Computer Science Majors and Minors

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a traditional program that combines computer science, mathematics, and science.

The major requires 42 hours of computer science courses, including those numbered 170, 180 (Computer Science I, II), 210 (Machine Org. and Assembly Lang.), 220 (Data Structures and Algorithms), 250 (Languages and Automata), 260 (Software Engineering I), 261 (Software Engineering II), 300 (Programming Languages), 320 (Operating Systems), 335 (Databases), 340 (Networking), 390 (Senior Seminar and Project),and six hours of elective courses from those numbered CSCI 200 - 397.
Majors need to take a full year of major-level science lecture and lab. Computer Science B.S. majors must fulfill this requirement by taking one of the following lecture-lab pairs:
- BIOL 160-161 and BIOL 162-163 OR
- CHEM 160-161 and CHEM 162-163 OR
- PHYS 160-161 and PHYS 162-163 OR
- PHYS 170-161 and PHYS 172-163.
Within mathematics, majors must take Math 225 (Foundations of Higher Math) and either 156 (General Statistics), 240 (Linear Algebra), or 256 (Introduction to Probability and Statistics)
Majors must maintain a 2.000 cumulative grade average in their computer science courses, and fulfill the senior comprehensive requirements.

Students may opt to incorporate a cooperative experience into their academic program. Cooperative Education in Computer Science (CSCI 395) integrates professional work experience with classroom training by providing students with advanced hands-on experience in a real software engineering environment under the direct supervision of a professional software developer. Co-op students spend a semester or summer working full-time, for pay, at the employer. The student and employer may choose to continue the co-op in alternating semesters, or the co-op may be a one-time experience. The co-op may be used for up to nine hours of credit (six credits in the computer science program and three credits of general electives).

Student Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science allows students room to pursue a second major or minor combined with computer science. This encourages inter- and multi-disciplinary study, developing well-rounded students ready to contribute to an increasingly interdisciplinary world that utilizes computation.

The major requires 27 hours of computer science courses, including those numbered 170, 180 (Computer Science I, II), 220 (Data Structures and Algorithms), 250 (Languages and Automata), 260 (Software Engineering), 390 (Senior Seminar and Project), and nine hours of elective courses from those numbered CSCI 200 - 397.
Within mathematics, majors must take MATH 225 (Foundations of Higher Math). Majors are also encouraged to take MATH 156 (General Statistics) or MATH 280 (Combinatorics) if their schedule permits.
BA students must complete a second major or minor, of which at least 15-18 hours must be distinct from the required courses in Computer Science. If the second minor has only 15 hours of courses distinct from the BA requirements, the student must take an additional computer science elective numbered CSCI 210-390. Students are strongly encouraged to create a senior project that integrates computer science with their second major or minor.
Majors must maintain a 2.000 cumulative grade average in their computer science courses, and fulfill the senior comprehensive requirements.

As with the BS, BA majors may opt to include a co-op experience (CSCI 395). Co-op students spend a semester or summer working full-time, for pay, at the employer. The student and employer may choose to continue the co-op in alternating semesters, or the co-op may be a one-time experience. The co-op may be used for up to nine hours of credit (six credits in the computer science program and three credits of general electives).

Student Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

Concentration in Cybersecurity

Students pursuing either a BA or a BS in Computer Science can add the Concentration in Cybersecurity, an interdisciplinary effort of the Departments of Computer Science (CSCI) and Business Analytics and Information Systems (BAIS). The program provides the fundamentals of cybersecurity at the hardware, systems, and compliance levels. This program requires 3 hours of statistics (MATH 156 or 256), BAIS 359 (Hardware, Software, Security) and 459 (Introduction to Cyber Security), and 12 hours of computer science, including 240 (System Security Fundamentals), 340 (Networking), 341 (Network Vulnerabilities, Penetration, and Defense) and a Cybersecurity Topics course.

Students pursuing the BS can choose statistics as one of their required mathematics courses and CSCI 240 and 341 as CSCI electives. This means that the concentration will require only 1 additional CSCI cybersecurity course and 2 BAIS courses beyond the courses already required for the BS.

Students pursuing the BA can choose CSCI 240, 241, and 340 as CSCI electives. This means that the concentration will require only statistics, 1 additional CSCI cybersecurity course and 2 BAIS courses beyond the courses already required for the BA.

Students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade average in the courses taken for the concentration.

Student Learning Outcomes for Concentration in Cybersecurity

Selected CSCI and BAIS Course Descriptions with Outcomes

Computer Science Minor

The computer science minor requires 15 hours of computer science courses, including CSCI 170 (Computer Science I), 180 (Computer Science II), 220 (Data Structures and Algorithms), and two other approved 3-hour courses selected from CSCI 210-397.

Students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade average in these courses.

Certificate in Applied Computation

This certificate program is designed for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in a program other than computer science who wish to demonstrate proficiency in computational methods and problem solving. It may also be used by returning adult students who have a degree but wish to add a certificate denoting competency in the computation area. Students would take 10 hours of specific Computer Science courses: CSCI 170 (Computer Science I), 180 (Computer Science II), 220 (Data Structures and Algorithms), and CSCI 290 (Project in Applied Computation).