<p>I'm looking to combine my love for video games and art/creativity with my knowledge of computers, and I'm starting to look into a Computer Science major. I would be some sort of Software Engineer, I would think, maybe designing video games or something of the sort. I'm really not the type for a heavy-tech school, so I'm looking into the liberal arts schools with Computer Science. </p>
<p>Of these schools, which have solid Computer Science programs?</p>
<p>Bennington
Hampshire (looked amazing on the website)
Hamilton
Skidmore
Colgate
Colby
Bates
Bowdoin
SUNY Geneseo</p>
<p>I'm not 100% sure if they all have a CompSci major, but I'm guessing most do. Thanks in advance, just trying to be in the environment I want (quirky LAC) but also study what I love (CompSci/programming/computers).</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. Generally, at one of these "quirky" LAC's, or any LAC at that, would the Computer Science department be adecquate? Any schools in particular with a really solid program in CompSci?</p>
<p>As a sweeping generalization, the LAC's rarely have the kind of CS major aimed at someone who wants to enter the workforce as a software engineer. These colleges have relatively small CS faculties, relatively few students majoring in CS, and consequently limited numbers of courses, particularly at the advanced level. The programs are aimed at students who want to study CS in the context of a broad liberal arts education. This tends to produce people whose technical backgrounds are not as strong at graduation as students emerging with bachelor of science degrees from universities that offer full graduate programs. Note that the title of the degree (BA vs BS) is not important. What matters is the number and depth of courses students take while enrolled. </p>
<p>Students at LACs can supplement the CS offerings with math courses, but, unless one is headed towards a graduate program that needs all this math, you don't really gain that much beyond a certain point.</p>
<p>To measure this effect, pick some university with a strong CS program (MIT, CMU, etc to find out what a CS program looks like at the top) and see what courses their students take- how many, and at what level. Then check whether a similar program would even be possible at the LACs you are considering. In many cases the courses simply are not available.</p>
<p>Math-enhanced LAC CS degrees can be a fine starting point for graduate study, and the CS degree without extra math can be appropriate for people headed to professional school. For hard core CS types, most LACs have trouble meeting their needs.</p>
<p>There are exceptions. Harvey Mudd, although officially an LAC, is really a technical school. Some other LACs, especially those few that have engineering programs, may have enough depth in CS + engineering for someone with your goals. The alternative may be to do what you want- CS at an LAC- then get a masters degree to fill in the blanks.</p>
<p>The colleges on your list do not all offer a CS major. I know Bates and Bennington don't and for Hampshire you'd have to take many courses at UMass Amherst.</p>
<p>Don't know for sure, but I think it would tend to follow that LACs with engineering programs would also be best bets for CS. In this context, I'd look at Lafayette, Bucknell, Union.</p>
<p>There are some advantages, I would think, to a CS major at a LAC. Small departments, lots of opportunity for mentoring, etc. Some techie kids couldn't tolerate an LAC environment, while others really appreciate the more, shall we say, balanced atmosphere they offer (as opposed to the tech schools).</p>
<p>I'm sure you could run a search on college board for smaller schools offering a CS major. I know the LAC my son is at offers one.
For info on the major: Computer</a> Science
For info on the Comp Sci dept: About</a> Us - Denison University</p>
<p>I suspect, but don't really know, that many CS kids go on to grad school.</p>
<p>Have you thought about the option of computer science within the engineering school of a mid-size "non techie" university? My son is a cs major at a good "all around" university rather than a tech school because he wanted access to good humanities/liberal arts programs in addition to labs with research opportunities. </p>
<p>I think weenie is correct that many cs majors go on to graduate school, more so than other engineering fields.</p>
<p>Wes is unusual for an LAC in that it has a graduate program in CS. This means it offers a larger number of advanced undergrad and graduate courses than most LAC's. However, if you compare to a university, you will still find a very limited course selection and quite small faculty (five professors). MAYBE it could provide the depth that a geek would want, but with very little choice of which courses to take.</p>
<p>Have you thought about Harvey Mudd? It's an LAC with a very serious engineering/CS perspective, and lots of more quirky, artsy things going on at the rest of the Claremonts that you might not find at most techie schools.</p>
<p>I would love to go to Harvery Mudd, but I'm trying to stay in the Northeast. Are there any schools that have Engineering that have an intellectual/chill/creative environment?</p>
<p>GPA: 92.9 Unweighted 95.6 Weighted
SAT: 570CR/690M/640W
Top 15% of Student Body
E/C’s: Solid List, lot’s of community service, Honor’s Society, etc.</p>
<p>I think Olin is quite a stretch. Great school, though.</p>
<p>I guess Olin would be a reach. Well, I'm not familiar with that many LACs. I do have a teacher who highly recommended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for engineering and computer stuff. Granted, it's in Indiana, quite a ways from the "northeast." Still, that's not nearly as far as Harvey Mudd. If you're willing to move a bit out of that region, I would definitely consider it.</p>
<p>I was a Math/CS major at Holy Cross and worked at Microsoft for 11 years and am now VP of Operations at a prominent IT Services company in the nation's capitol.</p>