The Department of Computer Science
offers an undergraduate program of study leading to a Bachelor of Science
degree in Computer Science. This degree program has been designed to prepare
qualified students for careers involving the design of computer systems and
their application to science and industry. Additional program objectives include
providing solid undergraduate preparation for students who intend to pursue
graduate study in computer science and a general background for students
interested in scientific or systems programming or other areas of computer
science. The program is structured with a maximum of flexibility to insure that
the student has the opportunity to direct his or her studies in the pursuit of
the above stated goals. A minor is offered for students majoring in other
fields who wish to develop computer science skills to complement their major
fields.
With recent rapid advances in computer hardware and
computer software technology, Computer Science has become one of the most
exciting and dynamic research areas and one that seems set to affect the lives
of everyone. Computer science combines constructivist mathematics with
engineering technologies that enable mathematical objects to be treated as
physical symbol systems. Its scope ranges from such abstract and theoretical
topics as the semantics of programming languages and computational complexity to
more concrete issues such as Boolean circuits and computer and network
architectures. A central and integrating element of Computer Science is the
design and development of software. Software is a representation of abstract
ideas in a language capable of execution by a computer.
The bachelor’s degree program provides an excellent
foundation in all areas of computer science. In addition to the required
fundamental computer science courses, students must also take technical
electives to broaden their knowledge in major computer science areas.
The bachelor’s degree program stresses both theory and
practice in the computer science area and was developed in accordance with
curriculum guidelines recommended by the Association for Computing Machinery
(ACM)—the authority on computer science
education.
Students who complete the degree will be well-qualified for high-paying
jobs in a field in which an unprecedented demand exists for men and women
trained in computer software skills. Careers are available in such specialties
as computer networks, computer graphics, artificial intelligence, database
systems, systems analysis, and distributed systems.