The B.S. in Computer Science provides a strong base in programming and problem-solving skills, a theoretical understanding of computer science, and practical experience in applying the computer to the solution of problems. Specialization is provided through numerous upper-division electives. The program offers a concentration in Secure Cyber Systems.

Educational Objectives

The B.S. in Computer Science program's educational objectives address the department's mission to serve the region, nation, and the world by graduating highly competitive students with the potential to become leaders in their profession.

  • Our graduates will have productive careers in industry, academia, and government in which they use theoretical and technical computer science knowledge to design and implement computing systems of different levels of complexity (Quality of Program).
  • Our graduates will contribute to the economic health of the Southwest, in particular the Paso del Norte region, through technical expertise and complementary skills such as communication, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking (Economic Impact).
  • Our graduates will be able to adapt to new technologies, tools and methodologies through graduate studies or other means of self-advancement, to remain at the forefront of computer science practice with the ability to respond to the challenges in the workplace (Life-Long Learning).

Sample Degree Plan 

Freshman Year, 1st semester

CS 1401Intro to Computer Science4
RWS 1301Rhetoric & Composition I (*)3
MATH 1411Calculus I (*)4
CS 1310Intro-Computational Thinking (*)3

Freshman Year, 2nd semester

CS 2401Elem. Data Struct./Algorithms4
RWS 1302Rhetoric & Composition 2 (*)3
MATH 2300Discrete Mathematics3
HIST 1301History of U.S. to 1865 (C) (*)3
UNIV 1301Seminar/Critical Inquiry (C) (*)3

Sophomore Year, 1st semester

CS 2302Data Structures3
EE 2369Digital Systems Design I3
EE 2169Laboratory for EE 23691
HIST 1302History of U.S. Since 1865 (C) (*)3
MATH 1312Calculus II3
*Social and Behavioral Sciences (choose from core curriculum list)

Sophomore Year, 2nd semester

CS 3331Adv. Object-Oriented Programng3
POLS 2310Introduction to Politics (C) (*)3
PHYS 2420Introductory Mechanics (*)4
PHIL 2306Ethics (C) (*)3
*Creative Arts (choose from core curriculum list)

Junior Year, 1st semester

CS 3432Comp Arch I: Comp Org/Design4
CS 3350Automata/Computabi/Formal Lang3
MATH 3323Matrix Algebra3
POLS 2311American Gover & Politics (C) (*)3
Life and Physical Science II

Junior Year, 2nd semester

CS 3195Junior Professionl Orientation1
MATH 4329Numerical Analysis3
Life and Physical Science III
Technical Elective

Senior Year, 1st semester

CS 4310Software Eng: Requirements Eng3
CS 3360Design/Implementation Prog Lan3
STAT 3320Probability and Statistics3
CS 4375Theory of Operating Systems3
Technical Elective

Senior Year, 2nd semester

CS 4311Software Eng: Design & Implmnt3
Technical Elective
Technical Elective
Free Elective

* Courses that are part of the University Core Curriculum.

Life and Physical Sciences. In addition to PHYS 2420, students must complete two semesters of lecture and associated labs.  Acceptable courses are: ASTR 1307 & 1107, PHYS 2421, BIOL 1305 & 1107, CHEM 1305 & 1105, GEOL 1313 & 1103. Courses that count towards the core curriculum (2 lectures and a lab associated with one of the 2 lectures) require grade C or better.

Technical Electives: CS 3320, CS 3370, or any CS 4000 level course.  No more than six credit hours of CS 4390, CS 4371, CS 4373, and/or CS 4392 (in any combination) can count for technical electives.

Free Elective. Courses that may be counted towards the free elective requirement are college-level courses (not remedial) offered by the college of Liberal Arts, Business, Science, or Engineering.

Concentration in Secure Cyber Systems

Students earning a B.S. in Computer Science can select a concentration in Secure Cyber-Systems by taking a set of courses with significant computer security content.  Students must take the following three courses:

In addition, students must take at least one of these courses:

Joint Degree BS-MBA program

Students with at least 90 hours accumulated toward their degree, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30, and admission to the full-time MBA program can pursue a joint-degree BS-MBA program.  Students admitted to this program (a) will apply credit for ECON 5360 Global Econ Environment-Mgrs, BLAW 5306 Business Law and Ethics, and ACCT 5301 Financial Accounting toward the requirements of one free elective and two technical electives in Computer Science and (b) will apply credit for three dual-credit graduate courses in Computer Science toward the elective requirement of the MBA program.

