The first time I got a glimpse of the Computer Science (CS) department at Hopkins was at Meet the Flock during orientation week. This was a fun event where you got to meet other engineering students and your faculty mentor. Since then, the department has given me many opportunities for research and learning.
Here are a few things I love about the computer science department at Hopkins:
1. Wide variety of classes
My CS classes are not just about coding and theory—rather they change how you think. For instance, I discovered I really enjoy thinking mathematically about computer science, and this even prompted me to pursue a minor in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Beyond core computer science classes, the department also has them in every subdomain, from Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing to Computer Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship and computational medicine.
2. A strong academic support system
Coming into college, I expected college professors to be distant, but I found that the reality at Hopkins is exactly the opposite. Hopkins professors are there for students and really do want them to succeed. It would be hard for me to count how many times I’ve stopped by their office hours, whether it is for asking conceptual questions or just discussing what classes would be best for my interests. Besides professors, CS classes also give students a ton of resources: piazza (a platform where you can ask questions), Course Assistant Office Hours (sometimes you can find an office hour at any time of any day of the week because there are so many CAs supporting the courses), weekly or bi-weekly projects, and interactive textbooks. Some CS courses are also supported by the PILOT (Peer Led Team Learning) program where a student who has already taken the course leads a weekly problem-solving session.
3. Research opportunities for undergrads
After a conversation with my computer science faculty mentor about wanting to start working on a research project, I learned about the Delineo Disease Modelling Project. Delineo is an ongoing CS project in collaboration with the World Health Organization and Ruvos. After attending a team meeting, I knew this project would be the right fit for me because of the great mentors, engaging challenges, and real-world impact. The CS department also has other research opportunities like Pistritto Research Fellowship (for research in information visualization), senior honors thesis, independent study under faculty mentorship and many other opportunities. The CS department has “centers” that include faculty and research projects of a certain subdivision of computer science, such as the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare, Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute, and more. Students can explore their specific interests by becoming research assistants in these areas.
4. Clubs for every interest
The CS department at Hopkins sponsors a number of clubs, and you are sure to find at least one that’s right for you. The two clubs I have been the most involved in are the Artificial Intelligence Society at Hopkins (HopAI) and Women in Computer Science (WiCS). HopAI hosts regular events like artificial intelligence workshops and speaker presentations.I am also a board member now, so I get to help organize and promote our events. WiCS hosts a coding circle with a different theme every week. Some past workshop themes have included portfolio website design, career and resumes, experience at the Grace Hopper Conference (the world’s largest gathering of women and non-binary technologists. Hopkins sponsors a few students to attend each year). Through clubs, I have found a safe and supportive space to explore my interests and find friends who have the same ones as me. There are many other student organizations in the department as well, such as JHUXplore, Software Engineering Club, the Association for Computing Machinery Student Chapter, and more.
5. Hackathons and competitions
Building projects is a big part of being a CS student. Classes in the major equip students with the skills to make software that can have significant real-world impact, and hackathons are the best time to apply them! Hopkins hosts HopHacks, our annual hackathon that takes place in September each year. There are also other hackathons at Hopkins, such as GreenHacks and MedHacks. Moreover, you can participate in international-level programming competitions like ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest). Last year, the regional round was hosted on Hopkins’ campus.
Being a computer science student at Hopkins gives you access to unbelievable resources and opportunities, along with a community that thrives on innovation and discovery. The computer science major was my first form of community at Hopkins. My classes and experiences have helped me develop a bond with my peers that grows from semester to semester. And I know it will continue to as we work through hard classes, build projects together, and just learn from each other.
