Inception

The Societal Computing PhD program at Carnegie Mellon University was born in 2003 from a visionary recognition that emerging technologies were presenting novel challenges beyond the scope of traditional computer science. Founders Kathleen M. Carley, Norman Sadeh, and Latanya Sweeney understood that issues such as data privacy, self-governing complex socio-technical systems, and sustainable technologies demanded a deeply interdisciplinary approach. This insight led to the creation of the PhD program in Computation, Organizations, and Society (COS), designed to equip graduates with the intellectual tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to design societal-scale technologies and develop effective policy responses.

Evolution

Building on more than a decade of success, the COS program evolved as faculty and students expanded their research and educational focus. This evolution was guided by a fundamental question:

How can we design computing technologies to address societal needs and concerns, and how can we assess and guide the design, implementation, and deployment of new computing technologies as they appear?

In 2015, recognizing the broader implications of their work, the program was renamed Societal Computing. This change better reflected the program's focus on designing computational technology to shape tomorrow's digital world and using computational methods to understand the societal challenges a digital world poses. Through our research and education, we seek to uncover the scientific principles and laws governing the relationship between computing technology design and the nature of digital society.

The Future of Societal Computing

As we become increasingly aware of how computing technology is reshaping our society, we face a critical question: are these the changes we want? Rather than passively observing as commercial interests and governments build technologies around us, our faculty and students in the Societal Computing PhD program are taking decisive action.

Drawing on a rich history of world-leading research spanning areas such as privacy and security, complex socio-technical systems, and policy analytics, our program within CMU's School of Computer Science is preparing the next generation of researchers and leaders. Our program produces graduates with the knowledge and skills to shape the digital landscape, addressing challenges at the intersection of technology and society.

From enhancing cybersecurity and protecting privacy to developing sustainable systems and analyzing social networks, our interdisciplinary approach allows us to tackle the most pressing technological questions of our time. We are committed to creating a computational environment that not only advances technology but also serves the best interests of society.