Computer Science (BS)

Program Educational Goals:

The BS in Computer Science draws its foundation from a number of disciplines, requiring students to utilize concepts from different fields. At the core of the curriculum, students learn to integrate computer science theory with practice. In a field that evolves as rapidly as computer science, the program focuses on preparing students for long-term learning that enables them to not only understand today’s technologies, but also understand how to tackle challenges of the future. Students in the program choose a concentration or focus area, which allows a deep exploration of a particular sub-discipline or application domain.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science will be able to:

Design computational solutions to real-world problems, and encode these using a variety of programming languages and paradigms.
Apply theoretical foundations of computing, including automata theory and complexity theory and call upon such knowledge to design efficient solutions.
Design effective assembly language and systems-level programs, applying knowledge of the basic organization of computing hardware as appropriate.
Recognize and employ a range of standard algorithms, data structures, and design patterns, and weigh their advantages and disadvantages to design efficient solutions .
Employ modern software development processes, which include eliciting, analyzing, and specifying requirements, design specification, testing, and verification.
Work effectively on multidisciplinary teams to solve complex problems.
Use knowledge of the social, legal, ethical, and cultural issues inherent in the discipline of computing to guide decisions in real-world situations.
Effectively communicate technical information to a broad audience.

Four Year Plan

Please refer to the Four-Year Plan for departmental recommended path toward graduation.

University Requirements:

ENGL 110 - First-Year Writing (C- minimum)
First Year Seminar (FYS) (0-4 credits)
Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) (three credits)
Multicultural Requirement (three credits)
University Breadth Requirements (C- minimum):
- Creative Arts and Humanities (three credits)
- History and Cultural Change (three credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (three credits)
- Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (three credits)
Capstone Experience

College Requirements:

The College of Engineering requires nine additional breadth credits (21 credits total including the University Breadth requirements) (minimum grade of C-).
- These nine credits may be selected in any combination from the University Breadth Requirements list and the College of Engineering Breadth Requirement List in any category except Math, Natural Sciences and Technology.
- Of the 21 credits, six credits must be at the Upper Level, defined as:
  - any 300-level or higher course on the University Breadth Requirement list (excluding Math, Natural Sciences and Technology courses).
  - any 300-level or higher course on the College of Engineering Breadth Requirement list (excluding Math, Natural Sciences and Technology courses).
  - any foreign language instruction course at the 107 level or higher as designated on the College of Engineering Breadth Requirement list (some courses above the 107 level do NOT count toward this requirement because they are taught in English).
- A maximum of two courses (six credits) can be taken from the Career and Professional Preparation sub-section of the College of Engineering Breadth Requirement list to satisfy the College of Engineering additional breadth requirement.
- Of the 21 credits, three credits may be used to satisfy the University Multicultural Requirement (recommended for timely progress toward degree completion).
- With few exceptions, students may not use courses from their major to satisfy Breadth Requirement coursework.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Courses taken from the College of Engineering Breadth Requirement list can ONLY count toward the additional nine credits of breadth the College of Engineering requires for its majors. They CANNOT count for University Breadth.

Academic Standards

Students pursuing any engineering major (except Computer Science or Information Systems) must have at least a 2.0 grade point average in all coursework that counts toward the Engineering Grade Point Average as seen on the degree audit. This coursework generally consists of engineering, mathematics, and science courses used to fulfill graduation requirements. The college adheres to the university grade forgiveness policy. Outside of the timeframe specified in that policy, if a course is repeated, only the last grade will be used to compute the Engineering Grade Point Average. Credit from courses taken pass/fail cannot be used to complete any engineering degree requirement, unless the course is only offered pass/fail in the engineering curriculum.

Major Requirements:

Core:

A minimum grade of C- is required in each of the following courses: CISC 108 , CISC 181 , CISC 210 , CISC 220 , and CISC 260 .

CISC 108 - Introduction to Computer Science I Credit(s): 3
CISC 181 - Introduction to Computer Science II Credit(s): 3
CISC 210 - Introduction to Systems Programming Credit(s): 3
CISC 220 - Data Structures Credit(s): 3
CISC 260 - Machine Organization and Assembly Language Credit(s): 3
CISC 275 - Introduction to Software Engineering Credit(s): 3
CISC 303 - Automata Theory Credit(s): 3
CISC 320 - Introduction to Algorithms Credit(s): 3
CISC 361 - Operating Systems Credit(s): 3
CISC 372 - Parallel Computing Credit(s): 3
Six additional credits of computer science technical electives numbered 301 or above, except for CISC 355 , CISC 356 , CISC 357 , CISC 465 , CISC 366 and CISC 466 . Because of their very nature, Experimental Courses (courses with an x67 number) must be approved beforehand by the CIS Undergraduate Committee before being accepted toward the requirement for these six additional credits of computer science. At most 3 credits of Vertically Integrated Projects (CISC 387 and CISC 487 ) may be applied towards this requirement.
Twelve credits in advanced courses in a focus area approved by the student’s CISC advisor and the CISC Undergraduate Coordinator. Students are encouraged to explore how other subject areas impact and are impacted by computer science. Focus area courses must be distinct from other CISC requirements and technical electives.
MATH 205 - Statistical Methods Credit(s): 4
or
MATH 350 - Probability Theory and Simulation Methods Credit(s): 3
MATH 210 - Discrete Mathematics I Credit(s): 3 (minimum grade C-)
MATH 241 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus A Credit(s): 4
MATH 242 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus B Credit(s): 4

Capstone Requirement:

One of the following sequences:

CISC 498 - Computer Science Senior Design Project I Credit(s): 3
CISC 499 - Computer Science Senior Design Project II Credit(s): 3
or
UNIV 401 - Senior Thesis Credit(s): 2-4 (3 cr.)
UNIV 402 - Senior Thesis Credit(s): 2-4 (3 cr.)

Thesis Restriction:

The thesis option requires a CIS faculty member who agrees to supervise the thesis.

Science Courses:

Twelve credits in science courses including one of the following eight credit laboratory science sequences:

Option I:
PHYS 207 - Fundamentals of Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 227 - Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory I Credit(s): 1
PHYS 208 - Fundamentals of Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 228 - Fundamentials of Physics Laboratory II Credit(s): 1
Option II:
CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 1
CHEM 104 - General Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 134 - General Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 1
Option III:
BISC 207 - Introductory Biology I Credit(s): 4
BISC 208 - Introductory Biology II Credit(s): 4
Option V:
GEOL 105 - Geological Hazards and Their Human Impact Credit(s): 3
GEOL 107 - Geology of Dynamic Earth Credit(s): 4
GEOL 115 - Geological Hazards Laboratory Credit(s): 1
Option VI:
GEOL 107 - Geology of Dynamic Earth Credit(s): 4
GEOL 110 - Earth’s Evolving Systems Credit(s): 4

Additional Requirements:

A course chosen from CISC 304 or MATH 349 , or a 300-level or above math course approved beforehand in writing by the CISC advisor and the CISC Undergraduate Coordinator.
ENGL 312 - Written Communications in Business Credit(s): 3
or
ENGL 410 - Technical Writing Credit(s): 3
CISC 355 - Computers, Ethics and Society Credit(s): 3

Note:

ENGL 312 , ENGL 410 , and CISC 355 all count toward the College of Engineering Additional Breadth Requirement as Upper Level Breadth courses.

Electives:

After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.