Out of 285 computer science students, 79 were women last semester. This representation at TCU reflects that of the male-dominated field.

However, while their numbers are small, some students see signs of improvement. 

“I was the only female in my computer science class in high school,” said junior computer science major, Arushi Thakur. “Now I see six or seven other females on average per class.” 

Thakur said her love for computer science began in third grade when she ruined her father’s computer. 

TCU’s College of Science and Engineering carried 2,298 students as of last fall; that’s 113 more students than in the fall of 2022.

One of 12 departments within the college, the department of computer science became the most male-dominated division last semester, with the male-to-female ratio being 206 to 79.

Students like Thakur are familiar with this sort of prevalence within her department and her classes, seeing the commonalities back in high school. 

“We need a lot more women in STEM, and I think it starts with not seeing enough role models in this field,” Thakur said when speaking about the one female professor she had within the computer science department and her eventual departure.  

For biology major turned computer science major, junior Aliya Suri is trying to make that change within STEM and her department like many others. “I’m the president of the women in science club, and it’s still hard getting the recognized support,” said Suri when speaking about the different clubs within the computer science department.  

She said that she created the club to give more females support in a male-dominated department and a place where they wouldn’t feel overlooked.