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Programs

Computer Science Major

Thirty-six credits which must include:

  1. Computer Science 120, 204, 220, 230, 240 and 310 .
  2. Fourteen additional credits from a. to c. below:
    1. Eight credits must be chosen from CSC 410, 420, 430 or 440.
    2. Electives may be chosen from any CSC course numbered 114 or above; MTH 336; and COG 120.
    3. No more than six credits from CSC 114, 117, and COG 120 may be applied to satisfy major requirements.
  3. Three required cognate courses: MTH 120, 220 and any additional MTH course numbered 113 or higher (MTH 336 cannot be counted for this requirement and as a CSC elective).
  4. The senior comprehensive examination includes three parts: successful completion of the Major Field Test in Computer Science, submission of an approved writing sample and an approved oral presentation.

Program Considerations

Graduate school bound students are strongly encouraged to take CSC 420, 430, 440, and to minor in mathematics. Many graduate schools expect undergraduate research as part of entering students' background; thus, a senior thesis is also encouraged. Consult carefully with your advisor.

Students seeking a technical professional position upon graduation are strongly encouraged to take CSC 410, 420, 430, 440 and MTH 116 and 117; a practicum is recommended.

Computer Science Secondary Teaching Major

Thirty-six credits, which must include:

  1. CSC 120, 204, 220, 230, 240, 280A, 310 and 410.
  2. Eight additional credits from a. to c. below:
    1. Four credits must be chosen from CSC 420, 430 and 440.
    2. Elective(s) may be chosen from any CSC course numbered 114 or above; COG 120; and MTH 336.
    3. No more than four credits from CSC 114, 117 and COG 120 may be applied to satisfy the major requirement.
  3. Three required cognate courses: MTH 120, 220 and any additional MTH course numbered 113 or higher. MTH 336 cannot be counted for this requirement and as a CSC elective.
  4. The senior comprehensive examination includes three parts: successful completion of the Major Field Test in Computer Science, submission of an approved writing sample and an approved oral presentation.
  5. Each candidate for a teaching certificate in CSC will participate in at least two terms of internship/practica, which entails maintaining and operating computer and network systems in the CSC laboratories and tutoring students taking lower-level CSC courses. No credit is given for internships, but students are paid the same as those doing paid jobs.
  6. Twenty-nine credits from EDC must be taken including CSC 445cs. Consult with your advisor about these courses and other special education requirements.

Computer Science Minor

Twenty-four CSC credits which must include CSC 120, 220 and at least eight upper level credits. The cognate course, MTH 120, is required.

Four credits from CSC 120 or higher, with the exception of practicum or independent study courses, count towards the Distributive Requirements in the Natural Sciences — Mathematics/Computation.

 

Alma is one of seven Michigan colleges and universities to hold membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa Society, the national leadership society that recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. The College also has 19 other national departmental honor societies.

 

Graduate Profile

Ted Hutchins
Graduation: 1990
Major: Computer Science
Minor: Religious Studies

Ted Hutchins has been interested in computers since middle school, but he says the liberal arts education at Alma College truly prepared him for life.

“At other institutions computer science students have little incentive or ability to further their education in non-science disciplines,” the 1990 graduate says. “Over the years numerous acquaintances have stated they only took those ‘other’ course to complete their degree. At Alma most of those ‘other’ classes were the highlight of the term. A well-rounded education furthered my career in ways that are hard to quantify.”