Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The Computer Science Department offers a complete four-year program of study leading to a BS degree in Computer Science. The undergraduate curriculum provides students with theoretical foundations and practical experience in both hardware and software aspects of computers. The curriculum in computer science is integrated with courses in the sciences and the humanities to offer an education that is broad, yet of sufficient depth and relevance to enhance student employment opportunities upon graduation. As a degree program within a professional school of the university, the curriculum is based on the criterion that graduates are expected to function successfully in a professional employment environment immediately upon graduation.

Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org

 
Objectives and Outcomes

The Program Educational Objectives of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science are statements that describe the accomplishments of graduates 3-5 years post-graduation:

Illuminate - lifelong learning in computer science

  • Alumni will be prepared to learn on their own whatever is required to stay current in their chosen profession, for example, learning new programming languages, algorithms, developmental methodologies, etc.
  • Alumni should be prepared to do continual learning throughout their careers, to include such things as pursuing advanced degrees, attending short courses, reading technical or trade journals, participating in sabbaticals, etc.
  • Alumni will be prepared to pursue careers in all branches of computer science including technical development, project management, and technical sales.

Investigate - demonstration of computer science principles

  • Alumni should have the ability to find and access information relevant to an application under development.
  • Alumni should have the ability to model various problem domains and convert them into software solutions.
  • Alumni should have the ability to apply techniques of algorithm design and automata theory to new problem-solving situations.
  • Alumni should demonstrate the ability to draw upon the expertise of others and negotiate solutions to a problem as a productive technical team member.
  • Alumni should demonstrate an understanding of the impact of computer problem solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.

Innovate - creative application of computer science principles

  • Alumni should be able to generate new and innovative solutions to solve problems or meet requirements in their discipline.
  • Alumni should be able to integrate global, economic, environmental, and societal considerations into their problem solutions.

The Department of Computer Science has established the following Student Outcomes for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. By the time of graduation, students are expected to demonstrate:

  • An ability to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory and practice
  • An ability to model, design, implement and test software systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the trade-offs involved in design and implementation choices
  • An ability to learn to use new design methodologies, operating systems, languages, and other software development tools within reasonable time constraints
  • An ability to function effectively on teams related to software development
  • An ability to communicate with others, both orally and in writing, about technical subjects
  • An understanding of professional, ethical and social responsibilities
Enrollment Data

Bachelor of Science- Computer Science Enrollment data for Fall 2009 - Fall 2014

BSCS Graduates for Academic Year 2014-2015 (Summer & fall 2014, spring 2015): 28

This data shows that in Fall 2009, 95 students were enrolled. In Fall of 2010, 104 students were enrolled. In Fall of 2011, 120 students were enrolled. In Fall of 2012, 147 students were enrolled. In Fall of 2013, 170 students enrolled. In Fall of 2014, 213 students were enrolled. The source of the data is http://www.uccs.edu/Documents/ir/enrollment/PlanEnroll.Fall.pdf.

Admission Requirements

Admission Criteria for Freshman Students

  • Rank in the upper 30th percentile of high school graduating class
  • ACT composite score of 25 or above or an SAT composite score of 1120 or above

Expected high school work is:

  • English - 4 units
  • Math - 4 units (at least two years of algebra, one year geometry, one year advanced math)
  • Natural Science - 3 units (one year physics, one year of chemistry)
  • Social Science - 2 units (government, history, economics, psychology, sociology)
  • Foreign Language - 2 units (all in a single language)
  • Academic Electives - 1 unit

Students that do not meet assured admission criteria can be admitted by the Engineering Committee, but are not guaranteed admission to the College of Engineering.

Transfer students

Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 with at least 30 hours of college course work. To be admitted, the student should have a solid math and science background in college coursework. Transfer students will almost always be reviewed by the Engineering Committee to determine coursework completed at college level.

For application information: How To Apply

For further information contact the Engineering Advisor at the Student Success Center.

Program Information

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science requires the following:

  • Completion of at least 128 hours.
  • A minimum 2.0 average in all CS courses taken and in all CU courses taken.
  • CS majors must complete an exit interview the semester they intend to graduate.

