Computer Science

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Policymakers are ‘Way Behind the Curve’ on AI Threats

V.S. Subrahmanian explains how artificial intelligence is used for both good and bad.Read more

IBM Honors Ginni Rometty with $5 Million Gift to Alma Mater

Two computer science professorships named for IBM’s retired chairman and CEO will bolster Northwestern CS’s artificial intelligence and machine learning programs.Read more

McCormick Launches Data Science and Engineering Minor

On November 1, the Northwestern Engineering Department of Computer Science and Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences hosted a kick-off celebration for the new minor program.Read more

New Holographic Camera Sees the Unseen with High Precision

Researchers invented a new high-resolution camera that can see the unseen — including around corners and through scattering media, such as skin, fog, or potentially even the human skull.Read more

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About the Department

Transforming the way we work, play, think, and live

Watch our video:The Power of Computer Science

Computers and computational thinking are changing everything. At Northwestern University’s Department of Computer Science, we aim to lead that change.

Northwestern Computer Science is an ideal hub for highly interdisciplinary computer science education and research. With numerous collaborations across disciplines at Northwestern's top-ranked schools, students and faculty have the power to explode the possibilities of computer science. The department, which has radically expanded its faculty and moved to state-of-the-art facilities to support its vision, also fosters a culture of inclusion, mentorship, and student support. This combination offers our students and researchers an experience like no other.

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Department News

New professors

Meet Our New Computer Science Faculty Members

Northwestern Engineering’s Department of Computer Science begins its fifth year of an ambitious hiring initiative by welcoming three tenure-track faculty members and five teaching-track faculty.

  • Policymakers are ‘Way Behind the Curve’ on AI Threats, Expert Warns

    V.S. Subrahmanian explains how artificial intelligence is used for both good and bad.

    Northwestern Engineering News

  • Xiao Wang and Chenkai Weng Win Runner-up for Best Paper Award at the 2021 ACM-CCS Conference

    The team was recognized for their recent paper on zero-knowledge protocol, an important component of modern cryptography.

  • Faces of CISE: Josiah Hester, PhD

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) November 2021 newsletter featured Josiah Hester, PhD, in the "Faces of CISE" section. Hester is the Breed Junior Professor of Design and an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and of computer science at the McCormick School of Engineering and (by courtesy) of Preventive Medicine at Feinberg School of Medicine. Hester is also the director of the Ka Moamoa – Ubiquitous and Mobile Computing Lab.

    National Science Foundation

  • McCormick Launches Data Science and Engineering Minor

    On November 1, the Northwestern Engineering Department of Computer Science and Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences hosted a kick-off celebration for the new minor program.

    Northwestern Engineering News

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Research Areas

Pushing the boundaries of computer science

CS+X Initiative

Exploding the possibilities of interdisciplinary research

We are working to actively discover and support relationships between computer science and diverse disciplines across the University. In doing so, we can drive transformational connections and potentially spark entirely new fields of study.


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Chicago Tech

Connecting with Chicago's growing technology sector

Situated along the lake, 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, Northwestern’s unique location offers unsurpassed access to research partnerships and networking opportunities at neighboring tech organizations.


Programs

Learning on the cutting edge

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Combined BS/MS Degree Program

Minor in Computer Science

Note: The department offers a bachelor of science in computer science for students enrolled in the McCormick School of Engineering, as well as a bachelor of arts in computer science for students enrolled in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. The computer science-specific requirements of the two degrees are identical.

Introduction to Computer Science

Northwestern students who are interested in changing their major, or simply sampling the computer science field, can take individual introductory courses.

Learn more about introductory courses

Graduate

Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence

Master of Science in Computer Science

PhD in Computer Science

PhD students may earn a specialization in cognitive science by taking six cognitive science courses and may elect to participate in the Crown Family Graduate Internship Program.

Affiliated

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

Master of Science in Computer Engineering

Master of Science in Information Technology

Master of Science in Robotics

Minor in Data Science and Engineering

PhD in Computer Engineering

PhD in Computer Science and Learning Sciences

PhD in Technology and Social Behavior

The MBAi Program

Department Events

Bringing relevant conversations to the forefront

Learn and engage with our community at one of our CS department events, including our Distinguished Lecture Series, Tech Talks Series, Colloquium Series, and CS+X Events. Past speakers include thought and industry leaders such as Jon Kleinberg (Cornell University), Christos Papadimitriou (Columbia University), Salim Chawro (Microsoft), and An Zhu (Google). 

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Discover Our Whole-Brain Engineering Philosophy

We augment the analytical core of engineering with design, entrepreneurship, leadership, personal development, and unusual collaborations to imagine what's next and take the world in a whole new direction.

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