Concordia’s Ten Goals for Student
Academic Life
from a Computer Science Perspective
(from
Teaching at Concordia, No. 19, 1996-97, p 23)
- Love
of learning: Students must be prepared to sustain their own growth
in the field by developing a life-long love of learning. This is essential
in the field of computer science where changes are occurring so rapidly.
- Commitment
to excellence: Students should appreciate the elegance of a
smoothly operating computer system or a well-formulated solution to a
problem, and should be committed to achieving excellence in their work as
well as other areas of their lives.
- Habits
of self-discipline and well-being: Students should develop the
maturity and discipline necessary to become self-sufficient in the field of
computer science. The rapid pace
at which technology is developing requires that computer scientists be
willing to devote much time and energy to staying current in their field.
- Growth
in thinking skills: Students should develop a high level of
reasoning ability so they will be able to identify problems which can
appropriately be solved by a computer and then perform the analysis, modeling
and coding necessary for a solution.
The study of computer science fits well with this college goal
since students have many opportunities to practice thinking skills.
- Competence
in basic skills and problem solving: Students in computer science
should have good quantitative skills and be able to communicate
effectively both orally and in writing. When doing research to solve a
problem, students should be able to locate information efficiently whether
in written or electronic form.
Students should have the background knowledge and reading skills
necessary to understand and apply the information found in current
computer science journals.
- Growth
in independent thinking:
As students mature in their study of computer science, they should
develop greater ability to think independently, learn to formulate and
test possible solutions to a problem, and be able to synthesize ideas taken
from several different sources.
- Breadth
of knowledge: The Ten Goals for
Student Academic Life (Agenda, 1984) recommends that as part of their
liberal arts education, every Concordia graduate be able to use the
computer as a creative tool at a skill level determined by the student’s
major. The department offers two introductory
courses in software applications (CSC 104 & CSC 214) to help students
achieve this goal. These courses and others also broaden student
understanding by dealing with issues such as the ethical use of computers
and the impact of information technology on modern society. In addition,
as a graduation requirement, all computer science majors must
complete Concordia’s core curriculum
which further provides them with a breadth of knowledge.
- In-depth
knowledge of a discipline: The present computer science
curriculum is designed to prepare students primarily for graduate study or
professional employment. Graduates of the program receive numerous
offers of employment, and those choosing to do graduate study have done
well. In addition to their regular coursework, students have many
opportunities
for hands-on experience such as helping to manage the campus network,
working as lab consultants, participating in customized research projects,
or completing off-campus
internships. Students are also encouraged to pursue their own,
non-credit computer projects that would help increase the depth of their
knowledge.
- An
informed religious commitment:
All computer science majors complete two religion courses as part
of their core curriculum requirements for graduation. In the department
this college goal is implicit in the role models provided by dedicated
faculty members, the concern shown by faculty members for their students,
and in the many informal contacts between students, faculty, and staff
outside the classroom.
- Reflection
on moral values: One of the departmental goals is to make students
aware of the ethical issues involved in computing and the impact that
information systems have on society. Students are encouraged to adhere to
the ACM/IEEE
Code of Ethics, to reflect on the relationship between people and technology, and to
accept responsibility for the proper use of technology.
Click here for a list of Concordia's
Computer Science Department Goals (for CS Majors).
Click here for details on Student CS Portfolios.