Teaching computational modeling and data analysis to facilitate the integration of computing in physics and beyond

One of the core missions of Michigan State University's Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CMSE) is to provide education in computational modeling and data science to MSU's undergraduate and graduate students. In this presentation, I will describe our creation of CMSE 201, "Introduction to Computational Modeling and Data Analysis," which is intended to be a standalone course teaching undergraduate students (both STEM and non-STEM) core concepts in data analysis, data visualization, and computational modeling. I will discuss the rationale behind the "flipped classroom" instructional model that we have been using and explain the course's design principles and implementation. The concepts and skills students learn in this course can be used by other disciplines as the foundation for integrating computing across the curricula in undergraduate degree programs. I will highlight how the Department of Physics and Astronomy at MSU has successfully demonstrated how this can be done and encourage other programs and institutions to consider a similar approach.