Department of Computer Science and Engineering

[1] Programs of Study and Purposes

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers programs of study leading to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, the Bachelor of Science in Data Science, the Master of Science in Computer Science, and a minor in Computer Science. The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is offered in collaboration with the Department of Computer Information Systems and Analytics and the Department of Political Science.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science emphasizes problem solving in the context of algorithm development and software implementation, and prepares students for effectively using modern computer systems in various applications. This BS program requires a minimum of 54 credit hours in computer science, about 24 credit hours in mathematics and the sciences, and the university general education program. The departmental curriculum provides required computer science courses such as programming languages, data structures, computer architecture, algorithms, database systems, operating systems, and software engineering; as well as elective courses in artificial intelligence, distributed computing, graphics, human-computer interaction, multimedia, scientific computing, web technologies, and other current topics in computer science.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering emphasizes the ability of developing and adapting computer hardware for applications, and prepares broadly trained computer engineers who are experienced in both software and hardware engineering. This program requires a minimum of 64 credit hours in computer science and computer engineering, about 32 credit hours in mathematics and the sciences, and the university general education program. The departmental curriculum provides required computer engineering courses such as assembly language programming, electronics, computer architecture, signals and systems, digital logic, microprocessor systems, and embedded systems; as well as elective courses in networking, operating systems, image processing, signal processing, microelectronics, and other current topics in computer science and engineering.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science emphasizes problem solving in the context of data science and analytics, and prepares students for effectively analyzing massive amounts of structured/unstructured data in various application domains. This BS program requires a minimum of 42 credit hours in computer science, about 28 credit hours in mathematics and the sciences, and the university general education program. The departmental curriculum provides required data science courses such as introduction to data science, data structures, algorithms, database systems, object-oriented software development, artificial intelligence, information security, and data mining; as well as concentration courses in computer science, statistics, or business.

The purpose of the BS programs in computer science and computer engineering are twofold: (1) to prepare the student for a position involving the design, development and implementation of computer software/hardware, and (2) to prepare the student for entry into a program of graduate study in computer science/engineering and related fields. The educational objectives for students completing these BS degree programs are that they

The department also offers a minor in Computer Science. The computer science minor curriculum provides necessary background for students interested in using computational methods to solve a broad range of application problems in sciences and engineering, such as bioinformatics, computational chemistry, computational engineering, computational mathematics, and others.

[2] Honors in Computer Science/Cybersecurity and the Combined BS+MS Program in Computer Science/Cybersecurity

Students who major in Computer Science or Cybersecurity and who demonstrate exceptional ability may be invited to enter the Honors in the Major Program. For details, see Honors in the Major Program.

The department offers a combined and accelerated option for students to complete both the BS in Computer Science or Cybersecurity and the MS in Computer Science degrees. This option allows qualified undergraduate seniors in the BS program in Computer Science or Cybersecurity to take first-year graduate-level courses in the MS program. A maximum of nine such credit hours may be counted toward both the BS and MS degrees. These students will be able to complete all the requirements for the BS and MS programs in five years. Students interested in this five-year BS+MS combined option should contact their academic advisor or the department chair for details. See also the Graduate Bulletin description of these options.

[3] Baccalaureate Degrees: Bachelor of Science

[3.1] Major in Computer Science

[3.1.1] Computer Science Student Outcomes

All undergraduate students majoring in Computer Science will meet the following student general outcomes, specified by ABET CAC, upon their graduation:

1. Analyze a problem and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution.
2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computer-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.

Specifically, graduates should have an ability to

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

[3.1.2] Computer Science Program Requirements

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The Bachelor of Science, with a major in computer science, requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 39 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; and (3) major requirements outlined below. This program does not require a minor.

Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in Computer Science enter the College Algebra Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1390 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit for MATH 1390.

Required Computer Science Courses (42 hours)

Elective Computer Science Courses (12 hours required)

*No more than three hours of electives at the 2000 level may be counted toward the Computer Science major (an additional three hours may be counted with the consent of the chair).

Required Mathematics Courses (at least 16 hours)

Required Science Courses (8 hours)

[3.1.3] Major in Computer Science with a Data Science Concentration

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Required Computer Science Courses (48 hours)

Data Science Elective Courses (at least 12 hours required)

Required Mathematics Courses (16 hours)

Required Science Courses (8 hours)

[3.2] Minor in Computer Science

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[3.2.1] Requirements for the Computer Science Minor (17 hours)

Required CSCI courses

[3.3] Major in Computer Engineering

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[3.3.1] Computer Engineering Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science, with a major in computer engineering, requires successful completion of 123 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (Computer Engineering majors are exempt from the requirement to complete a life science course under the Critical Inquiry category of the lower-division UCA Core.) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; and (3) major requirements outlined below. This program does not require a minor.

Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in Computer Engineering enter the College Algebra Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1390 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit for MATH 1390. Students with an ACT Math subscore between 22 and 26 should enroll in MATH 1486 Calculus Preparation. Student with an ACT Math subscore of 27 or greater should enroll in MATH 1496 Calculus I.

Required Computer Science and Computer Engineering Courses (55 hours)

Elective Computer Engineering Courses (9 hours required; choose at least three)

Required Mathematics Courses (20 hours)

Required Science Courses (12 hours)

Other Required Courses (27 hours)

[3.4] Major in Data Science

[Back to program-of-study links]

[3.4.1] Data Science Student Outcomes

All undergraduate students majoring in Data Science will meet the following student general outcomes, specified by ABET CAC, upon their graduation:

1. Analyze a problem and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution.
2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computer-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.

Specifically, graduates should have an ability to

6. Apply theory, techniques, and tools throughout the data analysis lifecycle and employ the resulting knowledge to satisfy stakeholders’ needs.

[3.4.2] Data Science Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science, with a major in data science, requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 39 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; and (3) major requirements outlined below. This program does not require a minor.

Required Computing Core (42 credit hours)

Required Mathematics/Statistics Core (20 credit hours)

[3.4.3] Data Science Concentration (12-18 credit hours)

Students majoring in Data Science will be required to complete one of the following concentrations.

[3.4.3.1] Computer Science (12 credit hours)

[3.4.3.2] Statistics (18 credit hours)

[3.4.3.3] Business (12 credit hours)

[3.4.4] General Electives (5-11 credit hours)

This program requires 5–11 credit hours of general elective coursework depending on the concentration chosen.

[4] Master’s Degree

See Graduate Bulletin.

[5] Courses in Computer Science (CSCI)

Follow this link for CSCI course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for CISA course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for MATH course descriptions: course link.