Author: Shilpa Bhongir
While Occidental College emphasizes interdisciplinary coursework, extracurricular activities and engagement with the community, it lacks emphasis on a critical part of a student’s education today: technological proficiency.
Occidental should focus on expanding its computer science program to help students understand the connections between technology and the liberal arts, thereby empowering students to harness and refine tools for the future.
Understanding computational language is not restricted to coding or mundane programming. It’s about designing systems to solve problems and creating platforms for self-expression and communication. These are skills that not only complement any liberal arts degree, but also are necessary so that all majors – not just those in math, engineering and science – can develop tools for expression in the new digital age.
“A broad approach to computational thinking and understanding the relationships between computation and culture is an essential part of a liberal arts education today,” Director for the Center of Digital Learning and Research Daniel Chamberlain said.
It’s unrealistic to expect Occidental to rival the course offerings of computer science departments in other major institutions, which are tied heavily to their math and engineering departments. Occidental has an opportunity to distinguish itself from other colleges by not only directing computer science education toward certain students, but also emphasizing the intersection of technology and the liberal arts to reach a wider array of disciplines.
We also can’t ignore the nature of the workforce that we will be entering after we graduate. It’s no secret that careers in computer programming, engineering, math and science have been heralded as the beacons of opportunity for our generation.
Their lucrative salaries and high demand reflect the age in which we live. But that does not mean anyone pursuing a liberal arts degree should jump ship into another academic field.
For instance, Forbes Magazine published its list last December of the top 10 critical job skills sought after by employers. The top five attributes were “critical-thinking, complex problem solving, judgment and decision-making, active listening and computers and electronic skills.”
This list indicates that computer skills complement what our liberal arts education has already been providing us. Now, the college’s next step is to buttress our education with the necessary technical skills that help us become valuable additions in the workforce.
Students have already demonstrated interest in technology education at Occidental, as indicated by the College’s creation of a computer science minor last year.
“When we actually defined the minor, the computer science courses somewhere between doubled and tripled in attendance,” Director of the Computer Science Program and mathematics professor Jefferey Miller said.
The college should expand course offerings by including more non-science lab courses that focus on hands on digital learning, as well as more comprehensive website and mobile app development courses.
With tools to create websites and smart phone applications, students and student-led organizations can create technology that can improve the Occidental community or promote social causes.
An expanded computer science program gives Occidental the chance to fulfill its mission to create a truly holistic liberal arts education. As we enter into the world, becoming leaders and change makers, it’s important that we know how to command the forces that drive our day-to-day interactions. Remaining true to Occidental’s liberal arts education means giving students the well-rounded knowledge they need to become successful members of society.
Shilpa Bhongir is an undeclared first-year. She can be reached at bhongir@oxy.edu.
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