Computer Science Major, BS

Program Description

Computer science deals with the theory and methods of computation and processing data in digital computers, the design of computer hardware and software, and the applications of computers.  The computer science program provides a high quality undergraduate education in computer science as preparation for productive employment or graduate education.

Computer Science Program Educational Objectives

As productive members of the computer science profession graduates will:

1. Demonstrate the ability to solve computing problems appropriate to their levels of professional experience.
2. Demonstrate the ability to contribute effectively to the benefit of teams.
3. Continue to update their professional knowledge and skills to adapt to the changes in technology and the needs of the workplace.

Student Learning Outcomes

The computer science program enables students to achieve, by the time of graduation the ability to:

1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
4. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
6. Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions. 

Major Requirements

To complete the major in computer science, the student must satisfy the major course requirements which include computer science, mathematics, and physics courses. The major components include a set of core courses, a core elective (3 hours), a set of advanced courses, advanced elective (3 hours), a set of required major support courses, and 6-12 semester hours of option electives. The computer science student must select an option of study. The option electives taken during the junior and senior years allow exploration of a depth area of computer science, such as Networking, e-Commerce, Database Systems, Computer Graphics, Information Security, Space Science, High Performance Computing, Theoretical Computer Science; or a second discipline, such as mathematics, accounting, management, and marketing.

A minimum grade of “C” or better is required in each computer science, science, and mathematics course required by the major.

5-Year (4+1) BS-MS Degree (Computer Science and Information Technology - MCST)   

Foundation Courses (21 semester hours)

Course Number/Course Title						Credit Hours
CSC 1105 - Computer Science Colloquium						3
CSC 1310 - Computer Programming I						3
CSC 1311 - Computer Programming II						3
CSC 2131 - Professional Development Seminar						3
CSC 2160 - UNIX Lab	or	CSC 2184 - Internet Lab				1
CSC 2310 - Introduction to Computer Software Systems						3
CSC 2320 - Introduction to Computer Hardware Organization						3
CSC 2331 - Data Structures						3

Breadth Courses (24 semester hours required)

Course Number/Course Title		Credit Hours
CSC 3321 - Operating Systems		3
CSC 3322 - Computer Architecture		3
CSC 3331 - Analysis of Algorithms		3
CSC 3355 - Principles of Database Management		3
CSC 4340 - Organization of Programming Languages		3
CSC 4350 - Software Engineering		3
CSC 4387 - Seminar in Computer Science		3
CSC 4388 - Systems Design and Development		3

Depth Areas & Courses (12 semester hours required)

Course Number/Course Title		Credit Hours
CSC 3325 - Introduction to Information Security		3
CSC 43xx  Advanced Elective		3
CSC  Option Electives		6

 

General Education Courses Supporting the Major

Course Number/Course Title		Credit Hours
MAT 2317 - Calculus I *		3
MAT 2318 - Calculus II *		3
PHY 2331 - General Physics I *		3
PHY 2131 - General Physics I Laboratory *		1

 

Math/Science Courses Supporting the Major

Course Number/Course Title		Credit Hours
MAT 2316 - Linear Algebra		3
MAT 2337 - Discrete Mathematics		3
MAT 3310 - Probability and Statistics I		3
PHY 2332 - General Physics II		3
PHY 2132 - General Physics II Laboratory		1

Undergraduate Programs Offered 

Major Programs

Computer Science Major, BS  

Information Technology Major, BS  

Minor Programs

Computer Science Minor  

Data Science Minor