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Major (B.S.) in Computer Science

Overview

The major in computer science approaches the discipline in four ways: 1) the programmatic approach (the linguist's view); 2) the problem-solving approach (the mathematician's view); 3) the architectural approach (the engineer's view); and 4) the industrial approach (the business view).  Each student should graduate with a thorough understanding of how to program a computer, how to solve problems using a computer, how the computer internally accomplishes its assigned tasks, and how industry generally creates, maintains and uses computer software.

Requirements (Note: see the PC course catalog for an official listing)

The major requires a total of 42 hours consisting of seven core CSC courses (totaling 23 hours), three CSC electives numbered 300 or above (totaling 9 hours), and three math courses (totaling 10 hours).

The required core courses are as follows (credit hours in brackets):

Math courses are required from each of the following three groups (credit hours in brackets):

  1. One semester of Calculus (either MATH 201 or 211*) [3]
  2. Discrete Mathematics (MATH 208) or Transition (MATH 221**) [3]
  3. One 4-hour math elective chosen from the following: STAT 319 (Business Department: Introductory Statistics) or STAT 320 (Psychology Department: Research Statistics) [4]

* Note: MATH 211 is really 201 and 202 combined into one semester and, as such, is more appropriate than 201 for those requiring only one semester of Calculus.

** Note: MATH 221 is available for those majoring or minoring in MATH. Apart from those groups, MATH 208 is the best fit.

Click here for a possible course sequence for fulfilling the requirements for a major in computer science.