Computer Science

Requirements & Courses

  • Major Requirements

    Thirty-six credits, which must include:

    1. CSC-120, 121, 204, 230, 240 and 310
    2. Fourteen additional credits as follows:
      • Eight credits from CSC-410, 420, 430 or 440.
      • Electives may be chosen from any CSC course numbered 116 or above; MTH-336; and COG-120.

    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.

    Cognates: In addition to the thirty-six credits above, MTH-120, and 4 additional credits of MTH numbered 113 or above. Students should coordinate with their advisor to decide which MTH course best aligns with their interests.

  • Note: No more than six credits from CSC-114, 117, and COG-120 may be applied to satisfy major requirements.
  • 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.

  • Minor Requirements

    Twenty-four credits of computer science, which must include:

    1. CSC-120 and 121;
    2. At least eight credits taken from upper-level CSC courses or MTH 336.

    MTH-120 must also be taken as a cognate, in addition to the twenty-four credits above.​

    ​

  • 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.

Courses

  • CSC
    100
    .
    Computer Systems
    2 credits
    Introduction to the use of modern computer systems. Basics of word-processing, graphics, spreadsheets, Internet access and Web development software. Use of computer peripherals such as printers, scanners and digital cameras. Taught in a laboratory setting.
  • CSC
    105
    .
    Modern Spreadsheets
    2 credits
    Prerequisite: MTH-100 or Placement
    Introduction to the use of modern spreadsheets, with a particular emphasis on business applications. Taught in a laboratory setting.
  • CSC
    116
    .
    Programming With Data
    4 credits
    Introduction to programming techniques for the manipulation and analysis of digital data. Programming topics include: digital representations of data, types of data, programming decision and repetition, functions and libraries for storing and manipulation data in the language of instruction (e.g. the pandas library of Python). Data topics include: common formats (e.g. CSV, JSON, XML, database), missing data, cleaning data, exploratory data analysis. Visualizing and presenting data to support an argument.
  • CSC
    117
    .
    Image and Reality
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: MTH-100 or Placement
    Explores the current reality of artificial intelligence and visions of what it is and will be. Examination of current artificial intelligence systems. Particular emphasis on robotics, with projects involving robot design, creation and programming. Laboratory.
  • CSC
    118
    .
    Media Computation
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: MTH-100 or Placement
    Introduction to media programming and computation. Exploring computer programming for manipulating images, sounds, movies, e-text, and other digital media. Skills and knowledge will involve problem-solving, data representation, and programming principles including recursion, user-interaction, and object-oriented design. Introduction to computer science hardware and software fundamentals. CSC-118 and 120 may not both be taken for credit in the major. Laboratory.
  • CSC
    120
    .
    Object-Oriented Programming I
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: MTH-100 or placement
    Fundamentals of object-oriented programming in the language of instruction (e.g., Java). Topics include: basic computation, input and output, control structures, classes and object instantiation, methods and parameter passing, arrays and strings, sorting and searching. Laboratory.
  • CSC
    121
    .
    Object-Oriented Programming II Techniques
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-120
    Focuses on object-oriented design, encapsulation and inheritance. Programming topics such as recursion and event-driven programming. Basic data structures such as a stacks, queues and linked lists.
  • CSC
    204
    .
    Social and Ethical Issues
    2 credits
    Prerequisite: Any CSC course or Permission
    Studies social and moral problems arising from the use of computing technologies, with a particular focus on the Internet. Topics such as free speech, privacy, communications interception, encryption, intellectual property, liability for software and hardware malfunction, and for information content.
  • CSC
    230
    .
    Software Engineering
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-121
    Software development: requirements, specification, modern design techniques, program testing methods, software metrics as used in quality evaluation, and project management.
  • CSC
    235M
    .
    Computer Game Design
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-121 or permission
    Explores the process by which computer games go from conception through formal design to implementation and testing. Uses coursework and team projects to cover aspects of the design process including brainstorming and narrative development, game programming, art and sound design, and marketing.
  • CSC
    240
    .
    Algorithms and Complexity
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: MTH-120
    Advanced data structures and algorithms, algorithmic analysis, and an introduction to distributed and parallel algorithms.
  • CSC
    280
    .
    Topics in Computer Science
    2-4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-121 and Permission
    Topical study in computer science. While topics vary, the course usually introduces a particular computer programming language (e.g., C, C++, Prolog, etc.).
  • CSC
    310
    .
    Computer Organization
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-121
    Advanced introduction to assembly languages and structure and organization of digital computers, including addressing schemes, digital representation of data and computer arithmetic. Course fee.
  • CSC
    315
    .
    Machine Learning
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: DAT 116 or CSC 121, and MTH 242, or Permission
    Principles and techniques for machine-based decision and prediction from large datasets. Algorithms for and applications of classification, regression, and unsupervised learning. Introduction to neural networks and deep learning. Use of machine learning libraries in languages such as Python and R.
  • CSC
    335
    .
    Computer Graphics
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-121 and MTH-220
    Introduction to techniques of computer graphics including three-dimensional representations, perspective, computer animation, computer art and applications of computer graphics to various other disciplines.
  • CSC
    345
    .
    Artificial Intelligence
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-121
    Survey of major topics in artificial intelligence. Emphasis on fundamental concepts: search, knowledge representation, problem solving and logic. Additional topics such as expert systems, learning, natural language processing, neural networks, planning, theorem proving and vision. Programming in an AI language.
  • CSC
    380
    .
    Topics in Computer Science
    2-4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-335 or Permission
  • CSC
    399
    .
    Computer Science Independent Study
    1 credit
    Requires instructor permission.
  • CSC
    410
    .
    Database Management
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-230
    In-depth study of techniques for storing, selecting and retrieving data. Topics selected from file and database organization, safety and recovery, privacy, security and commercial systems.
  • CSC
    420
    .
    Operating Systems
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-310
    Survey of major concepts of operating systems. Investigation of relationships among the operating system, the architecture and the systems programs of a computer system.
  • CSC
    430
    .
    Theory of Computing
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-120 and either MTH-220 or MTH-223
    In-depth study of the main components of the theory of computation: finite automata and computability.
  • CSC
    440
    .
    Languages and Translators
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: CSC-310
    An in-depth study of the principles of programming languages and language-translation. Includes major programming paradigms in historical and modern contexts and explores language translation via interpreters and compilers, including lexical, syntactic, and semantic analysis.
  • CSC
    499
    .
    Computer Science Independent Study
    1 credit
    Requires instructor permission.
  • CSC
    500
    .
    Senior Thesis
    1 credit
    Requires instructor permission.