<p>I am currently in high school and I'm interested in going to a liberal arts university that has a strong computer science department. Any suggestions? </p>
<p>Williams college</p>
<p>harvey mudd</p>
<p>I second Harvey Mudd since it is a STEM-focused LAC.</p>
<p>Holy Cross</p>
<p>To find a good CS department, look for a school where the following advanced level CS courses are offered on a regular basis (check catalogs and schedules):</p>
<p>algorithms and complexity
theory of computation, languages, and automata
operating systems
compilers
networks
databases
software engineering or project course or projects in other courses
security and cryptography
hardware courses like computer architecture
electives like artificial intelligence and graphics, if desired</p>
<p>Some LACs do have cross registration agreements with larger schools with larger CS departments. But you need to check whether cross registration is easy to do administratively and logistically (commuting, exam schedules, etc.).</p>
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<p><a href=“http://academics.holycross.edu/mathcs/courses”>http://academics.holycross.edu/mathcs/courses</a> indicates that Holy Cross CS offerings are somewhat limited, and most of them are offered only once every two years.</p>
<p>While Harvey Mudd is small it is not what most of us think of LACs.</p>
<p>From a career point of view LACs are not ideal for computer science majors.</p>
<p>@fogcity why Harvey Mudd can not be considered LAC?</p>
<p>Its ccourse emphasis is technical – not what most of us would think of as liberal arts. It’s part of the Claremont consortium , which includes Pomona. To a limited extent Harvey Mudd students can take courses at Pomona.</p>
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<p>Math and science are parts of the liberal arts, although engineering is not.</p>
<p>Although most LACs are focused on the liberal arts, the alternative meaning is an institution that concentrates primarily or wholly on undergraduates. That’s how US News uses the term. Under that definition, Harvey Mudd qualifies.</p>
<p>^^
And Caltech does not?</p>
<p>CalTech is heavily focused on research. Graduate and postdoc-level research.</p>
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Emphasis mine. Williams, Mudd, and Holy Cross are not universities. Reading the original post carefully is always a good idea. ;)</p>
<p>roycethechoice - Your question is extremely vague, so suggested schools may or may not be along the lines of what you’re looking for. More info about your financial aid/cost constraints, stats (test scores, GPA, etc.), and anything you’re looking for in a college (size, location, etc.) will help posters come up with appropriate suggestions. There are many universities with good computer science programs and strong liberal arts offerings. </p>
<p>I am also interested in responses to this thread. Don’t mean to hijack, but…</p>
<p>Our S has 740V, 700M, 700W with 4.1 at college prep school.</p>
<p>Looking for “true” LAC since he also likes History, English, etc.</p>
<p>Also looking for merit aid to reduce the expense.</p>
<p>re: Harvey Mudd; an engineering school is not the same as a liberal arts college. Not the only instance where US News is hogwash.</p>
<p>Moving along…</p>
<p>Any comprehensive university with a Computer Science department will offer a menu of the liberal arts in its curriculum. Just be aware that the requirements of the major might greatly restrict the opportunity to enroll in electives other than the distribution requirements or university core. Do you have any interest in your state flagship university?</p>
<p>@ColdinMinny: You might check out Oberlin. Offers merit aid, and the comp sci majors we have known have been very happy there.</p>
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<p>A big university will have history, English, etc. (and often more offerings than a small LAC). Does he want a small LAC for the small size?</p>
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<p>Although 41% of HMC bachelor’s degrees are in engineering, that means that 59% (a majority) are in other subjects (liberal arts subjects, mainly math and science).</p>