Department of Computer Science

Curriculum Offerings

The Department of Computer Science offers the following academic programs:

  • B.S. Computer Science
  • B.S. MDST in Data Science
  • Computer Science Minor
  • Data Science Minor

Mission Statement

The goal of the B.S. degree is to prepare students for entry into general professional life. This degree is flexible so that it is consistent with the University mission of providing a program with a strong liberal arts component. It provides students with a strong liberal arts background that will allow graduates to use and/or apply computers within their professional lives, to pursue computer-related careers, or to pursue graduate study in the major areas of knowledge within the arts and sciences.

Student Objectives

Graduates of our B.S. in Computer Science program assume appropriate roles as computing professionals, with the following objectives:

  1. They use standard practices of the computing field.
  2. They actively participate in the advancement of the computing field through professional activities such as publishing, professional organization participation, and standards committee membership.
  3. They participate in continuing education opportunities, including technical workshops, certification programs, and graduate-level coursework.
  4. They pursue a career along at least the following career paths:
    • Technical: they will advance within the field by increasing their advanced technical skills, moving from positions such as programmer and system administrator to systems analyst, software engineer, and senior analyst.
    • Management: They will advance beyond a strictly technical role to management positions such as project or team leader up to positions such as Chief Information Officer.
    • Academic: They will pursue graduate degrees leading to teaching and/or research positions.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the B.S. in Computer Science program will have an ability to:

  1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
  2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-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.
  6. Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.