Experiences in building the Clemson Computational Sciences Program

The authors describe the evolution and current status of the Computational Sciences Program at Clemson. Faculty interest generated by the acquisition of a distributed memory machine in 1986 led to the formation of a computational sciences working group. Various activities of the group members contributed to the formulation of certain fundamental principles of computational science. The authors discuss these principles and indicate how they appear in the present curriculum, including how currently recognized subjects may be incorporated. The syllabus of the offering at the graduate level, which includes a significant laboratory component, is given. Rationale for an undergraduate offering and an outline of a proposed course with laboratory are presented. Criteria for assessing the courses and setting directions for future changes are also discussed