The bachelor of science in computer science in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Northwestern University helps give students the tools to comprehend the breadth of this field, its key intellectual divisions and questions, and its past and likely future impacts on engineering, science, medicine, business, and law. The curriculum is designed to show students how to approach problems from the algorithmic perspective, how to understand the nature and broad reach of computation, and how to apply that knowledge abstractly. Students in the program also learn how to approach problems from the systems perspective, understanding the evolving layers of the software and hardware stack, and how to use and extend them. The major is an ideal match for those who seek to learn how to design and implement complex software systems, individually and as a team member, and for those who seek to design and implement effective human-computer interfaces.

Computer science graduates at Northwestern are recruited by employers in nearly every industry. The wide range of career options for graduates includes software development and engineering, information technology consulting, database and systems analysis, data analytics, and financial risk analysis and trading. The program also provides effective preparation for graduate studies in computer science.