Digital and Computational Studies at Bates

Visit the full Digital and Computational Studies site

The Program in Digital and Computational Studies allows students to explore society’s relationship with digital technology.

With courses in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and beyond, DCS is geared toward accessible knowledge that can be applied across multiple disciplines. All seniors majoring in DCS participate in a closely mentored capstone project, where they get the chance to work with a local partner to research, design, and build a solution for a real-world problem affecting people in their community.

Contact Us

Carrie Diaz Eaton (Chair)
Pettengill Hall
dcs-chair@bates.edu

What You Will Learn

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To develop proficiency in fundamental aspects of algorithmic thinking, software development, and data science

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How to use critical theory to identify ethical and social issues and structures of inequality in computing and digital spaces

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How to engage in professional practices that encourage collaboration, transparency, and equitable access

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How to build, design, analyze, and critique digital tools and algorithms

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How to communicate complex ideas both orally and in writing, appropriate to the audience

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To interrogate the assumptions of the digital world

Life After Bates

The digital and computational studies major is a strong foundation for a successful career across a wide variety of fields, including software development, AI engineering, and data analysis. The skills and knowledge gained from this degree are also transferrable to fields as far ranging as art and education to politics, government, and technology.

94%

of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school — settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.

Selected Graduate Schools

Brown University
Northeastern University
Tufts Medical School
University of Colorado
Yale University

A student browses an interactive website on her laptop during a Public History in the Digital Age class in Bonney Science Center.

A professor sitting on a stool motions to the projector screen while teaching Data Structures and Algorithms in Petengill Hall.

Students sit in a small group and share ideas during a Public History in the Digital Age class in Bonney Science Center.

A student leans to look at a peers laptop during a small group discussion in Roger Williams Hall.

Students work in the computer lab in Hedge Hall during an Intro to Computer Science for Software Development class.

A student contemplates while working in the computer lab in Hedge Hall during an Intro to Computer Science for Software Development class.

A student engages in class conversation during an Intro to Computer Science for Software Development class in Hedge Hall.

A professor points while answering student questions during a Public History in the Digital Age class in Bonney Science Center.

Why Study Digital and Computational Studies at Bates?

Digital and computational studies is a hands-on major that turns students into problem solvers, whether they’re working on using computers to solve human problems or breaking down complex tasks so that a computer can understand. Faculty advisors work closely with students throughout their study, and many faculty members offer employment opportunities for students to further develop their skills as teaching or research assistants.

Featured Courses

Meet the Faculty

Faculty in digital and computational studies lead the way in cutting-edge research across the field. They have been trained or have held research positions at prestigious institutions such as Cornell University, Brown University, and the University of Chicago, as well as at NASA, Google, and Amazon. Their research has been published in renowned journals, and faculty members are leaders in their scholarly communities, regularly gaining national awards. In addition, their work has been covered by news outlets such as Science, Nature, NPR, and The Washington Post.