Computer Science and Other Disciplines

Computerized equipment is everywhere, and a growing area is computerized/robotized surgery. A strong interface between medicine and computer science is essential in this new area. With all the biology, chemistry, and math requirements for premed, the bioinformatics major also fits very neatly, having requirements in all of those departments.

Information Technology is an enormous part of most the business, only growing as the and the computer industry itself occupies an important place. The BS in Information Technology is especially geared toward students interested in business.

Several important areas of the law have to do with computer science. So many old laws were not designed for them, there is much new ground there: liability, the security of information, patent issues for complex technology, etc.

Computer languages are different than English, and many computer professionals comfortable with computer languages have a harder time in the many places where English (and human language) communication skills are important. This is unfortunately evident in technical documentation. Several of our more successful students have had backgrounds in English and Humanities subjects and have been influential in the designing of documentation and in helping to clarify the design plans for real-world clients of programming projects, as well as being major developers.

Background in social sciences can be helpful in non-programming aspects of the software, such as Human-Computer Interaction, which oppresses the design and evaluation of user interfaces. Again it is well-known in the computing field that making software requires attention to design and human behavior. HCI experts are employed in most business and game software companies.

Much of science is based on mathematical laws and relationships that are much too large and complex to be solved exclusively by direct mathematical means. For example, simulation plays a vital role, which is evident in mainstream examples such as weather forecasting and earthquake prediction. Scientific computing has also taken center stage with enabling technologies in cluster and grid computing, both of which are being used to push the envelope of computational and experimental biology, chemistry, physics, and integrated disciplines such as geophysics.

In Computing the Future (from The Economist) a group of scientists argues that the "concepts, tools and theorems [of computer science] have become integrated into the fabric of science itself. Indeed, computer science produces an orderly, formal framework and exploratory apparatus for other sciences." In other words, computer science is a great minor or second major for anyone pursuing a career in the sciences.