History of GT Computing

Klaus Advanced Computing Building

A Generation in the Making

Computer and computing education at Georgia Tech dates back more than a generation, to 1964 and the establishment of the Information Science program and a master's degree program in Information Science—the first graduate degree of its kind in the country.

By 1970, the program had grown in size and prestige enough to become a school in its own right, the School of Information and Computer Science (ICS), and began awarding doctorates in ICS and bachelor's degrees in information science.

Computing scored another first in 1990 when Georgia Tech became the first public university in the nation to raise the discipline to college status.

Since then, the College of Computing has maintained a leadership role by expanding its academic programs and initiatives, developing new facilities, and supporting research in an increasing array of computing and computing-related areas. In 2007, the College elevated two divisions to become the School of Computer Science and the School of Interactive Computing. In 2010, the College added the School of Computational Science and Engineering. 

To learn more about the College's history, explore the resources below.

View the College of Computing History Archive

Dive Deep into GT Computing’s History

Prepared By Peter A. Freeman

  1. "College of Computing: Timeline of Significant Events 1945-2015" July 27, 2015, 36 pp.
  2. “A Brief History of the College of Computing 1964-2015,” October 19, 2015 8 pp.
  3. "Origins of the College of Computing 1945-1990" July 27, 2015, 19 pp.
  4. "Building a College of Computing 1990-2002," December 4, 2015 19 pp.
  5. 2015 Thomas E. Noonan Distinguished Lecture: “Surprises in CoC History: Who Was Responsible for Starting Computing at Georgia Tech?”  Peter Freeman​