Threads in Computer Science

Posted By: Kevin Schofield | Aug 13th, 2006 @ 11:14 PM

The computer science department at Georgia Tech has done a fairly radical re-work of its curriculum to try to change the field's reputation and attract more students to the program. A key part of the new program is to emphasize "threads" that let people choose a set of courses that focus on a particular application of computer: gaming, the sciences, etc. They think this does a better job of supporting interdisciplinary work, and will keep people focused and excited.

Tag: education

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AlfredTwo

I think that sometimes departments try to cover the full breath of computer science or as close to it as they can fit into four years. The answer, I suspect, is often early burn out or at least a tendency to prevent people from learning as much about the areas that really interest them as undergraduates. This threads idea seems like a good one.

lajones

In reply to AlfredTwo

#Aug 14th, 2006 @ 11:33 PM

It does sound promising as long as the "threads" a loosely woven... Students need to be able to adjust their sails as they progress, otherwise they may have a wonderfully marketable degree, and still perhaps not be happy.