Computer Science Core Courses (and their Pre/Co-Requisites)

  • CS 1150 Principles of Computer Science 3 (HS Algebra, familiarity with computer concepts including file operations and text editing)
  • CS 1450 Data Structures & Algorithms 3 (CS 1150)
  • CS 2060 Programming in C 3 (CS 1150)
  • CS 2080 Programming with UNIX 2 (CS 1450)
  • CS 2160 Computer Org. & Assembly Language 3 (CS 1450, CS 2060)
  • CS 3050 Computing Ethics (CS 2080)
  • CS 3060 Object Oriented Programming in C++ 3 (CS 2060, CS 2080) OR CS 3020 Adv Object Tech Using C#/.NET 3 (CS 1450)
  • CS 3160 Concepts of Programming Languages 3 (CS 2060, CS 2160, CS 3020 OR CS 3060)
  • CS 3300 Software Engineering 3 (CS 2080, CS 3160, CS 3020 OR CS 3060)
  • CS 4100 Compiler Design 3 (CS 2160, CS 3160, CS 4700)
  • CS 4200 Computer Architecture I 3 (CS 2160)
  • CS 4500 Operating Systems I 3 (CS 2060, CS 2080, CS 4200)
  • CS 4700 Computability, Automata & Formal Lang. 3 (MATH 2150, MATH 3130)
  • CS 4720 Design & Analysis of Algorithms 3 (CS 1450, MATH 2150)
  • TOTAL 39 CREDITS

Computer Science Electives

Complete 9 credit hours of CS courses numbered between 4000-5990 that are not being used for the CS Core. Total 9

Technical Electives

Complete 9 hours of Technical Electives. Technical Electives should be chosen from the following areas: CS courses 3000+ not being used for CS Core or CS Electives; GDD courses 3000+; ECE courses 2000+; MATH courses 3100+, except MATH 4650; Additional courses from the Basic Science list or additional courses with prerequisites from the Basic Science list; Any course from the College of Business 3000+, except BUAD 3010, 3020 or 3030. Total 9

Mathematics (and their Pre/Co-requisites)

All courses in this section must be completed.

  • MATH 1350 Calculus I 4 (MATH 1050 or score of 10 on Calc. Readiness Exam)
  • MATH 1360 Calculus II 4 (MATH 1350)
  • MATH 2150 Discrete Mathematics 3 (MATH 1350)
  • MATH 2350 Calculus III 4 (MATH 1360)
  • CS 2300 Computational Linear Algebra (MATH 90) OR MATH 3130 Intro. to Linear Algebra 3 (MATH 1350)
  • MATH 3810 Intro. to Probability & Statistics OR ECE 3610 Engineering Probability & Statistics 3 (MATH 2350)
  • TOTAL 21

 

Basic Science (and their Pre/Co-Requisites)

PES 1110 General Physics I 4 (Coreq. MATH 1350), 1120 General Physics II 4 (PES 1110, Coreq. MATH 1360) and 1160 General Physics Lab 1(Coreq. PES 1110) must be completed. Five additional hours of Basic Science are also required and may be chosen from the following courses (credit hours for each class are listed after the course number): CHEM 1030-5, CHEM 1060-5, GEOL 1010-4, GEOL 1020-4, BIOL 1200-4, BIOL 1210-4 or any other PES course that has a prerequisite of PES 1110. Total 14

Writing Skills

All courses in this section must be completed. Please note that ENGL 1410 can replace ENGL 1310 if the student desires a more challenging writing course. If you do not place in to ENGL 1310 you need to take ENGL 0990 as a prerequisite

  • ENGL 1310 Rhetoric & Writing I 3 (Score of 19+ on ACT Engl or 450+ on SAT Verb ENGL 3090 Technical Writing and Presentation 3 ENGL 1310)
  • ENGL 2090 Technical Writing & Presentation 3 (ENGL 1310 OR ENGL 1410)
  • PORT 3000 Writing Portfolio Assessment (ENGL 2090)
  • TOTAL 6

Compass Curriculum Humanities/Social Science Requirements 

Complete 23 hours of Humanities/Social Science Electives. Complete a Gateway Seminar (GPS 1010), an Explore - Arts, Humanities, and Cultures course, an Explore - Society, Behavior, and Health course, an Explore - Physical and Natural World course (PES 1110), a Navigate course, a Summit course (CS 4100), two Writing Intensive Courses (at least one 3000+), an Inclusiveness course, and a Sustainability course. Some of these courses are already included in the major.  For more information about these requirements, refer to the Compass Curriculum. Total 23

Free Electives

Students need to complete 7 hours of Free Electives. The chosen course(s) can be selected from any discipline but may not include MATH 1040, MATH 1050, MATH 1110, and MATH 1120. Only 3 credit hours of CS course work numbered below CS 1150 may count towards the Free Electives. Total 7

To help plan your degree program, refer to the Computer Science Major Advising Guide.

For application information: How To Apply

For further information, contact an advisor through Academic Advising

 

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