The mission of the Computer Science Department is to provide students with an understanding of computer science concepts, processes, and tools and to equip students with the analytical, design, and communication skills necessary to build computing systems. This training is offered in the context of the liberal arts philosophy of Western Washington University.

The applied nature of computer science necessitates involving students in software development projects, research projects, and/or internships as part of their learning experience. Undergraduate and graduate students are presented opportunities to investigate in depth those areas of computer science that correspond to faculty research, creative projects and interests, and are provided an understanding of the open questions in those areas.

The department provides courses to other undergraduate programs to meet their computing needs, and offers courses and programs in which knowledge and training in computing enhances and complements other majors.

Scholarly investigations, software development, and research are an integral part of the department's instructional mission.

The department strives to provide leadership in computing to the university and community, and to serve the profession.