Computer Science

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Vishy Swaminathan

Adobe Research Visits Northwestern

Three leaders from Adobe Research met with Northwestern students and faculty members to discuss potential research collaborations and engagement. Read more

Ethan Pineda

Northwestern Scientists Launch Projects Using the Vera C. Rubin

McCormick Professors Emma Alexander, Han Liu, Aravindan Vijayaraghavan, and Aggelos Katsaggelos will work on projects that include developing new AI tools and studying the universe’s deepest secrets.Read more

Strong Northwestern Presence at EC’25

Strong Northwestern Presence at EC’25

Northwestern Engineering faculty and students participated in the annual forum for advances in theory, empirics, and applications at the interface of economics and computation.Read more

Bennett Lindberg

Sam Kriegman Receives Prestigious NSF CAREER Award

By generalizing the optimization techniques of artificial neural networks to the design of robots, Kriegman and his team aim to evolve novel robots with important new capabilities that are difficult or impossible to design by hand.Read more

About the Department

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

Watch our video:Why Join Northwestern 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 belonging, mentorship, and student support. This combination offers our students and researchers an experience like no other.

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Department 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 Artificial Intelligence

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

Human-Computer Interaction Certificate

Master of Science in Computer Engineering

Master of Science in Information Technology

Master of Science in Robotics

Minor in Machine Learning and Data Science

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. 

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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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