BS in Computer Science

Degree Plan

Required Credits: 120

University Core Curriculum
Complete the University Core Curriculum requirements.42
Computer Science Designated Core (All courses require a grade of C or better.)
Required Courses:
PHYS 2420Introductory Mechanics4
MATH 1411Calculus I4
Select two of the following lecture/lab combinations:8
General Biology
and Topics in Study of Life I
Organismal Biology
and Organismal Biology Laboratory
Elem Astronomy-Solar System(C)
and Astronomy Lab I (C)
General Chemistry
and Laboratory for CHEM 1305
General Chemistry (C)
and Laboratory for CHEM 1306
Intro to Physical Geology (C)
and Lab for GEOL 1313 (C)
Intro to Historical Geol (C)
and Laboratory for GEOG 1306 (C)
Introductory Electromagnetism
Computer Science Core (All courses require a grade of C or better.)
Required Courses:
CS 1401Intro to Computer Science4
CS 2302Data Structures3
CS 2401Elem. Data Struct./Algorithms4
EE 2169Laboratory for EE 23691
EE 2369Digital Systems Design I3
MATH 1312Calculus II3
MATH 2300Discrete Mathematics3
Computer Science Major
Required Courses:
CS 3195Junior Professionl Orientation1
CS 3331Adv. Object-Oriented Programng C3
CS 3350Automata/Computabi/Formal Lang3
CS 3360Design/Implementation Prog Lan3
CS 3432Comp Arch I: Comp Org/Design C4
CS 4310Software Eng: Requirements Eng C3
CS 4311Software Eng: Design & Implmnt3
CS 4375Theory of Operating Systems3
MATH 3323Matrix Algebra C3
MATH 4329Numerical Analysis3
Statistics:
Select one of the following:3
Probabilistic Methods-Engr/Sci
Probability and Statistics
Probability
Technical Electives:
Select 15 hours from the following: 115
Comp Arch II: Adv. Design /Imp
Computer Graphics
Computer Networks
Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
Mobile Application Development
Secure Web-Based Systems
Data Base Management
Computer Security
Compilers and Interpreters
Topics in Soft Computing
Computer Science Problems
Computer Science Internship
Software Construction
Comp Dcsn-Mkng & Risk Analysis
Cyber-Sec for Critical Op Tech
Software Reverse Engineering
Software Integration and V&V
Special Topics in Computer Sci
Rsrch Methods/Computer Science
Senior Project
Free Electives:
Complete three additional hours of free electives 23
Total Hours120
C

Courses require a grade of C or better.

1

No more than six credit hours of CS 4371 Computer Science Problems, CS 4373 Computer Science Internship, CS 4390 Special Topics in Computer Sci and CS 4392 Rsrch Methods/Computer Science (in any combination) can be counted for technical electives. CS 4373 Computer Science Internship cannot be counted twice for credit.

2

Courses that may be counted towards the free elective requirements are college-level courses offered by the college of Liberal Arts, Business, Science, or Engineering. Remedial courses cannot be counted as a free elective.

University Core Curriculum

NOTE: The department may make specific suggestions for courses which are most applicable towards your major.

Psychology and Criminal Justice majors and minors are required to take MATH 1320 Math for Social Sciences I (C) or a higher level Calculus course.

Business majors are required to take MATH 1320 Math for Social Sciences I (C) or a higher level Calculus course.

NOTE: All courses require a C or better

Communication

Select six hours of the following: (Note: ESL students should take ESOL 1300 & ESOL 13126
Written and Oral Communication
Rhetoric & Composition I
Rhetoric & Composition 2
Rhetoric, Composition & Comm
Expos Engl Compos-Spkr Esl (C) 1
Res & Crit Writng Spkr Esl (C) 1
Total Hours6
 
 

American History

Required Courses:
HIST 1301History of U.S. to 1865 (C)3
HIST 1302History of U.S. Since 1865 (C)3
Total Hours6

Language, Philosophy & Culture 

Select one of the following:3
English Literature (C)
English Literature (C)
Intro to American Fiction (C)
Intro to American Drama (C)
Intro to American Poetry (C)
Making of the "Other" Americas
World History to 1500 (C)
World History Since 1500 (C)
Introduction to Philosophy (C)
Ethics (C)
Introduct to Religious Studies
Seeing & Naming: Conversations
Introduction to Womens Studies
Global Feminisms
Total Hours3

