BS in Computer Science
Introduction
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 concentrations in Secure Cyber Systems, Software Engineering, and Data Analytics.
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 be innovative and productive problem solvers in industry, academia, and government who have the ability to apply theoretical and technical computer science knowledge to provide solutions to real-world problems of varying complexity (Quality of our Graduates).
- Our graduates will contribute to the economic health of the nation, in particular the Paso del Norte region, through technical expertise and complementary skills such as ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, lead, innovate, and apply entrepreneurial thinking with a global perspective (Local and Global Impact).
- Our graduates will remain at the forefront of computing through research, advanced studies, certification, entrepreneurship, or other means of self-advancement (Continuous Learning).
Sample Degree Plan
Freshman Year, 1st semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 1101 | Intro to Computer Science Lab | 1 |
| CS 1301 | Intro to Computer Science | 3 |
| CS 1310 | Intro-Computational Thinking (*) | 3 |
| MATH 1411 | Calculus I (*) | 4 |
| RWS 1301 | Rhetoric & Composition I (*) | 3 |
Freshman Year, 2nd semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 2401 | Elem. Data Struct./Algorithms | 4 |
| HIST 1301 | History of U.S. to 1865 (*) | 3 |
| MATH 2300 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| RWS 1302 | Rhetoric & Composition 2 (*) | 3 |
| UNIV 1301 | Seminar/Critical Inquiry (*) | 3 |
Sophomore Year, 1st semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 2302 | Data Structures | 3 |
| EE 2169 | Laboratory for EE 2369 | 1 |
| EE 2369 | Digital Systems Design I | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | History of U.S. Since 1865 (*) | 3 |
| MATH 1312 | Calculus II | 3 |
| *Social and Behavioral Sciences (choose from core curriculum list) | 3 | |
Sophomore Year, 2nd semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 3331 | Adv. Object-Oriented Programng | 3 |
| PHIL 2306 | Ethics (*) | 3 |
| PHYS 2420 | Introductory Mechanics | 4 |
| POLS 2310 | Introduction to Politics (*) | 3 |
| *Creative Arts (choose from core curriculum list) | 3 | |
Junior Year, 1st semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 3350 | Automata/Computabi/Formal Lang | 3 |
| CS 3432 | Comp Arch I: Comp Org/Design | 4 |
| MATH 3323 | Matrix Algebra | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | American Gover & Politics (*) | 3 |
| Life and Physical Science II | ||
Junior Year, 2nd semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 3195 | Junior Professionl Orientation | 1 |
| CS 4342 | Data Base Management | 3 |
| MATH 4329 | Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| Life and Physical Science III | 4 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
Senior Year, 1st semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 3360 | Design/Implementation Prog Lan | 3 |
| CS 4310 | Software Eng: Requirements Eng | 3 |
| CS 4375 | Theory of Operating Systems | 3 |
| STAT 3320 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
Senior Year, 2nd semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 4311 | Software Eng: Design & Implmnt | 3 |
| Technical Elective | ||
| Technical Elective | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 1 | |
- * 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.
Joint Degree
Joint Degree BS-MBA programs
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 graduate courses (approved for Fast-Track) in Computer Science toward the elective requirement of the MBA program.
