Wittenberg University

Academic Catalog

Professor James L. Noyes, director

The methods of Computational Science (COSC) have been applied to problems such as aeronautical design, environmental improvement, neuroscience, pharmaceutical design, and weather forecasting. More recently, high performance computation, traditionally used in physics and chemistry, has been applied to biology, geology, environmental studies, and some of the social sciences. The development of COSC as an interdisciplinary field has had a profound effect on the way that basic and applied research in science, engineering, and industry are conducted. Less than ten years ago, these methods required very expensive supercomputers and specialized parallel programming techniques to be effective. Today, a large percentage of these applications can be done on workstations and personal computers. The Computational Science program facilitates an in-depth study of computational techniques and modeling approaches as they are applied to the sciences. The program is beneficial to students from any discipline that involves empirical approaches to gain an understanding of the world. This is especially true for students pursuing undergraduate research, including those students intending to pursue graduate studies in such disciplines.

Requirements for Minor in Computational Science
Nineteen to 26 semester hours are required for the Computational Science minor, in accordance with the following: Computer Science 150 (Introduction to Programming) or equivalent, either Mathematics 201 (Calculus I) or Mathematics 131 (Essentials of Calculus), Mathematics/Computer Science 260 (Computational Models and Methods), at least 8 semester hours in elective coursework from courses (listed below) containing a significant integrated COSC component, and a capstone project from a separate activity (0-4 semester hours), which substantially involves computational modeling and analysis and results in a formal product such as a written report and/or professional presentation. Note: Majors in Mathematics or Computer Science are required to have a laboratory experience in two courses that meet the Natural World goal (the General Education program requires only one.)

Required Courses (11-18 semester hours)

1. Computer Science 150Q. Introduction to Programming. 2-5 semester hours. Prerequisites: Level 22 placement on the Mathematics Placement Exam. (Only the first half semester covering the essentials of imperative programming techniques — incuding arrays — for 2 semester hours of credit is necessary.)
2. One of the following courses:
   Mathematics 201Q. Calculus I. 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: MATH 120 or level 25 placement on the Mathematics Placement Exam.
   Mathematics 131Q. Essentials of Calculus I. 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: MATH 120 or level 25 placement on the Mathematics Placement Exam.
3. Mathematics/Computer Science 260. Computational Models and Methods. 5 semester hours. Prerequisites: Either Mathematics 201 or 131, either Computer Science 150 or permission of the instructor.
4. Capstone Experience (0-4 semester hours)
   In the Capstone Experience, students must demonstrate that they can apply the knowledge from the required and elective coursework in a substantial project within a given discipline. This must involved a significant and integrated computational focus throughout the project. The project must be equivalent to a creditbearing activity of at least 4 semester hours, typically in the student’s major, though it may not simply be a project completed for the required or elective coursework for the major. For students in any major field, the capstone project could take the form of a required senior thesis, a departmental honors project, a project related to one of Wittenberg’s summer programs, a project from an internship, an independent study in the major, a directed student research project, etc. Regardless of the form, the project must result in a formal product such as a professional presentation or report. Before beginning the capstone project, the student must submit a project proposal for approval to both the Director of the Computational Science Minor and the Chairperson of the participating department. This proposal will specify the name of a faculty member to supervise the project, will detail how computational models and computational methods will be used in the project, and describe the plans for the formal presentation of the work. A formal presentation, either written, oral, or both, will be evaluated by the Director, Chairperson, and supervising faculty member.

Elective Courses (8 Semester hours with at atleast two of the following)

Biology

341. Limology. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Chemistry 121 and 162.

342. Stream Ecology. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Chemistry 121, 162, and Biology 341.

346. Ecology. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: One group 2, 3 or 4 Biology course and Math Placement 22.

347. Evolution. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Two Biology courses in addition to 170 and 180.

Chemistry

311. Physical Chemistry I. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Chemistry 281, Mathematics 202 and Physics 218.

321. Inorganic Chemistry. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Chemistry 281, Mathematics 202, and Physics 218.

352. Physical Chemistry II. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Chemistry 311.

372. Biochemistry II. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Chemistry 271, Mathematics 201 and Physics 200.

Computer Science

Computer Science/Mathematics 320. Numerical Analysis. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Mathematics 202, Mathematics 205, Computer Science 150.

Computer Science 350. Artifical Intelligence 4 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Mathematics 171 and 205, Computer Science 250.

Computer Science 370. Computer Graphics 4 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Computer Science 275.

Computer Science/Mathematics 380. Optimization

Prerequisites: Computer Science 150, Mathematics 201, Mathematics 205.

Economics

300. Econometrics. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Economics 190, Management 210 or its equivalent.

370. Mathematics for Economists. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Economics 310, Mathematics 201 or Mathematics 131.

Geology

220. Environmental Geology. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Geology 150 or 110 and a score of 22 on Math Placement Exam.

240. Process Geomorphology. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Geology 150, Geology 210 or permission of instructor.

400. Sedimentology. 5 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Geology 210, 300.

Mathematics

Mathematics 205. Applied Matrix Algebra. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisite: Mathematics 201.

Mathematics 215. Differential Equations. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisite: Mathematics 202.

Mathematics 227. Data Analysis. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisite: a score of 25 on the Math Placement Exam.

Physics

311. Classical Mechanics. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisite: Physics 220.

320. Computational Physics. 2 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Physics 220, Mathematics 202, Computer Science 150.

321. Signal Processing. 2 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Physics 218, Mathematics 202.

332. Electromagnetism. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Physics 311, Mathematics 212.

410. Mathematical Physics. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisites: Physics 311, Mathematics 212, Mathematics 215.

411. Quantum Mechanics. 4 semester hours.

Prerequisite: Physics 311.