Computer Science, B.S.C.S.

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Description

The Computer Science program emphasizes theoretical and mathematical foundations of computing. It prepares students for careers like computer systems analyst, software developer, artificial intelligence, database engineer, chief security officer and many more.

What careers can this major prepare you for?

Graduates work in careers such as Systems Analyst/Engineer, Business System Analyst, Software Systems Engineer, E-Commerce Analyst.

What skills are developed within this major?

Students learn apply principles of mathematics, science, and engineering in a variety of contexts. They hone their ability to use the techniques, skills, and tools necessary for science and engineering practice as well as design and conduct experiments. They learn to analyze and interpret data.

Student Organizations

Association for Computing Machinery

Additional Information

Students in the Computer Science program choose areas of interest from the technical electives in their senior year. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a program in the Department of Computer Science. The Computer Science program prepares engineers to enter and contributions to the field of computing. The program showcases the various roles computing plays in significant aspects of the world.

The program includes a spectrum of courses and considerable laboratory experience. In addition, depth in computer engineering is provided by technical electives.

Computer Science students are limited to two grades of D in CIS courses. Technical electives must be chosen from the available CIS courses.

Admission to Major

Admission to the Washkewicz College of Engineering.

Hours Required for Degree

Minimum hours required for the degree: 120

College Requirements

See college page for college requirements.

Major-Field Requirements

The following list is a guide to the academic requirements for Computer Science major. Each student’s specific program requires approval from the student’s advisor.

Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Core - 30 credits

Co-op Required Course

Optional course for degree. Required for Co-Op program.

ESC 130 - Engineering Co-op Orientation

General Education Requirements - 14 credits

Required Computer Science Courses - 46 credits

Computer Science Technical Electives - 18 credits

18 credit hours required - must be chosen from available EEC or CIS 300/400-level courses

General Education Electives - 12 credits

Students should work with their academic advisor to select general education courses.

Honors Program Requirements

CS honors students are required to complete 15 to 20 credit hours honors courses in the Computer Science Department. General guidelines for these credit hours are given below. However, the specific courses that each student takes will be agreed upon by the student, the department’s undergraduate advisor, and the student’s honors advisor. The student’s regular undergraduate advisor is responsible for finding an honors advisor who is mutually agreeable to the undergraduate advisor, the honors advisor, and the honors student.

1. Honors Courses

The honors credits (15 to 20 hours) should be selected from the following list:

Honors Thesis (required) (CIS 499H , 1 to 6 credits)-Each honors student conducts research and writes a thesis under the supervision of an Computer Science faculty member.
Honors Research (CIS 495H , 1 to 6 credits)-This is research conducted jointly with an Computer Science faculty, similar to an independent study.
Graduate Course-Any 500 level Computer Science graduate course for which the student has the prerequisites.
Junior Honors, Senior Honors-Most 300 level and 400 level Computer Science courses can be expanded to become an honors course. This is referred to by the Honors Program as a “contract course.” This is done in collaboration among the undergraduate advisor, the honors advisor, and the course instructor.

2. Replaced Credit Hours

Honors credits can be used to replace the equivalent credit hours (15 to 20) of the normally required courses. These replaced credits can include any 400 level EEC or CIS course, with the exception of Senior Design (EEC 493 /494 ) and the required core computer science courses.

University Scholars Requirements

Scholars students who are majoring in Computer Science are required to complete 12 to 20 credit hours of honors courses in the Computer Science Department. General guidelines for these credit hours are given below. However, the specific courses that each student selects to fulfill upper-division scholars requirements will be agreed upon by the student, the department’s undergraduate advisor, and the student’s scholars advisor. The student’s undergraduate academic advisor is responsible for finding an upper-division scholars advisor who is mutually agreeable to the undergraduate advisor, the scholars advisor, and the student.

1. Scholars Courses

The honors credits (12 to 20 hours) should be selected from the following list:

Honors Thesis (CIS 499H , 1 to 6 credits)-The student conducts research and writes a thesis under the supervision of an Computer Science faculty member.
Honors Research (CIS 495H , 1 to 6 credits)-This is research conducted jointly with an Computer Science faculty, similar to an independent study.
Graduate Course-Any 500 level Computer Science graduate course for which the student has the prerequisites.
Junior Honors, Senior Honors-Most 300 level or 400 level Computer Science courses can be expanded to become an honors course. This is referred to by the Honors Program as a “contract course.” This is done in collaboration among the undergraduate advisor, the scholars advisor, and the course instructor.

2. Replaced Credit Hours

Honors credits can be used to replace the equivalent credit hours (12 to 20) of the normally required courses. These replaced credits can include any 400 level EEC or CIS course, with the exception of Senior Design (EEC 493 /494 ) and the required core computer science courses.

Accelerated 4+1 Program

See the Computer Science, Accelerated 4+1 BSCS/MCS page.