Agnes and Emory offer joint degree

students interested in computer science have a new option, thanks to a joint degree program with Emory University.

Starting this spring, Agnes Scott will begin the new opportunity.

“This program provides an exciting opportunity for students at Agnes Scott to pursue a degree in a technical area, computer science, that has seen fewer women entering the field over the past 20 years,” said Carolyn J. Stefanco, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college at Agnes Scott, in a release. “By joining forces with Emory, we hope that Agnes Scott will play a role in national efforts to reverse this trend and make significant progress in diversifying the field of computer science.”

The program offers Agnes Scott's students an opportunity to pursue a degree the new degree program. Students could previously take introductory programming courses at Emory through cross registration, but the new program allows them to pursue a bachelor of arts degree from Agnes Scott and a B.A. or bachelor of science in computer science from Emory.

Currently, the only computer programming course offered at Agnes Scott is a scientific computing course offered by the physics department.

“Students interested in computer science can come to Agnes Scott and benefit from being here for three years before moving on to Emory for computer science,” said Larry Riddle, professor of mathematics at Agnes Scott and faculty adviser for the dual-degree program in computer science.

Riddle said he expects students interested primarily in mathematics to choose the dual-degree computer science program, though students from economics and physics have also shown an interest in computer science in the past.

“Emory's computer science programs are uniquely designed for the liberal arts contexts and thus very well matched to ASC students," said Vaidy Sunderam, a professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Emory. "The program represents a big step forward in closer partnerships between Emory and Agnes Scott, as well as in helping to nurture the participation of women in computer science."