Computer Science

Create your own computer games. Compete in national cybersecurity competitions. Build autonomous robots to navigate mazes. Solve complex problems using AI and machine learning.

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A student sits at a laptop while a screen in the background shows a circuit breadboard
Students program circuit boards to play light patterns in LEDs.
You will gain the knowledge and tools to design, build, and understand complex computer systems. You'll get to apply your skills to practical problems using knowledge from other fields, such as music, art, linguistics, physics, statistics, and ecology.
 
Computer science is a dynamic and interdisciplinary field of study where you will work on projects that apply theory to real problems and participate in exciting challenges.
 
Explore computer science at a range of levels: from a basic understanding of how computers work to a deeper level of computer systems and how they integrate with other disciplines. Exciting topics include artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and parallel programming. Students have participated in cybersecurity competitions and won awards, including at the Pacific Rim Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. In addition, you can seek internships and paid peer-tutoring opportunities.
 
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A student lectures at a chalkboard while other students, seated, listen
International student Hao Nguyen works with a small group of fellow computer science students and faculty member Richard Weiss as part of his Independent Learning Contract.

This field prepares you for graduate studies and graduates work for organizations across the industry, such as at Canonical (the developer of the Linux Ubuntu operating system), medical software startups, F5 Networks (which makes network routers and firewalls), Twitter, and Washington state government agencies.

Join us in an education that doesn’t just change your life — it gives you the tools to change the world.

Sample Program

Computer Science Foundations

Offered Fall 2018–Winter 2019

You'll learn the intellectual concepts and skills that are essential for advanced work in computer science and beneficial for computing work in support of other disciplines. Achieve a deeper understanding of increasingly complex computing systems by acquiring knowledge and skills in mathematical abstraction, problem solving, and the organization and analysis of hardware and software systems. The program covers material such as algorithms, data structures, computer organization and architecture, logic, discrete mathematics, and programming in the context of the liberal arts.

We will explore our curriculum by way of lectures, programming labs, workshops, and seminars.

View this program in the catalog.

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A standing professor points at a screen while a seated student listens
Faculty Richard Weiss works with students learning HTML in the summer web design class in the computer lab.

After Graduation

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Naomi Touchet

Naomi Touchet '17 works on the application security team at Concur, where she maintains the security of the company's travel and expenses software. 

Our graduates have gone on to a range of professions, including working for Canonical (the developer of the Linux Ubuntu operating system), a medical software startup, and as developers for F5 Networks (which makes network routers and firewalls), IT specialists for Twitter, and software engineers for Washington state.

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A professor leans on a cart and addresses a class while they look at a projector screen
Ben Kamen introduces audio programming with the program Max on the first day of Interactive Sound and Video.

Facilities & Resources

You’ll work on projects that apply theory to real problems and participate in exciting challenges.

Academic Computing Center

As Evergreen’s computing hub, the center has four computing classrooms and offers printers, scanners, and a commons area that boasts more than 50 computers running Mac OS 10.7, Windows 7, or Ubuntu Linux. It also has several specialty stations, including a digital video workstation and an audio workstation. Student techs and Academic Computing staff are available to assist with computing questions and needs.

Computer Applications Lab (the CAL)

The home of Scientific Computing at Evergreen, the CAL supports students enrolled in the physical and natural sciences. Each of its two teaching labs contains 26 workstations.

PLATO Technology and Lecture Series Grants

Royalties received from the PLATO computer-aided instruction materials developed at Evergreen support technology grants and an annual lecture series on computer-related topics. The Lecture Series (a.k.a. Cutting Edge Symposium) supports an annual guest speaker series on computers and technology. Some past themes include computers in the arts, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and the Internet.  Technology grants support projects that strengthen and enhance curriculum incorporating the use of computer technology.

Robotics

Evergreen offers students a collection of tools to make robots, including Arduino microcontrollers, Scribblers, and iRobots.

In this video, the director of the QuaSR center talks about the tutoring available on-site at QuaSR, and how QuaSR is reaching out to other programs.

The QuaSR Center

Evergreen’s QuaSR (Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning) Center provides a supportive space for students who need assistance in math, economics, biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, music reading, and anything else scientific or mathematical. During the school year, drop-in tutoring is available six days a week. Many students use the QuaSR Center to do homework and get occasional help when they need it. Others come for more individual help or to work in small groups. The center’s student tutors have demonstrated expertise in the subjects they teach.

Recent Student Projects

  • Using images and video for steganography
  • Obfuscation techniques in malicious code
  • Building a microhouse controlled by a Raspberry Pi which additionally provides wireless internet access
  • Building a Virtual Reality system to teach elementary math concepts using manipulatives
  • A video game that supports motion in time as well as space
  • Creating a capture the flag exercise for kids that involves outdoor activities
Faculty Associated With This Field
Title Expertise
Caraher, John physics
Chandra, Arun music composition, performance
Gul, Gordon
Weiss, Richard mathematics, computer science
Selected Programs 2022-23
Title Class Standing Credits
Advanced Computing and Machine Learning
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
8, 12
An Introduction to Computer Programming in C
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
8
Applications Security
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
Computer Science Foundations
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
16
Data Structures and Algorithms
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
12
GIS and Mapping in Excel
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS for Field Data Collection
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS with Remote Sensing Imagery
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS: Introduction and Principles
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS: Mapping with ArcGIS Pro
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
Selected Programs 2023-24
Title Class Standing Credits
Computer Science and ... Music!
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
16
Computer Science Foundations
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
16
Data Structures and Algorithms
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
12
GIS and Mapping in Excel
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS for Field Data Collection
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS with Remote Sensing Imagery
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS: Introduction and Principles
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS: Mapping with ArcGIS Pro
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
GIS: Publishing Story Maps and Apps
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
4
Models of Motion
  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
12