Computer Science Major - Academics

What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science

Gain a solid foundation in computing fundamentals and be at the forefront of new technologies with Reed College’s computer science major. No matter your previous experience, our expert professors guide you through a curriculum covering key topics, from algorithms and data structures to hardware and software system design. Unlock your potential in this ever-growing field with the computer science department at Reed.

Roadmap to the BA in Computer Science at Reed

The computer science major is open to all students, and our curriculum covers essential and advanced concepts, including programming language systems and machine learning. Pursue original scholarship through research opportunities and your senior thesis.

Year One

Start with the Basics

Take Computer Science Fundamentals I, which introduces you to the world of programming and prepares you for core coursework in algorithms, theory of computation, and computing systems.

As a mathematical discipline, computer science includes many math classes in the curriculum so you can understand and create computer programs and system designs. Start with Calculus and Discrete Structures.

Your first year at Reed won’t be complete without taking Humanities 110. Gain an interdisciplinary view of human society past and present while developing crucial creative and critical thinking and writing skills.

Explore Humanities 110

Year Two

Test Your Knowledge

Continue your learning by completing required computer science and mathematics courses. At the end of your sophomore year, take your computer science qualifying exam that covers your knowledge of the core computer science and discrete mathematics classes you have taken so far. This exam ensures that you have internalized and mastered the introductory material on which the rest of the major depends.

Start looking into research opportunities during your second year at Reed. Ask faculty members if you can join their research (and even coauthor papers), or look for opportunities to create your own project. Reed even offers grants and fellowships to help fund your studies.

Discover Fellowship and Grant Opportunities

Year Three

Push Your Boundaries

Continue to take advanced computer science courses. Choose from electives such as Cryptography and Deep Learning. Many students also choose to take advanced mathematics classes or other courses of interest.

You can even plan to study abroad during your junior year. The most common destination for computer science majors is the Aquincum Institute of Technology in Budapest, Hungary, as its program specializes in computer science and software engineering.

Browse Study Abroad Programs

Year Four

Display Your Knowledge and Skills

Harness your knowledge and skills to write your senior thesis. This unique project allows you to be at the forefront of computer science and showcase your analytical skills.

In this yearlong endeavor, you can complete an original research project or create an expository thesis that organizes findings in an advanced area. After you write your thesis, defend it at an oral exam before a panel of Reed professors.

Demonstrate mastery in the field by successfully completing your senior thesis, and position yourself for future success in graduate studies or a rewarding career.

Explore Computer Science Major Learning Outcomes

Why Study Computer Science at Reed College?

Experienced Faculty in an Interdisciplinary Program

Our computer science professors are experts in their field, studying topics from machine learning and database privacy to memory management and electronic commerce. We also draw from faculty across Reed departments to contribute to our courses, including the following:

Professor Joel Franklin, physics: scientific and numeric computation
Professor Mark Bedau, philosophy: artificial life, philosophy of computation, text analysis
Professor Jon Rork, economics: economic game theory
Professor Aki Miyoshi, art: digital imaging, video, and interaction
Professor Jamie Pommersheim, mathematics: quantum computation
Professor Kjersten Whittington, sociology: social networks
Professor Anna Ritz, biology: bioinformatics and computational biology

This interdisciplinary approach creates a rich learning environment that enhances your understanding of computer science from multiple perspectives.

Tailored Courses for Advanced Backgrounds

If you already have a computer science or advanced mathematics background, we can adjust your course plan so you can take classes at your level. While there is no “automatic” way to skip our introductory computer science class, we are open to considering exemptions based on your prior learning.

In addition, a good score on the AP Calculus exam generally exempts you from our calculus requirement. We encourage you to connect with us to discuss your background so we can determine the best path forward for you.

Our Computer Science Courses

Computer Science BA course catalog

Students sit around a table in a Reed classroom

Computer Science 315 - Ethics and Public Policy

How do we ensure equitable outcomes in a world that increasingly depends on computer technology? Delve into ethical and public policy questions through topics such as cyber warfare, data privacy, and decision-making algorithms.

Three connected chalkboards show diagrams in a computer science class

Computer Science 368 - Modern Systems Security

Get hands-on experience working with security systems in this important course. Study contemporary system architectures, and learn about secure software development, authentication, and cross-site scripting.

An open laptop shows coding on the screen

Computer Science 394 - Principles of Compiler Design

Theory meets practice in this course as you learn to craft a fully functional compiler and run-time system for a programming language. Explore topics such as syntactic analysis and parsing, dataflow analysis, and code generation.

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Careers for Computer Science Majors

While Reed’s computer science major is a recent offering, Reed graduates have built a long tradition of success as innovators in computer science, and many have gone on to work in the field of computer technology in the following roles:

Associate scientist, Gilead Sciences
Cloud support engineer, Amazon Web Services
Frontend engineering manager, Fiberplane
Software engineer, HMBradley
Software engineer, Windows
Software test engineer, Suvoda
Software engineer, Google
Technical account manager, Google

Learn About Career Paths and Possibilities

Graduate Schools for BA in Computer Science Students

With our emphasis on computer theory and research, Reed computer science alumni enroll in graduate programs at prestigious universities to continue their studies, including these:

Columbia University
Oregon Health and Science University
Portland State University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Pennsylvania
University of Washington

Students in the STEM GEMS club table at the activities fair

Clubs and Conferences for Computer Science Majors

Discover our vibrant community for computer science students at Reed. Join our chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery or check out STEMGeMs, a student group for gender minorities in STEM fields. Participate in Reed’s annual MindStorm and collaborate with technology companies to find business solutions and make networking connections.

Learn About Our Groups and Activities