Georgia Tech Comp Sci Computer Science Program Overview

The Georgia Tech Comp Sci computer science program is one of the top-ranked programs in the country. It's designed to prepare students for a career in the tech industry.

With a strong focus on research and innovation, the program offers students the opportunity to work with world-class faculty and researchers. Students can choose from a range of specializations, including artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity.

The program is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of around 10%. This means that students who are accepted are part of a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about computer science.

The Computer Science program at Georgia Tech is designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for applying digital processes effectively to issues of broad interest in a global society.

The program is based on a unique concept called Threads, a significant innovation in undergraduate CS education. Threads represent partial paths through the curriculum, allowing students to weave a degree from these paths.

Each student selects two Threads to fulfill the requirements for an accredited Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. This unique approach enables students to explore a variety of computing paths in depth.

To graduate, students must complete a total of 124 credit hours, including a two-hour Wellness course. They must also complete all required CS courses with a C or better.

Here are the requirements for the undergraduate program:

The program structure at Georgia Tech's Computer Science department is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the field.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours, which can be completed in eight semesters.

Courses are divided into three main categories: core, elective, and minor.

When I was researching the program structure for this degree, I was impressed by the variety of courses required to complete it. The degree requirements are comprehensive and ensure that students gain a well-rounded education.

To start, students must take a range of math courses, including Calculus Requirement (6 credits) with MATH 1551 and 1552, Linear Algebra Requirement (4 credits) with MATH 1554/1564, and Introduction to Multivariable Calculus (2 credits) with MATH 2550.

Students must also take a variety of science courses, including Lab Science Requirement (12 credits) with PHYS 2211 + 2 More Lab Sciences + Lab Sequence.

In addition to math and science courses, students must take a range of humanities and social science courses, including English Requirement (2 credits) with ENGL 1101 and 1102, 6 credits of Humanities Classes, History/Government Requirement (3 credits) with one History/Government Requirement Class, and 9 credits of Social Science Classes.

The degree requirements also include a Wellness Requirement (2 credits) with APPH 1040/1050/1060, and a range of free electives that vary by thread combination and capstone selection.

Here's a breakdown of the degree requirements:

Students must also complete a Junior Design Capstone, which requires 6 credits and involves selecting one requirement from a range of options.

Course applicability is a crucial aspect of any program. You'd be surprised at how relevant some courses can be to your day-to-day work.

The Machine Learning specialisation I took had many courses that directly related to my job, but others proved to be incredibly valuable. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) ended up being my favourite course in the entire program.

I gained practical skills for guiding a product from prototype to final form. The course equipped me to be more purposeful about when to create a low or high fidelity prototype.

I now approach design decisions with a user-centred mindset. I'm more aware of the affordances that each design decision adds and takes away from my final product.

This shift in perspective has helped me create more intuitive and user-friendly products. I'm less likely to create apps with too many drop-downs and radio buttons.

Students can earn credit for their research projects by registering for CS 2699 or CS 4699, which offer 1-12 credit hours.

These research courses are available to freshmen and sophomores, juniors and seniors, respectively.

To fulfill the capstone design requirement, students can register for CS 4980 in one of the research terms, typically the last semester of research while taking LMC 4702.

If a student is working on a research for pay project, they must be registered for the appropriate audit-only class, either CS 2698 or 4698, to receive credit toward the Research Option.

Here's a list of the research courses and their credit hours:

Research classes are a crucial part of fulfilling the Research Option. The classes that count toward this fulfillment are CS 2699, CS 4699, and CS 4980.

These classes allow students to earn credit hours for their research work. CS 2699 and CS 4699 offer 1-12 credit hours, while CS 4980 offers 1-21 credit hours.

Students can choose from two types of research classes: CS 2699/CS 4699 for general research, and CS 4980 for a research capstone project. The capstone project typically takes place in the last semester of research.

Here's a list of the research classes that count toward the Research Option:

Students can also earn credit hours for working as research assistants. The classes for this are CS 2698 and CS 4698, which offer 1-12 credit hours each.

It's essential to note that students must register for the appropriate audit-only, research for pay class to get credit toward completion of the Research Option for research for pay.

The Intelligence thread is where computing models intelligence. This thread is concerned with computational models of intelligence from top to bottom, designing and implementing artifacts that exhibit various levels of intelligence.

Students in this field acquire the technical knowledge and skills necessary for expressing, specifying, understanding, creating, and exploiting computational models that represent cognitive processes.

The Intelligence thread encompasses various areas, including Modeling and Simulation, Devices, Theory, Information Internetworks, Media, People, and Systems and Architecture.

Here's a breakdown of these areas:

Modeling and Simulation is a fascinating field that involves developing mathematical models and computer software to represent and analyze complex systems. These systems can be anything from weather patterns to supply chains, and understanding how they work is crucial for making informed decisions.

A background in mathematics and the sciences is essential for working in Modeling and Simulation, as these models are often described and represented by mathematical expressions. This requires a strong foundation in continuous and discrete mathematics, as well as a deep understanding of the sciences.

Students interested in Modeling and Simulation can choose from a range of courses that cover topics such as computer software, digital machines, and physical phenomena. This enables them to develop the basic tools necessary to transform abstract conceptual models into computer programs.

The Modeling and Simulation thread is divided into several sub-disciplines, including Devices & Modeling and Simulation, Theory & Modeling and Simulation, and Information Internetworks & Modeling and Simulation. Each of these sub-disciplines offers a unique perspective on the field and allows students to specialize in a specific area.

Here are some examples of the sub-disciplines within the Modeling and Simulation thread:

Similar initiatives have been popping up across the globe. The University of Illinois was one of the first to launch an affordable MOOC-based online master program, specifically the iMBA program.

Over 30 universities have followed Georgia Tech's lead, creating more than 70 MOOC-based online master programs.