Bachelor of Innovation in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Innovation Computer Science Program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General criteria and the Computer Science Program Criteria.

The Computer Science Department offers a complete four-year program of study leading to a Bachelor of Innovation 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.

The Department of Computer Science has established the following Program Educational Objectives for the Bachelor of Innovation in Computer Science.

Competency in 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.

Creativity in Applying Computer Knowledge

• 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.

Devotion to Lifelong Learning

• 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.

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

1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.

2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.

3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.

4. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.

5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.

6. Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

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

• A minimum of 125 hours with a cumulative CU GPA of 2.0. At least 45 of those hours must be upper division (courses numbered 3000 and higher).
• A grade of "C" or higher in courses applied to the major.
• A minimum 2.0 GPA must be maintained in all CS course work.

Computer Science Core Courses (43 Credit Hours)

Complete all of the following courses:

• CS 1150 - Principles of Computer Science
• CS 1450 - Data Structures and Algorithms
• CS 2060 - Programming in C
• CS 2080 - Programming in UNIX
• CS 2160 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming
• CS 3050 - Social and Ethical Implications of Computing
• CS 3160 - Concepts of Programming Languages
• CS 3300 -Introduction to Software Engineering
• CS 4200 - Computer Architecture 1
• CS 4220 - Computer Networks
• CS 4420 - Database Systems 1
• CS 4500 - Operating Systems 1
• CS 4720 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• CS 4910 - Introduction to Computer Security
• CS 3020 - Advanced Object Technology Using C#/.Net OR CS 3060 - Object-Oriented Programming Using C++ OR CS 3080 Python Programming

Computer Science Professional Electives (6 credit hours)

Complete six hours of Professional Electives from the following options:

• Computer Science - Any 3000+ level course not being used to fulfill another requirement.
• Electrical Engineering - Any 3000+ level course not being used to fulfill another requirement.
• Mathematics - Any 3100+ level course not being used to fulfill another requirement.
• Natural Science - Any 3000+ level course not being used to fulfill another requirement.
• Business - Any College of Business course numbered 3000 or higher not being used to fulfill another requirement.
  • NOTE: BUAD 3010, 3020, or 3030 will not count towards this requirement

BI Innovation Core (24 credit hours)

Complete all of the Bachelor of Innovation Core courses below:

• INOV 1000 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship OR INOV 1001 - Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
• INOV 1010 - The Innovation Process OR INOV 1011 Social Innovation
• INOV 2010 - Innovation Team: Analyze and Report
• INOV 2100 - Technical Writing, Proposals, and Presentations
• INOV 2500 - Business Law and Innovation
• INOV 3010 - Innovation Team: Research and Execute
• INOV 4010 - Innovation Team: Design and Lead
• INOV 4500 - Entrepreneurship and Strategy

BI Cross-Discipline Core (15 credit hours)

Complete one of the below Cross-Discipline options. See degree audit or academic catalog for specific courses: http://catalog.uccs.edu/

• Business
• Creative Communication
• Globalization
• Inclusive Education
• Custom (for Veterans and Transfer students only)

Mathematics (17 hours)

Complete all of the following courses

• MATH 1350 - Calculus 1
• MATH 1360 - Calculus 2
• CS 2020 - Introduction to Statistics for Data Analytics OR MATH 3810 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics
• CS 2150 - Discrete Structures OR MATH 2150 - Discrete Mathematics
• CS 2300 - Computational Linear Algebra OR Introduction to Linear Algebra

Natural Science (10 hours)

Complete 10 hours of basic science courses from the following:

• BIOL 1300 - General Biology: Organismic Biology
• BIOL 1310 - General Biology: Organismic Biology Laboratory
• BIOL 1350 - General Biology: Introduction to the Cell
• BIOL 1360 - General Biology: Introduction to the Cell Laboratory
• CHEM 1401 - General Chemistry 1
• CHEM 1402 - General Chemistry Laboratory 1
• CHEM 1411 - General Chemistry 2
• CHEM 1412 - General Chemistry Laboratory 2
• PES 1110 - General Physics 1 - Calculus Based
• PES 1120 - General Physics 2
• PES 1160 - Advanced Physics Lab 1 - Calculus Based
• PES 2160 - Advanced Physics Lab 2

Compass Curriculum

Complete elective courses to fulfill the following Compass Curriculum Components. Please note, some requirements may be fulfilled by other degree requirements. Please see your Degree Audit for more details

• Gateway (fulfilled with GPS 1010)
• Explore - Arts, Humanities, and Cultures
• Explore - Society, Behavior, and Health
• Explore - Physical and Natural World (fulfilled with either CHEM 1401 or PES 1110)
• Navigate
• Summit (fulfilled with CS 4300)
• Writing Intensive Course
• Inclusiveness
• Sustainability

General Electives

Complete 4 general electives hours to fulfill the total hours requirement for the degree program.  The chosen course(s) can be selected from any discipline but may not include any math course below MATH 1350.  Only 3 credit hours of CS course work numbered below CS 1150 may count toward electives.

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Admission Criteria for Freshman Students

• Rank in the upper 30th percentile of high school graduating class
• GPA of 3.0
• ACT composite score of 25 or above or an SAT composite score of 1120 or above

Expected high school work is:

• English - 4 years
• Math - 4 years (at least two years of Algebra, one-year Geometry)
• Natural Science - 3 years (must have some lab-based work)
• Social Science - 3 years (1 unit of US or World History)
• Foreign Language - 1 year
• Academic Electives - 2 years

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 further information, contact a Transfer Advisor.

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships