About Computer Science at JMU
Mission Statement
To help persons discover whether they have ability and interest in computing, and to empower those who do to extend the application of computers to the problems of society.
Goals
- "To help persons discover:" Computer science is skill oriented. For individuals to grow they must be active participants in the application of knowledge. We are committed to providing a variety of active learning experiences.
- "Whether they have the ability and interest in computing:" The rapid advancement of computing creates a broad spectrum of novel opportunities and roles for computer scientists in our society. We are committed to providing a rich environment that allows individuals to find a niche in this spectrum suited to their aptitudes and interests.
- "And to empower those who do:" Empowerment implies knowledge of the machines, algorithms and applications already developed, so our students can build on the shoulders of their predecessors. To apply a computer to a problem is a practical matter, not just a theoretical one. Because of the complexity of the systems that are being created, empowerment implies the ability to manage persons, time and other resources to accomplish such goals within the means allocated to them.
- "To extend the application of computers:" By extending is meant not just any use of computers, but some use that claims new ground. To give a least-case example, entering data into a spreadsheet does not extend the use of computers, while setting up a spreadsheet to perform a customized data analysis does extend the application of computers to that particular problem. Stronger examples would include developing applications, even extending the concept of computing itself, to open up previously unknown application domains. The value of computer scientists is in their ability to be the cambium of growth in the development of computing. To fulfill its mission, all members of this department must stay on that growing edge. Our discipline is ripe beyond the norm with conceptual and technological change, so the development of programs and courses that stay abreast of change is our habit and necessity.
- "To the problems of society:" A wide-ranging liberal education is particularly valuable for computer scientists, since often their task is to apply computing to a problem domain in some other discipline, or even more frequently, across several disciplines at once. The ability to communicate with experts in a broad range of social and scientific disciplines is critical. Our efforts flourish in the context of the wider university, and are particularly needful of integration with other departments. We therefore participate as computer scientists in the application of computing to the research of our colleagues, and as educators in maintaining, designing and implementing the wider mission of the university.
