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Computer Science Department Welcomes New Faculty

New chair, tenure-track faculty, and teaching faculty join as Computer Science continues its hiring initiative.Read more

Women in Computing Members Attend Grace Hopper Celebration

Women in Computing Members Attend Grace Hopper Celebration

Sixty Northwestern students attended the four-day conference in Orlando, Florida.Read more

How to Get Better at Embracing Unknowns

Jessica Hullman's Scientific American article weighs pros and cons of common data visualizations.Read more

Sara Sood Receives 2019 Cole-Higgins Award

Northwestern Engineering faculty, Daniel Abrams, Sara Owsley Sood, and Kathleen Stair received this year’s awards recognizing outstanding teaching and advising.Read more

MS and PhD application deadlines approaching

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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 intentionally positions itself as an ideal hub for interdisciplinary research by fostering a culture of inclusivity and promoting collaborations across a wide range of disciplines at our numerous top-ranked schools. In addition, the University continues to deepen its commitment to this field of study by radically expanding the faculty and developing state-of-the-art facilities to support our vision. This is a combination that offers our researchers and students an experience like no other.

Read a message from the Chair

Join a Growing Team

Faculty positions in CS

We are hiring new tenure-track faculty — in core computer science and collaboratively with top-ranked schools of medicine, law, journalism, and business (CS + X) — as well as a number of non-tenure track teaching faculty.

To support this growth of our faculty, increase our research impact, and meet growing student demand, we also invite applications for postdoctoral fellowships in computer science.

Explore Careers

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

PhD in Computer Engineering

PhD in Computer Science and Learning Sciences

PhD in Technology and Social Behavior

Department News

  • Inaugural Deep Learning Symposium Looks to Future of Artificial Intelligence

    Industry partners, researchers, and students gathered for a daylong symposium on the future of AI, machine learning, and deep learning at the inaugural symposium of the Center for Deep Learning.

  • CUE.NEXT Workshops Kick Off in Chicago

    Interdisciplinary, inter-institutional faculty teams from various institutions came together at the first CUE.NEXTWorkshop on November 18 and 19 in Chicago to brainstorm the role of computing in undergraduate education. The workshops —supported by the National Science Foundation —are led by Northwestern University, Purdue University, and University of ColoradoBoulder.

  • New Collaborative Institute Aims to Explore Theoretical Foundations of Data Science

    IDEAL is a multi-discipline (computer science, statistics, economics, electrical engineering, and operations research) and multi-institution (Northwestern University, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, and University of Chicago) institute focused on understanding key aspects of data science theory. Supported by the National Science Foundation HDR TRIPODS program, IDEAL aims to develop the foundations of data science by combining perspectives from algorithms, econometrics, and machine learning.

  • Northwestern Computer Science 2019-20 Distinguished Lecture Series explores CS+X, virtual reality, and complex networks

    The Computer Science Department is bringing thought-provoking conversations and ideas at the cutting edge of technology to the Northwestern Engineering community with its 2019-20 CS Distinguished Lecture Series, featuring Jon Kleinberg as a Dean’s Series Speaker.

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Department Events

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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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