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.

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.