Art+ Design

Design and Computer Science, BS

Combine a strong foundation in computing with design, a discipline in which computing plays a critical role.

Gain an understanding of computing that is critical in business, healthcare, science, design and other areas of our information-driven society. Computing knowledge and computing technology also contribute to resolving major issues in an increasingly complex world. Design proposes alternative futures and creates new choices using principles and processes to create, compose, and construct meaning. Students in this combined major often have an interest in human-centered design methods used in developing digital interfaces and applications that allow audiences to take an active role to achieve meaningful goals. Seeking a broad understanding of principles and systems of perception, communication, and action, their work connects people to people and people to information and environments.

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Co-op Opportunities

design and media sectors

Ronik Design + Development, Sametz Blackstone Associates Inc, Rue Gilt Groupe, BounceX, Ifactory Inc., JCDecaux North America, Mullen Advertising Inc, NBC Universal, Unispaceb Smartwebs, Inc., AutoDesk, Hubspot, Ogilvy, IDEO

news and publishing sectors

The Boston Globe LLC, Patriot Ledger, Harvard Business Publishing, HMH Books and Media

arts sectors

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boch Center

food and beverage sectors

America's Test Kitchen, Kind LLC, Best Bees Company, BevSpot Inc., The Boston Beer Company, Inc

fashion and travel sectors

New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc, Reebok International Ltd., Wayfair, The TJX Companies, Inc., Trip Advisor LLC

government and civic sectors

City of Boston, City of Cambridge, Boston Neighborhood Network, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, MassDOT/MBTA

health care and pharmaceutical sectors

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., Massachusetts General Hospital, Imprivata, Inc., Vertex Pharmaceuticals

educational sector

NU Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning through Research, edX, EF Education First, WGBH Educational Foundation

financial and business sector

Commonwealth Financial Network, Fidelity Investments, John Hancock, MFS Investment Management, State Street Corporation, Thomson Reuters, The Boston Consulting Group International Inc, Talent Acquisition Group

Career Opportunities

Application Support Developer

Back End Engineer

Creative Developer

Designer

Director of Development

Experience Designer

Frontend Developer

Frontend Engineer

Fullstack Software Engineer

Graphic Designer

Interaction Designer

Interface Designer

Product Designer

Software Designer

Software Engineer

UI/UX Designer

User Interface Engineer

Web Developer & Designer

Multidisciplinary Skills

collaboration
creative problem-solving
critical thinking
data analysis
design research
design software
experience mapping
graphic representation
fabrication
facilitation
human factors
information design
interviews
leadership
listening
observation
personas
programming
project management
problem framing
rapid prototyping
semiotics
sketching
technical skills
typography
UI/UX design
user stories
user testing
verbal and written communication
visual synthesis
visualization

Learning Outcomes

Computer Science learning outcomes

Students will be able to:

Create formal data definitions given an English-language description of a problem, and apply these data definitions to create and verify specific data examples.

Apply a series of systematic design recipes to a variety of programming problems, including documentation, template, coding, and testing steps.

Utilize a class-based (object-oriented) language to solve a variety of computing problems.

Verbally articulate the benefits and drawbacks of solving different problems using programming paradigms.

Write mid-sized programs using concepts (e.g., objects, classes, messages, methods, interfaces, encapsulation, polymorphism, and inheritance) of object-oriented programming.

Create and maintain applications using the Java programming language.

Create a software system by coordinating in small-scale teams, involving division of functionality, creation of interfaces, and integration and testing of software modules.

Develop programs using a systematic design process involving specification, design, documentation, implementation, testing, and maintenance.

Design learning outcomes

Apply iterative design processes to create, revise, evaluate, and develop effective prototypes and innovative solutions.

Engage human-centered design research methods and systems thinking to identify and understand values, goals, motivations of intended audiences as a mode of inquiry, question framing and guide to action.

Develop a high level of craft and technical skills in a relevant range of media and tools and effectively weigh applicability for intended audiences and outcomes.

Develop and realize intent, concept and content with awareness of context and consequence.

Implement visual patterns incorporating text, image, diagram including temporal and spatial representations to recognize, categorize, and articulate significant form and meaning

Employ and embody ethical practices, team and cross-disciplinary collaboration, and effective communication and presentation skills.

Apply relevant communication theories and principles and appreciate the pervasive and long-term impact of design decisions on people and societies.