Roux Program

Bates College and the Roux Institute (affiliated with Northeastern University) are excited to offer this partnership, allowing current Bates students to take computer science (CS) or data science (DS) courses within the Roux Align Program.

About the Bates / Roux Align Program

The Roux Align Program is intended for students who have little or no background in CS or data science.

In the Align CS Program, the Roux offers four Align courses intended to capture the most important elements of an undergraduate CS major, such that a student from any background completing those courses will be well-prepared to take further Masters-level courses in CS.  (Visit the Roux Align Masters in CS web page for more information.) Similarly, the Align DS Program is intended for students “without any prior programming experience” and provides “a comprehensive foundation for processing, modeling, analyzing, and working with data”. (Visit the Roux Align Masters in DS web page for more information.)

Bates College seeks to nominate students — who will have second-semester sophomore, junior, or senior standing — to enroll in one (1) Roux Align course during the next semester.  (Note:  Students must be enrolled in at least 3 credits of courses at Bates to be considered full-time.  Enrolling in a Roux course does not count as part of this 3-credit minimum.)  Students will complete an application form linked below, and their application will be reviewed by the faculty of Digital and Computational Studies (DCS).  Students will be supported and advised before and during the course by DCS and by the Roux Institute.  Coursework completed at the Roux Institute will be eligible to be applied to a graduate degree program at the Roux Institute.

Information Session: Wed 15 Nov @ 6pm, Pettengill G13

Course Options

Based on their experience and course availability, students will be able to apply to enroll in one of the following Align courses at the Roux Institute. (Details about the Align CS courses can be found here, while details about the Align DS courses can be found here.)

  • CS 5001: Intensive Foundations of Computer Science
    • Note:  Successful completion of DCS 109 at Bates will allow the student to exempt from Roux’s CS 5001.
  • CS 5002: Discrete Structures
    • Note: If you have successfully completed MATH 221 (or equivalent), please contact the DCS Chair to discuss options.
  • CS 5004: Object-Oriented Design
  • CS 5008: Data Structures, Algorithms, & their Applications within Computer Systems
  • DS 5010: Introduction to Programming for Data Science
  • DS 5020: Introduction to Linear Algebra and Probability for Data Science

The schedule for Roux courses for W2024 is provided below:

Course Name Term Course Title Day Time
CS 5002a W2024 Discrete Structures Tue 1:00pm-4:20pm
CS 5002b W2024 Discrete Structures Tue 6:00pm-9:20pm
CS 5004a W2024 Object Oriented Design Mon 1:00pm-4:20pm
CS 5005a (Rec) W2024 Recitation for 5004a Thu 1:00pm-2:30pm
CS 5004b W2024 Object Oriented Design Tue 6:00pm-9:20pm
CS 5005b (Rec) W2024 Recitation for 5004b Thu 6:00pm-7:30pm
CS 5008a W2024 Data Structures & Algorithms Wed 1:00pm-4:20pm
CS 5009a (Rec) W2024 Recitation for 5008a Fri 1:00pm-2:30pm
CS 5008b W2024 Data Structures & Algorithms Wed 6:00pm-9:20pm
CS 5009b (Rec) W2024 Recitation for 5008b Sat 9:30am-11:00am
DS 5010 W2024 Intro to Prog for Data Science Tue & Thu 6:00pm-7:40pm
DS 5020 W2024 Intro to Linear Algebra & Prob for DS Mon 6:00pm-9:20pm

Roux courses are typically taken in sequence.  So, for example, if you have completed DCS 109 or equivalent, you can begin enrolling in CS 5002 or DS 5010.

     
  • Computer Science: CS 5002 is a prerequisite to CS 5004, and CS 5004 is a prerequisite to CS 5008.
  • Data Science: DS 5010 can be taken after DCS 109 (or CS 5001). DS 5010 is a prerequisite to DS 5020.

(If you have a compelling reason to take a course out of order, speak first with the DCS Chair, Barry Lawson: blawson@bates.edu.)

Note: Bates students may take Roux courses either virtually (synchronously) from Bates or in person at the Roux. (Most students have chosen the virtual-synchronous option.)

Application Process

Students interested in participating in this unique program must meet the following criteria:

  • Second-semester sophomore, junior, or senior class standing at time of enrollment, with priority given to higher-level students.
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
  • For courses numbered 5002 and above, students must have completed DCS 109 Intro to Computing and Programming or another entry-level computer science course.  (Direct related questions to the Chair of DCS, Barry Lawson: blawson@bates.edu.)
  • If you are accepted, you must commit to enroll in a Roux course by Fri 01 Dec 2023.

Application Deadline: 11:59pm Mon 27 Nov 2023
Deadline to Commit to Enroll: 5pm Thu 07 Dec 2023

To apply, by the deadline of 11:59pm Mon 27 Nov 2023 complete the appropriate application form linked below:

Expectations of Students

Given the unique nature of this program, there are some expectations and commitments asked of students.  These include:

  • The student will enroll in three (3) Bates credits, while taking one (1) Roux Institute course. (Please enroll in 4 Bates credits until after acceptance into the program.)
  • Although the Roux Align courses cover undergraduate CS or DS material, the delivery of the course will be unlike a typical Bates course.  That is, courses meet twice per week for a longer period (separate lecture and recitation meetings), and most courses will have less-structured assignments (more design input required of the student).  In addition, you will be taking courses alongside other members of the broader Maine community, many of whom will be older and have full-time employment and/or family obligations.
  • The academic semester and breaks may not match the Bates academic calendar. Students must plan to adhere to both calendars and participate in finals.
  • Courses at the Roux Institute will be offered remotely and in-person. Please consider the transportation of about 1 hour each way if you would like to take the course in person. Transportation can be organized by the Roux Institute for those that need it.
  • The student is expected to engage with the Instructor and TA support offered through the Roux.
  • The Roux course will count as transfer credit toward the 32 credits necessary for graduation, subject to the overall transfer limits.
  • Up to two Roux courses can count towards the DCS Minor, subject to the total “up to two of the six [DCS Minor] courses” stipulation described in enumeration #2 at the Bates DCS Minor web page.
  • Students need to earn a C- or better in the course in order for it to transfer.  The course name will not show on the Bates transcript but it will indicate a course taken at the Roux Institute.