2009-2010 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

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Linux servers for computational work,
and a cluster of Sun servers. The
research infrastructure includes hundreds
of workstations and PCs running
Solaris, Windows XP, Linux, and Mac
OSX; 7 terabytes of disk space are
backed up by a 48TB Sun Thumper and
a Sun StorEdge LT02 with 100-tape
library unit.
Research labs contain Puma 500
and IBM robotic arms; a UTAH-MIT
dexterous hand; an Adept-1 robot; three
mobile research robots; a real-time
defocus range sensor; PC interactive 3-
D graphics workstations with 3-D position
and orientation trackers; prototype
wearable computers, wall-sized stereo
projection systems; see-through headmounted
displays; a networking testbed
with three Cisco 7500 backbone routers,
traffic generators, Ethernet switches,
Sun Ray thin clients, and a 17-node
(34CPU) IBM Netfinity cluster. The
department uses a 3COM SIP IP phone
system. The protocol was developed in
the department.
The servers are connected on a
gigabit network; all have remote consoles
and remote power for easy maintenance
after hours. The rest of the
department’s computers are connected
via a switched 100 Mb/s Ethernet network,
which has direct connectivity to
the campus OC-3 Internet and Internet2
gateways. The campus has 802.11a/b
wireless LAN coverage.
The research facility is supported by
a full-time staff of professional system
administrators and programmers, aided
by a number of part-time student system
administrators.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Computer science majors at Columbia
study an integrated curriculum, partially
in areas with an immediate relationship
to the computer, such as programming
languages, operating systems, and
computer architecture, and partially in
theoretical computer science and mathematics.
Thus, students obtain the
background to pursue their interests
both in applications and in theoretical
developments.
Practical experience is an essential
component of the computer science
program. Undergraduate students are
often involved in advanced faculty
research projects using state-of-the-art
computing facilities. Qualified majors
sometimes serve as consultants at the
Computer Center, which operates several
labs with microcomputers and terminals
available at convenient locations
on the campus.
Upper-level students in computer
science may assist faculty members
with research projects, particularly in the
development of software. Ongoing faculty
projects include algorithmic analysis,
computational complexity, software tool
design, distributed computation, modeling
and performance evaluation, computer
networks, computer architecture,
CAD for digital systems, computer
graphics, programming environments,
expert systems, natural language
processing, computer vision, robotics,
multicomputer design, user interfaces,
VLSI applications, artificial intelligence,
combinatorial modeling, virtual environments,
and microprocessor applications.
Students are strongly encouraged
to arrange for participation by consulting
individual faculty members.
Most graduates of the computer
science program at Columbia step
directly into career positions in computer
science with industry or government,
or continue their education in graduate
degree programs. Many choose to
combine computer science with a second
career interest by taking additional
programs in business administration,
medicine, or other professional studies.
For further information on the undergraduate
computer science program,
please see the home page at www.cs.
columbia.edu/education/undergrad and
the Quick Guide at www.cs.columbia.
edu/education/undergrad/seasguide.
Technical Electives
All technical electives except those
noted in each track must be approved
by the adviser. In every case, the technical
elective course must be at the 3000
level or higher. All technical electives
should be taken in computer science.
With the adviser’s approval, however,
courses in other departments may be
taken as technical electives; in every
such case, the subject of the course
must have a strong and obvious connection
with computer science. COMS
W4400: Computers and society and
ELEN E4901: Telecommunication networks
and applications are not acceptable
as technical electives and are the
only advanced computer science courses
that cannot be taken as electives.
Students are encouraged to select
one of the following five preapproved
groupings of electives called “tracks.”
SEAS 2009–2010