Mathematics 

Select one of the following:3
Math in the Modern World (C)
Math for Social Sciences I (C)
Calculus I
Calculus I - Part A
Calculus I - Part B
Calculus I - Part C
Precalculus (C)
Pre-calculus - Part A
Pre-calculus - Part B
Pre-calculus - Part C
Math for Social Sciences II
Differential Equations
Descriptive & Inferential Stat
Elementary Statistical Methods
Total Hours3

Life & Physical Sciences - Lab 

Select one of the following:1-4
Astronomy Lab I (C)
Introductory Biology Lab (C)
Human Biology Laboratory (C)
Topics in Study of Life I
Organismal Biology Laboratory
Human Anat/Physio Lab I (C)
Human Anat/Physio Lab II (C)
Laboratory for CHEM 1305
Laboratory for CHEM 1306
Introductory Chemistry (C)
Introductory Chemistry (C)
Environmental Sci. Lab (C)
Non-major Lab for ESCI 1301
Laboratory for GEOG 1306 (C)
Lab for GEOL 1314 (C)
Lab for GEOL 1313 (C)
Principles of Earth Sci - Lab
Laboratory for Geology 1212
General Physics I (C)
General Physics II (C)
Introductory Mechanics
Introductory Electromagnetism
Total Hours1-4

Life and Physical Sciences 

A minimum of two semesters of lecture and one semester of laboratory associated with one of the courses, or two semesters of combined (3 credit) lecture-laboratory courses (Only six hours apply toward the required 42.) 

Select six hours of the following: 16
Astronomy Lab I (C)
Elem Astronomy-Solar System(C)
Elem Astr Stars & Galaxies (C)
Introductory Biology Lab (C)
Human Biology Laboratory (C)
Topics in Study of Life I
Organismal Biology Laboratory
Introductory Biology
Human Biology (C)
General Biology
Organismal Biology
Human Anat/Physio Lab I (C)
Human Anat/Physio Lab II (C)
Human Anat/Physiology I (C)
Human Anat/Physiology II (C)
Laboratory for CHEM 1305
Laboratory for CHEM 1306
General Chemistry
General Chemistry (C)
Introductory Chemistry (C)
Introductory Chemistry (C)
Environmental Sci. Lab (C)
Non-major Lab for ESCI 1301
Intro to Environmental Sci (C)
Laboratory for GEOG 1306 (C)
Physical Geography (C)
Lab for GEOL 1313 (C)
Lab for GEOL 1314 (C)
Principles of Earth Sci - Lab
Laboratory for Geology 1212
Principles of Earth Sciences
Principles of Earth Science
The Blue Planet
Natural Hazards
Intro to Physical Geology (C)
Intro to Historical Geol (C)
Fundamentals of Nutrition
Wellness Dynamics
Microorganisms and Disease
General Physics I (C)
General Physics II (C)
Introductory Mechanics
Introductory Electromagnetism
Total Hours6
1

Based on the major selected, options listed might not be applicable; please refer to the prerequisite area at top if one is present.

Political Science 

Required Courses:
POLS 2310Introduction to Politics (C)3
POLS 2311American Gover & Politics (C)3
Total Hours6

Social and Behavioral Sciences 

Select one of the following:3
Intro-Phys Anth/Archeolog (C)
Intro-Cultural Anthropology(C)
Cultural Geography
Intro to Linguistics (C)
Econ for Engrs & Scientists
Interpersonal Communication
Mass Media and Society
Principles of Economics (C)
Principles of Economics (C)
Introduction to Ed Psychology
Action Research in Classrooms
Introduction to Linguistics(C)
Cultural Geography (C)
An Intro. to Linguistics (C)
Lang. Inside & Out: Sel Topics
Introduction to Psychology (C)
Introduction to Sociology (C)
Cultural Geography
Total Hours3

 Creative Arts

Select one of the following:3
Art Appreciation (C)
History of Art I (C)
History of Art II (C)
Dance Appreciation (C)
Intro-Art of Motion Pict. (C)
Intro to Music History (C)
Music Appreciation (C)
Jazz to Rock (C)
Introduction to Theatre (C)
Total Hours3

Component Area Option

Select two of the following:6
Intro to Global Business
Public Speaking (C)
Business/Profession Comm (C)
Intro-Computational Thinking
Computer Programming Sci/Engr
Inquiry in Math & Science
Seminar/Critical Inquiry (C)
Total Hours6