Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Requirements for Majors
The satisfactory completion of 126 credits of prescribed and elective courses is required for the Bachelor of Science degree. The work comprises twenty-four English and General Education credits, twenty-five math and science credits, fifty-three credits of required Computer Science courses, twelve credits of Computer Science elective courses, six credits of technical electives, and six credits of free electives.
Math and Science Requirements
Students are required to take at least twelve credits of science. (12 credits)
These credits must include one of the following year-long sequences:
and at least one additional course in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. (4 cr.)
English and General Education Requirements
Required Courses
General Education Courses (12 credits)
Four courses from a list of General Education courses, at least two of which must be at the 200 level or above. Refer to the Grove School of Engineering section for details.
Computer Science Requirements
Electives
I. Computer Science Electives: (12 credits)
Take one course in each of three elective groups and then one additional course in one of the three groups.
A. Theory and Applications
B. Computational Techniques for Science and Engineering
C. Computer Systems
II. Technical Electives (6 credits)
Technical electives for Computer Science majors may be either Computer Science electives (except CSC 10000 and CSC 31700) or advanced courses in the following areas: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), Mathematics, Physics, and Chemical, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. Within these fields, the following courses are not acceptable:
- Courses at the 10000 level.
- Courses that have no prerequisites.
- "Professional" courses, such as actuarial math.
- Project and seminar courses.
- Courses that substantially duplicate material covered in other
- courses for which credit has been granted.
III. Free Electives (6 credits)
Acceptable free electives are any courses offered by the College except the following:
- Remedial courses, including pre-calculus math.
- Courses at a lower level than required courses.
- Courses that substantially duplicate material covered in other courses for which credit has been granted.
- Worker education and independent study courses.
Any substitutions require written permission of both the department chair and dean for Undergraduate Affairs. Computer Science majors may use CSC 10000 or CSC 10200 only as a free elective, as long as the course is taken before the semester in which CSC 10300 is taken.
Co-Op Study
Students electing a Co-Op Study option must complete one of the following options, subtracting the Co-op Study credits from the total number of Technical and Free Electives. Students who successfully complete the co-op Option will have this fact marked on their transcripts. The Co-op Program is open to all students in good standing whose GPA is above a threshold approved by the involved faculty and the department and contingent on the student’s (1) application to the program in the sophomore year, and (2) having identified a co-op placement with a faculty member’s participation and approval. Please see an academic advisor for more information.
Co op 8 Option (Two-Semester Co-op Study)
| Semester 1: CSc 59001 + CSc 59002; semester 2: CSc 59003 (co-op completion, total 9 credits) |
| or |
| Semester 1: CSc 59001, semester 2: CSc 59002, CSc 59003 (co-op completion, total 9 credits) |
| or |
| Semester 1: CSc 59001, semester 2: CSc 59003 (co-op completion, total 6 credits) |
Co op 9 Option (One-Semester Co-op Study)
The "co-op semester" allows students good standing to maintain full-time status while participating in an approved internship. No other academic changes are required to the current CS BS. A typical sequence of courses, including the co-op semester, is given in the end of this appendix. This Option provides the flexibility necessary for students to take their co-op experience in geographically distant locations, such as Silicon Valley. It also permits participation in the Co-op program without additional tuition. The Co-op: 9 Option is only applicable for domestic students.
Total Credit Hours: 126
Recommended Sequence of Courses
A four-year path to graduation might be as follows.
First Semester (16 credits)
Second Semester (15 credits)
| CSC 10400 | Discrete Mathematical Structures | 4 |
| CSC 11300 | Programming Language | 1 |
| MATH 20200 | Calculus II | 3 |
| | Science Elective | 4 |
| | General Education course | 3 |
Third Semester (16 credits)
Fourth Semester (15 credits)
Fifth Semester (17 credits)
| CSC 30100 | Numerical Issues in Scientific Programming | 3 |
| CSC 30400 | Introduction to Theoretical Computer Science | 3 |
| CSC 32200 | Software Engineering | 4 |
| CSC 33500 | Programming Language Paradigms | 3 |
| | Science Elective | 4 |
Sixth Semester (17 credits)
| CSC 33200 | Operating Systems | 4 |
| CSC 33600 | Introduction to Database Systems | 3 |
| CSC 34200 | Computer Organization | 3 |
| CSC 34300 | Computer Systems Design Laboratory | 1 |
| CSC | CSC Elective | 3 |
| | One General Education course, 20000 or higher | 3 |
Seventh Semester (15 credits)
| CSC 59866 | Senior Project I | 3 cr. per semester for two consecutive semesters. |
| CSC | Two CSC Electives | 6 |
| | Technical Elective | 3 |
| | One General Education course, 20000 or higher | 3 |
Eighth Semester (15 credits)
| CSC 59867 | Senior Project II | 3 cr. per semester for two consecutive semesters. |
| CSC | CSC Elective | 3 |
| | Technical Elective | 3 |
| | 2 Free Electives | 6 |