The need for computation

There is an increasing need to integrate computation into the physics curriculum. Graduates from science and engineering fields, who traditionally take two or more physics courses, need computational skills in order to productively contribute to 21^st century industries. Physics graduates, whether they go on to work in industry or pursue advanced degrees, need those same skills. Using simulations and computational modeling can enhances students’ conceptual understanding. Having students write the simulations and analyze the results gives students experience in breaking down a problem into manageable pieces, deciding on an algorithm to use, validating code, and plotting and analyzing data. In this talk I will highlight evidence that points toward the increasing need to integrate computation into the physics curriculum, speak about work that has been done to establish a baseline of computational skills students should develop in their undergraduate studies, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of integrating computation.