Computer Science for the Masses

by Prof. Robert Sedgewick, Department of Computer Science, Princeton University
Presentation to the Princeton Chapters of the ACM / IEEE, December 10, 2015

Computer science enrollments are skyrocketing, and the need for a first course in computer science has never been more acute. Every college student needs not just to know how to program, but to be able to engage effectively with computation at many levels.

This talk describes a computer science course, 25 years in development, that can take its place alongside the standard first courses in physics, economics, biology, and other disciplines in any college or college-prep
curriculum. It is the highest-enrolled course at Princeton, attracting two-thirds of all students, preparing them all for further study in computer science (nearly 40% of all Princeton students are taking a CS course at any
point in time). The content is broad and deep, building on a solid foundation in programming to address fundamental issues in theoretical computer science and to also provide an overview of computer architecture,
all in the context of interesting applications in science, engineering, and commerce. With modern technology, the course can be broadly adopted, using a proven model based on in-depth coverage in a new textbook, extensive
online content, and studio-produced lecture videos.

Links:
- Princeton Chapters of the ACM / IEEE [princetonacm.acm.org]
- Presentation Description [princetonacm.acm.org/meetings/mtg1512.pdf]
- Presentation Slides [cs.princeton.edu/~rs/talks/CSmasses.pdf]
- Robert Sedgewick at Princeton [cs.princeton.edu/~rs]
- Video by Brian Dixon [bcdixon.com]