Computer Science

Department Head: Sara E. Sprenkle;  sprenkles@wlu.edu; 540-458-8309

Academic Division: The College

Over the course of three decades, the computer science department at Washington and Lee has built a curriculum that provides outstanding computer science education in a liberal arts setting.  We offer students courses in all of the major areas of computing, as well as opportunities to participate in several ongoing research programs sponsored by our faculty.

Beginning students take a two-semester introductory programming sequence course in the Python language, where they become proficient in problem solving and developing software using the latest and most advanced programming techniques.  They then take courses in software development with Java, computer organization (assembly language and C programming), programming language design, and algorithm analysis.  Electives in many areas are then available. Research areas included robotics, parallel computing, machine learning, security and privacy, human-computer interaction, and software engineering.

Honors: An Honors Program in computer science is offered for qualified students; see the department head for details.

Offerings

Computer Science, B.A.  

Computer Science, B.S.  

Computer Science minor          

Faculty

First date is the year in which the faculty member began service as regular faculty at the University. Second date is the year of appointment to the present rank.

Mohamed Taha Khan, Ph.D.—(2020)-2020
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago

Simon D. Levy, Ph.D.—(2002)-2015
Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D., Brandeis University

Kefu Lu, Ph.D.—(2019)-2019
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis

Elizabeth Matthews, Ph.D.—(2018)-2024
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D., University of Florida

Sara E. Sprenkle, Ph.D.—(2007)-2013
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D., University of Delaware

Cody Watson, Ph.D.—(2019)-2019
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D., College of William and Mary