Computational science programs: The background research

Abstract

There are many good reasons for an academic institution to pursue the addition of an undergraduate program in computational science. However, poor planning can lead to wasted time, money and resources, and ultimately a failed program. To create a viable program, it is essential to have buy-in from the computational faculty and science faculty, as well as the administration. In addition, it is important to understand the skill-set desired by the potential employers and graduate programs, and to design a curriculum around those needs keeping in mind the expertise of the faculty involved. This paper strives to share what was learned from over a year of background research on what it takes to have a successful computational science program.