Computer Science

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Northwestern CS Welcomes New Faculty

New faculty members strengthen the department's portfolio in cybersecurity, AI, data mining, and computational imaging.Read more

Computer Science Leaders Examine Emerging Trends in CS Education

During a virtual event, computer science department chairs and faculty discussed current challenges.Read more

Coding Costumes

A new generative methods class bridges programming and and theatre through virtual costumes.Read more

V.S. Subrahmanian to Join Northwestern CS and Buffett Institute

Cybersecurity researcher Subrahmanian will be jointly appointed between computer science and Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.Read more

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.

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Department News

Game Boy

Magazine

A Future Played without Batteries

Professor Josiah Hester is bringing attention to climate change through the power — battery-free power, that is — of video games.

  • Souradip Ghosh Receives DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship

    Undergraduate Souradip Ghosh (co-advised by Simone Campanoni and Peter Dinda) received a Department of Energy (DOE) Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF). The DOE CSGF "fosters a community of energetic and committed PhD students, alumni, DOE laboratory staff, and other scientists who want to have an impact on the nation while advancing their research." Souradip will be joining the Carnegie Mellon computer science PhD program in the fall.

    Carnegie Mellon University

  • Northwestern CS Welcomes New Tenure-Track and Teaching-Track Faculty

    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.

  • Computer Science Leaders Examine Emerging Trends in CS Education

    During the Northwestern Computer Science conference “Emerging Trends in Computer Science Education” on June 28, computer science department chairs and faculty discussed current challenges.

  • Cybersecurity Researcher V.S. Subrahmanian to Join Northwestern CS and Buffett Institute

    Renowned cybersecurity and counterterrorism expert V.S. Subrahmanian will join the Northwestern Engineering faculty on September 1, 2021 as Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science with a joint appointment as faculty fellow at the Northwestern Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.

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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

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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