Why Minor in CPSC?

There is currently a great need for individuals who have an advanced knowledge of a particular discipline and a significant understanding of the role that computation plays in solving the complex problems of that discipline. Students who study the computational methods needed to solve problems such as those inherent in the human genome project, or in creating systems that model global warming, or who study Geographic Information Systems, or who process images taken by satellites or planetary probes will be increasingly valuable in the sciences.

The role of computing in a liberal arts education has undergone a significant evolution during the last decade. In the early 1980s, the computer was starting to emerge as a powerful tool that could be applied in widely diverse areas. The primary need was for highly trained computer scientists who were capable of building specific application programs. The average educated person was not expected to have a knowledge of computing. However, as computers became more pervasive, society's expectations grew. By the late 1980s, an educated person was expected to understand computer basics and how to use existing software packages.

Today, college graduates are expected to be able to use increasingly sophisticated software, and are often expected to be able to tailor that software to their particular needs. For instance, "uses" of electronic spreadsheets or a symbolic computing packages, such as Maple and Mathematica, can range from numeric manipulation, to development of a network of formulas that calculates and maintains consistencies between the application data, to simulations that change dynamically to illustrate changes in basic assumptions of the simulation.

Many areas of study, such as business, mathematics, and science have grown to have high expectations of computing knowledge. Educated people in these fields are expected to understand more than the general impact of computation on their discipline. Graduates are expected to use special programming languages to construct computer programs that aid in their daily tasks. Examples include databases and mathematical programming languages.

The trend towards an increasing need for understanding computing has also resulted in what can be called "hybrid professionals". Areas such as biochemistry call for scientists that understand not only the use of computation as an aid in performing their tasks, but understand the implication computation has on changing the approach to problems in their discipline. For example, the advent of massively parallel computers has led to significant new theories on the solution of the human genome sequencing problem. Graduates in these areas are introduced to the cross-fertilization between computing and their discipline, and may pursue further study at the graduate level.

The realization of the pervasive and multi-faceted role of computing has served as the impetus for the Computational Science Minor at UW - Eau Claire. We have designed a truly interdisciplinary program of applied computation that serves to formalize the ubiquitous role of computing in higher education, and that provides an environment that encourages the growth of the program in order to systematically serve the current and future needs of nearly all students at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.