Algebra to Algorithms

Western science relies on mathematics as a powerful language for expressing the character of the observed world. Mathematical models allow predictions, more or less, of complex natural systems, and modern computing has both magnified the power of those models and helped shape new models that increasingly influence 21st-century decisions. Computer science, the constructive branch of mathematics, relies on mathematics for its culture and language of problem solving, and it also enables the construction of mathematical models.

In this program, we will explore connections between mathematics, computer science, and the natural sciences, and develop mathematical abstractions and the skills needed to express, analyze and solve problems arising in the sciences. The regular work of the program will include seminars, lectures, problem solving workshops, programming labs, problem sets, and seminar papers. The emphasis will be on fluency in mathematical thinking and expression along with reflections on mathematics and society. Topics will include concepts of algebra, functions, algorithms, programming and problem-solving, with seminar readings about the role of mathematics in modern education and in society.

This program is intended for students who want to gain a fundamental understanding of mathematics and computing before leaving college or before pursuing further work in the sciences.