Learning Outcomes

Goal CS-1: Advance from an intellectually curious student to a creator/maker.
To attain this learning goal, students will demonstrate the following learning outcomes by graduation.

Students will:
CS 1.1 Apply software, analytic, and creative skills toward the construction of a product such as an app, device, and/or experimental technique.
CS 1.2 Work with clients to design and prototype a product that meets user’s needs and expectations.

Goal CS-2: Apply oral and writing communication skills to explain technical problem solving techniques and solutions to an increasingly diverse and global audience.

Students will:
CS 2.1 Demonstrate mastery in the three areas of writing as defined in the computer science writing plan: (i) documentation (including functional and detailed program specifications, invariants, pre- and post-conditions, and READMEs); (ii) mathematical proofs by induction; and (iii) technical research papers.
CS 2.2 Conduct a professional oral presentation of project work in a formal setting such as during an internship, a conference, and/or final project.

Goal CS-3: Collaborate within and across disciplinary boundaries to solve problems.

Students will:
CS 3.1 Successfully complete Wheaton’s COMPASS curriculum.
CS 3.2 Participate in team-based efforts, including both supporting and leadership roles when needed.

Goal CS-4: Practice life-long learning.

Students will:
CS 4.1 Engage with online content beyond that required in coursework, e.g., pursuing badges in machine learning or game engine development and maker space tutorials.
CS 4.2 Become proficient in at least two programming languages beyond those introduced in coursework, e.g., Javascript, C#.

Goal CS-5: Exercise computational thinking over the entire software life cycle.

Students will:
CS 5.1 Translate a problem description to a formal representation.
CS 5.2 Implement, justify, and test acceptable computational solutions.
CS 5.3 Trace and analyze algorithms.

Goal CS-6: Apply mathematical and/or statistical methods to facilitate problem solving.

Students will:
CS 6.1 Demonstrate proficiency of college-level mathematical concepts.
CS 6.2 Use mathematical techniques in analyzing and improving algorithms.
CS 6.3 Apply complex mathematical/statistical formulas and methods as part of a software solution to a problem.