10: School of Engineering and Applied Science

General Information | Degree Programs | Curricula | Course Descriptions | Faculty

Aerospace Engineering | Applied Mathematics | Biomedical Engineering | Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering | Computer Science | Computer Engineering (Computer Science) | Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering (Electrical Engineering) | Engineering Science | Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering | Systems Engineering | Division of Technology, Culture, and Communication

Computer Science

Through the development of sophisticated computer systems, processors and embedded applications, computer scientists have the opportunity to change society in ways unimagined a generation ago. The goal of the Department of Computer Science is the education and training of students who can take part in, and indeed lead, the current information and technological revolution. Specifically, we believe that it is appropriate that our graduates be oriented toward the pragmatic "engineering" aspects of computer science. Good engineering is rooted in solid mathematics and science, and a grounding in these fundamentals is essential for our students. This early grounding, provided in the context of the practice of computing, forms the basis for an education which outstandingly prepares students for a computing career.

As a discipline, computer science has seen many dramatic changes in its brief history. Traditional programming instruction emphasizes writing short programs from scratch, in a dead language. This emphasis is in contrast to the skills needed by a contemporary computing professional. With funding from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Computer Science has designed, developed, and is currently disseminating a new curriculum focused on the practice of computing, yet grounded in the mathematical and scientific fundamentals of computer science. The curriculum is structured around the introduction of modern software development techniques in the very beginning courses, and the curriculum is supported by a coordinated set of "closed laboratories."

In order to provide an environment appropriate to our courses, we have established two laboratories with a total of 50 workstations. These machines have high-resolution graphics, and are connected to large file handlers as well as the University network. The lab courses are intended to expose students to many commercial software tools and systems. The courses currently introduce modern software development techniques via object-oriented design and implementation in C++.

In order to major or minor in computer science a formal application must be submitted and approved by the Department of Computer Sciencet. Contact the department secretary to obtain an application form and a description of acceptance policies.

Transfer   Students in the College of Arts and Sciences with an interest in majoring in computer science may transfer to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and receive a Bachelor of Computer Science degree after completing the computer science curriculum. To minimize loss of credit upon transfer, College students must take a rigorous program in mathematics and the sciences. (Note that the School of Engineering and Applied Science expects a minimum of 67 credits in the first two years, instead of the 60-credit minimum which is customary in the College of Arts and Sciences. The extra seven credits are often completed through summer courses.) Detailed information on curriculum requirements may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Minor   18 credits of computer science courses constitute a minor. These courses include CS 101, CS 201, CS 202, CS 216, CS 308, and CS 340.

Computer Science Curriculum

First Semester
APMA 101Calculus I 4
CHEM 151Introductory Chemistry for Engineers3
CHEM 151LIntroductory Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory1
ENGR 160Engineering Concepts3
ENGR 164Engineering Design 3
TCC 101Language Communication and the Technological Society 3
Total17
Second Semester
APMA 102Calculus II 4
PHYS 142EGeneral Physics I 4
CS 101Introduction to Computer Science 3
Science elective[3]3
General Education elective[1] [2]3
Total17
Third Semester
APMA 205Calculus III 4
PHYS 241EGeneral Physics II 3
PHYS 241LGeneral Physics Laboratory I1
CS 201Software Development Methods 3
ENGR ___Core elective3
CS 202Discrete Mathematics I 3
Total17
Fourth Semester
APMA 206Differential Equations 4
CS 216Program and Data Representation3
ENGR 208Digital Logic Design 3
CS 302Discrete Mathematics II 3
TCC 2__TCC elective3
Total16
Fifth Semester
CS 308Computer Architecture 3
CS 332Algorithms3
APMA 310Probability3
General Education elective[1] [2]3
General Education elective[1] [2]3
Total15
Sixth Semester
CS 340Advanced Software Development 3
CS 390CS Seminar I 1
APMA 308Linear Algebra 3
CS ___CS elective3
General Education elective[1] [2]3
Technical elective3
Total16
Seventh Semester
TCC 401Western Technology and Culture 3
EE 435Computer Organization and Design 4 1/2
CS ___CS elective3
CS ___CS elective3
General Education elective[1] [2]3
Total16 1/2
Eighth Semester
TCC 402The Engineer in Society 3
CS 490CS Seminar II 1
CS ___CS elective3
CS ___CS elective3
Technical elective3
General Education elective[1] [2]3
Total16
130 1/2 credits -- minimum required for graduation.

[1]Up to six credits of general education electives may be replaced with unrestricted electives.
[2]ROTC students can count up to six credits of ROTC courses as unrestricted electives.
[3]First-year students should select a science elective from:
CHEM 152 Introductory Chemistry for Engineers 3
BIOL 201 Introduction to Biology 3
BIOL 202 Introduction to Biology 3
MSE 102 Introduction to the Science of Engineering Materials 3

Continue to: Computer Engineering (Computer Science)
Return to: Chapter 10 Index