Computer Science, B.A.

Requirements for the Major

Requirements for a major and an example of a typical program of courses are as follows:

Freshman Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

CS 202 - Computer Science II *
EN 101 - Understanding Literature
HS 100-Level Core Course
MA 252 - Calculus II *
Language Core or
Elective

Sophomore Year

Fall Term

CS 295 - Discrete Structures * or
MA 295 - Discrete Structures *
CS 301 - Data Structures and Algorithms I *
CS 371 - Computer Engineering I *
PL 201 - Foundations of Philosophy or
TH 201 - Introduction to Theology
Science Elective (w/Lab)*

Spring Term

CS 302 - Data Structures and Algorithms II *
MA 301 - Introduction to Linear Algebra or
ST 210 - Introduction to Statistics *
PL 200-Level Philosophical Perspectives Course or
Theology Core
History Core
Science Elective*

Junior Year

Fall Term

PL 201 - Foundations of Philosophy or
TH 201 - Introduction to Theology
CS Elective*
CS Elective*
Elective
Elective

Spring Term

PL 200-Level Philosophical Perspectives Course or
Theology Core
English Core
CS Elective*
CS Elective*
Elective

Senior Year

Fall Term

CS 482 - Software Engineering *
Ethics Core
Social Science Core
CS Elective*
Elective

Spring Term

CS 496 - Computer Science Project I *
Fine Arts Core
Social Science Core
Elective
Elective

Key:

* Required for major.

Notes:

Computer science electives for majors must be 300-level or above.
All electives must be at least three credits. At least three electives must be taken in departments other than computer science.
The science electives must be majors-level courses emphasizing quantitative and/or experimental methods in a physical or biological science and not a primarily computational, mathematical, or engineering design course. BL 118 /BL 119 , BL 121 /BL 126 , CH 101 /CH 105 , CH 102 /CH 106 , PH 201 /PH 291 , and PH 202 /PH 292 meet this requirement. EG, MA, ST, and other courses must be approved by the Computer Science Department.
A total of five CS electives are required. At least three must be CS courses and up to two may be CS-related courses, depending on the track chosen. CS-related electives are courses at the 300-level or higher that are substantially different from those offered by the Computer Science Department and include a sufficiently advanced computing component. Students must submit written requests for approval to the track coordinator (see track requirements below).
Three specialty tracks are offered: software engineering, interdisciplinary study, and general computer science. To complete a track, students choose their CS and CS-related electives as follows:

Software Engineering: Programming languages, web programming, software testing, database management systems, and one elective approved by the track coordinator.

Interdisciplinary Study: Three CS courses at the 400-level or above and two CS-related electives in a single application area approved by the track coordinator.

General: Four CS electives at the 400-level or above and one CS-related elective approved by the track coordinator, or five CS electives at the 400-level or above.

Students must complete the diversity core requirement through a designated diversity core, major, or elective course (see Diversity Core Requirement under Curriculum and Policies).