CSE Overview

Interdisciplinary Curriculum in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE)

Solving interdisciplinary problems from Science and Engineering using computers

Today, many problems in science and engineering can only be treated using computers. Therefore, there is a need in industry for well trained scientists and engineers with a profound knowledge in mathematics and computer science. In recent years, curricula in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) have been introduced in the US and in Europe. They are interdisciplinary and application oriented and concentrate on problem solving taking into account computer simulation.

CSE means mathematical modelling, scientific computing and the use of computers for analyzing scientific problems. CSE is different from computer science but also from theory and experiment the traditional ways of studying processes in science and engineering. CSE represents a third scientific way in addition to theory and experiment.

CSE graduates are able to work in a team on interdisciplinary problem solving in an application area making use of a profound knowledge in mathematics and computer science.

The Bachelor Program in CSE

The CSE Bachelor Program consists of three years of studies (6 semesters; first, second and third year). The first year studies may also be taken in another Bachelor program at ETH Zürich or elsewhere. These basic exams after the first year are counted for 57 credit points (ECTS). In the following two years the students have to acquire the rest of the 180 ECTS, half of them in mandatory Basic Courses, the other half mainly in mandatory Core Courses and in eligible Fields of Specialization and Elective Courses and with a Bachelor Thesis, respectively.

The First Year Courses provide basic knowledge in Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science.

The Basic Courses provide a more advanced knowledge in Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science and in addition basic knowledge in Science and Engineering. They are mandatory. The corresponding examinations are combined in 4 blocks supposed to be taken after the third, fourth and fifth semester, respectively.

List of Basic Courses (second year):

• Analysis of Partial Differential Equations
• Data Bases
• Programming Techniques for CSE
• Numerical Analysis for CSE
• Computer Engineering
• Numerical Methods for PDEs
  
• Optimization Techniques for CSE
• Quantum Mechanics
• Stochastics
• Statistical Physics
• Chemistry for CSE
• Physics I
• Physics II
• Fluid Dynamics for CSE

The two Core Courses are concerned with computational mathematical methods and with advanced topics in computer science. Students have to pass a combined exam.

List of Core Courses

• Parallel Computing for Scientific Simulations
• Software Engineering

The Fields of Specialization provide a profound knowledge in application areas with an emphasis on computational aspects. In the third year, students have to take 2 courses in a chosen field of specialization and pass the exams.

List of Specialization Fields

• Astrophysics
• Physics of the Atmosphere
• Chemistry and Biology
• Fluid Dynamics
• Control Theory
• Robotics
• Theoretical Physics
  
• Financial Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Geophysics
• Systems Biology
  
  

The Elective Courses are complementary to the Fields of Specialization and to the Core Courses and should have an emphasis on computational aspects. Students in the third year have to take 2 courses out of a large list and pass the exams.

In their third year, students have to attend twice the CSE Case Studies Seminar where each semester invited speakers from ETH, from other universities as well as from industry give a 2x45 minutes talk on an applied topic. Beside of attending the scientific talks students are asked to give short presentations (10 minutes) on a published paper out of a list (containing articles from, e.g., Nature, Science, Scientific American, etc.). In the case studies ETCS are obtained on a passed/failed basis.

The Bachelor Thesis concludes the curriculum. It should deepen the knowledge in a specialization area, provide a first contact with applications and should enable students to learn to approach applied problems computationally. It should also enable them to work within a scientific group. The bachelor thesis is typically written in a topic of a Core Course or a Field of Specialization. It requires about 160 hours of work and ECTS are obtained for an accepted paper.

After having successfully finished their studies students will be awarded the degree Bachelor of Science ETH in Computational Science and Engineering (BSc ETH CSE).

The main objective of the Bachelor curriculum is to prepare the students for the continuation of their studies in high quality Master programs.

The Master Program in CSE

The CSE Master Program at ETH Zürich consists of one year of studies (2 semesters) followed by a Master Thesis. The Master Program is based on the CSE Bachelor Program and its objective is to prepare students for a successful professional career in research in industry and business and/or on a university level.

The Master students have to acquire 90 ECTS mainly in mandatory Core Courses, in eligible Fields of Specialization and Elective Courses as described above for the Bachelor Program and with a Term Paper and a Master Thesis, respectively.

Students have to take both Core Courses and pass the exams.

List of Core Courses

• Computational Statistics
• Visual Computing
  

Students have to choose a second Field of Specialization (in addition to the one chosen for the Bachelor degree as described above) and have to take 4 courses and a seminar within their fields of specialization and pass the exams.

Students have to take 2 Elective Courses and pass the exams.

Students have to attend twice the CSE Case Studies Seminar as described above for the Bachelor Program.

The Term Paper should be computational and application oriented work in a team in order to deepen the knowledge in an application area. It should require about 160 hours and ECTS are obtained for an accepted paper.

The Master Thesis takes 5 months and is advised by a professor teaching in a Core Course or in a Field of Specialization. It concludes the CSE Master studies and should teach students to work independently on a scientific topic. ECTS are obtained for an accepted thesis.

After having successfully finished their studies students will be awarded the degree Master of Science ETH in Computational Science and Engineering (MSc ETH CSE).

Addresses

Head of Student Studies CSE

Advisor of Student Studies CSE

CSE Committee

Student Administration Office D-MATH/D-PHYS

Ms. G. Assef
ETH Zürich, Rämistrasse 101/ G33.1,
E-mail: gelawej.assef@math.ethz.ch, Tel: +41 44 632 4383

Information on the Web

http://www.cse.ethz.ch