty?  Never fear, the CSMC is here for you!

We will be hosting a set of programming skills workshops this semester. During these workshops we will tackle a variety of problems, write our solutions on paper, and then discuss the solutions. As a group, we’ll learn what challenges we face, what approaches to take, and what solutions work the best. Most importantly, however, we will become the best programmers we can be.

First meeting will be Saturday, November 3 from 4-6pm in the CS conference room.  Bring pencil and paper as we will be working out most of these problems by hand.

Students working on a tree problem

Your tree… it is unbalanced.

UPDATE: CSMC will be holding these workshops on a regular basis.  See https://www.cs.oberlin.edu/~csmc/ for details.

Honors Proposals for 2012-2013

February 15th, 2012

Junior CSCI majors are invited to apply for 2012-13 Honors. The deadline for project proposals is Monday, April 9.

Contact your advisor for more information and to see if you meet the requirements.