CSpotlight: A liberal arts triple threat
B.A. student Caleb Feltis' proclivity for languages—whether programming or lingual—led him to triple major in computer science, linguistics, and French studies (and minor in Russian and Chinese). During his freshman year, the 2021 Boran Scholar discovered that the systematic, problem-solving aspects of computer science were the perfect complement to his language studies.
Why did you choose to study computer science at the University of Minnesota?
I only applied to three universities, because I was pretty particular about what I wanted for my college experience. Out of the three, the University of Minnesota stood out, especially since it is close to home. I also knew quite a number of people who went to the University of Minnesota and they all had fantastic things to say about it. Plus, the fact that the U had both a strong linguistic program AND an amazing computer science department appealed to me.
What sparked your interest in computer science? How have you been able to combine your passion for linguistics and languages with computer science?
So, I have been interested in language for a very long time. Coming into the University, I also asked myself “what other interests can you find?” So, I took CSCI 1138 and I really liked it! I realized that I really enjoy the methodical and algorithm-based approach to reduce incredibly complex problems into something much simpler and manageable.
The most notable similarity between linguistics and computer science would be 'syntax.' In computer science, syntax often involves putting lines of code to create a 'ruleset' that computers can follow and perform their executive functions. Likewise, in linguistics, learning theoretical syntax involves figuring out a set of rules to understand why the human languages have their definition of what each sentence means.
Congratulations on receiving a Boren award! Where will you be studying? What are you most looking forward to as a Boren Scholar?
Normally, the Boren Scholarship would send you abroad, but because it is still the pandemic, I will be going to California in late August instead. I think it’s going to be an amazing program so it’s really difficult to pinpoint which aspect I am most excited for. One particular aspect that I definitely love is the language pledge. You are basically required to live in a cohort where you are only allowed to speak in the native language and immerse yourself in the native environment. For me specifically, I am really looking forward to improving on learning Chinese and living in the language as much as possible!
What made you decide to study abroad? What was the highlight of this experience?
I spent two months in Montréal, France, to pursue my French study degree and honestly, who wouldn’t want to go to Montréal? I had several requirements for my French study degree and my options were to either study abroad or stay domestic in Minnesota. I thought it would be a foolish decision for me not to take the abroad option!
It is, again, very difficult to pinpoint what is the “highlight” since there were so many amazing experiences. I loved the beautiful scenery, gorgeous and modern architecture, Roman ruins, and many other aspects. Among these factors, I definitely treasured the opportunity to live with my host family in another culture apart from my own and experience French life in such a short time. We would have late night dinners where we discussed French culture, French music, and doing everything in the French way (or as much as they can get an American to do!). It was invaluable to my global education!
What advice do you have for incoming computer science students?
If you spend a good amount of time studying and taking notes in class, you’ll be perfectly fine. Definitely talk to your professors, since there are some amazing teachers who love to answer questions and help you out.
An important thing to know is that computer science is a fantastic degree that gives you an enormous technical foundation to build on. I'd also recommend considering additional liberal arts coursework. Perhaps take a history class or philosophy class, and if you don’t like it, you can tell yourself that at least you gave it a try!
What are your plans after graduation?
I hope to go to graduate school to pursue a doctoral degree in linguistics. However, I'm confident that my knowledge in computer science will remain prevalent to me in my future career. One thing that I learned from my journey in computer science is that a computer scientist is NOT a programmer. It is the technical competency and systematic approach to the problem solving aspects of computer science that will undoubtedly help me in my future career.