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.
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
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.