Computer Science

Louise Amick, Chair
Dunning-Decker 101a, ext. 7866

Majors who wish to become certified to teach computer science in secondary schools should inform the chairs of both the Mathematics and Education Departments as early in their college career as possible.

Major Requirements and Recommendations

The major in computer science consists of a minimum of twelve courses: six core courses, four theory and systems courses, and two electives.

Six Core Courses:

MAT 201, CSI CSI 202, CSI 203, CSI 240, CSI 250

Four Theory and Systems Courses:

CSI 350, CSI 360, CSI 370, CSI 480

Two Electives Chosen From:

CSI 340, CSI 380, CSI 394, CSI 450, CSI 460, CSI 470, CSI 494

Minor Requirements: The minor in computer science consists of MAT 201, CSI CSI 202, CSI 203, CSI 250, and any two of the following: CSI 240, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 394, 450, 460, 470, 480, 494.

Senior Capstone Experience: The Senior Capstone Experience in computer science can take one of two forms: a senior thesis and oral presentation on a topic in theoretical computer science or a senior programming project with a written exposition and oral presentation. Each major choosing the thesis option will research and write a senior thesis with the supervision of a faculty member and will make an oral presentation on the thesis at a departmental seminar. Each major choosing the thesis option should have a thesis topic selected and approved by the end of his/her junior year.

For students with double majors in mathematics and computer science, this thesis may also satisfy the thesis requirement of the Senior Capstone Experience for a major in mathematics.

Each major choosing the programming project option will complete the project with the supervision of a faculty member and will also complete a written exposition and make an oral presentation on the project at a departmental seminar. Each major choosing the programming project option should have a project selected and approved by the end of his or her junior year.

For students with double majors in mathematics and computer science, the senior programming project may be awarded credit for some of the problems to be done as part of the Senior Capstone Experience for a major in mathematics. The Chair will decide the number. Students may also earn credit for problems solved while participating in teams in the annual ACM Programming Contest or the COMAP Mathematical Contest in Modeling. A maximum of three problems from these alternative sources may be credited toward the six required Capstone problems in mathematics. Weekly seminars of the majors and faculty in the department are scheduled to provide information about careers, graduate school, thesis ideas, and research areas, as well as to enable each major to make the required presentation on the thesis or programming project. The Senior Capstone Experience in computer science is graded as Pass, Fail, or Honors.