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Computer Science is designed for students focused on understanding computational processes from both theoretical and applied perspectives. Key research areas span algorithms, system architecture, AI, computer vision, computational biology, distributed systems, databases, machine learning, natural language processing, networking, numerical analysis, software development, programming languages, robotics, and computational theory. Cornell's Ph.D. program in computer science ranks among the nation's top six, featuring cutting-edge research across all disciplines. The program stands out due to its distinguished faculty, legacy of groundbreaking work, and comprehensive doctoral curriculum. Faculty and doctoral candidates are based both in Ithaca and at Cornell Tech in New York City. The Computer Science Field also incorporates faculty from related departments—such as Electrical Engineering, Information Science, Applied Math, and others—who can advise Ph.D. research in computer science.
Cornell excels in computer graphics, an interdisciplinary field combining algorithms, physics, computation, psychology, computer vision, and architectural design. The university's graphics legacy dates to 1974 with the founding of the Program of Computer Graphics (PCG), which pioneered advancements in light modeling, physics-based rendering, and visual perception. Current graphics research at Cornell bridges multiple domains, with collaborative work spanning the Computer Science department (graphics and vision), PCG (rendering and architecture), and the Information Science program (human-computer interaction), all closely interconnected.