Degree Plan
Required Credits: 120
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 2420 | Introductory Mechanics | 4 |
| MATH 1411 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Select one of the following lecture/lab combinations: | 4 | |
| General Biology and Topics in Study of Life I | ||
| Organismal Biology and Organismal Biology Laboratory | ||
| Elem Astronomy-Solar System and Astronomy Lab I | ||
| General Chemistry and Laboratory for CHEM 1305 | ||
| General Chemistry and Laboratory for CHEM 1306 | ||
| Intro to Physical Geology and Lab for GEOL 1313 | ||
| Intro to Historical Geol and Lab for GEOL 1314 | ||
| Introductory Electromagnetism | ||
| Computer Science Core (All courses require a grade of C or better.) | ||
| Required Courses: | ||
| CS 1301 & CS 1101 | Intro to Computer Science and Intro to Computer Science Lab | 4 |
| CS 2302 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CS 2401 | Elem. Data Struct./Algorithms | 4 |
| EE 2169 | Laboratory for EE 2369 | 1 |
| EE 2369 | Digital Systems Design I | 3 |
| MATH 1312 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 2300 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| Computer Science Major | ||
| Required Courses: | ||
| CS 3195 | Junior Professionl Orientation | 1 |
| CS 3331 | Adv. Object-Oriented Programng C | 3 |
| CS 3350 | Automata/Computabi/Formal Lang | 3 |
| CS 3360 | Design/Implementation Prog Lan | 3 |
| CS 3432 | Comp Arch I: Comp Org/Design C | 4 |
| CS 4310 | Software Eng: Requirements Eng C | 3 |
| CS 4311 | Software Eng: Design & Implmnt | 3 |
| CS 4342 | Data Base Management | 3 |
| CS 4375 | Theory of Operating Systems | 3 |
| MATH 3323 | Matrix Algebra | 3 |
| Statistics: | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Probabilistic Methods-Engr/Sci | ||
| Probability and Statistics | ||
| Probability | ||
| Additional Mathematics or Science Option: | ||
| Option A: Mathematics (Select one course from the following): | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Intro. to Higher Mathematics | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Actuarial Mathematics | ||
| Principles of Mathematics | ||
| Numerical Analysis | ||
| Nonparametric Statistics | ||
| Statistics I | ||
| Applied Regression Analysis | ||
| Option B: An additional 3 credit lecture course from the list of science courses above | ||
| Technical Electives: | ||
| Select 15 hours from the following: 1 | 15 | |
| CS 1190 | Special Topics in Computing | 1 |
| CS 1290 | Special Topics in Computing | 2 |
| CS 3000 or 4000 level course | ||
| Free Electives: | ||
| Complete four additional hours of free electives 2 | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
C Courses require a grade of C or better.
1 No more than six credit hours of CS xx90, CS 4181 Undergraduate Seminar, CS 4371 Computer Science Problems, CS 4X73, CS 4392 Rsrch Methods/Computer Science and/or CS 4393 Senior Project (in any combination) can count for technical electives.
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.
Concentrations
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 five courses:
- CS 4316 Computer Networks
- CS 4318 Wireless Networks
- CS 4351 Computer Security
- CS 4379 Software Reverse Engineering
- CS 4177 Software Vulnerabilities
Concentration in Software Engineering
Students earning a B.S. in Computer Science can select a concentration in Software Engineering by taking the following set of courses.
Students must take the following two courses:
Students must take one course from the following list:
- CS 4330 Mobile Application Development
- CS 4339 Secure Web-Based Systems
- CS 4371 Computer Science Problems
- CS 4373 Computer Science Internship
- CS 4381 Topics Software Engineering
Concentration in Data Analytics
Students earning a B.S. in Computer Science can select a concentration in Data Analytics by taking the following set of courses.
Student must take the following two courses:
Students must take one course from the following list:
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 or a higher level Calculus course.
Business majors are required to take MATH 1320 Math for Social Sciences I or a higher level Calculus course.
NOTE: All courses require a C or better
Communication
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select six hours of the following: (Note: ESL students should take ESOL 1300 & ESOL 1312 | 6 | |
| Written and Oral Communication | ||
| Writing About Literature | ||
| Expos Engl Compos-Spkr Esl 1 | ||
| Res & Crit Writng Spkr Esl 1 | ||
| Rhetoric & Composition I | ||
| Rhetoric & Composition 2 | ||
| Rhetoric, Composition & Comm | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
American History
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| HIST 1301 | History of U.S. to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | History of U.S. Since 1865 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Language, Philosophy & Culture
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| English Literature | ||
| English Literature | ||
| Intro to American Fiction | ||
| Intro to American Drama | ||
| Intro to American Poetry | ||
| Making of the "Other" Americas | ||
| World History to 1500 | ||
| World History Since 1500 | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Introduct to Religious Studies | ||
| Seeing & Naming: Conversations | ||
| Introduction to Womens Studies | ||
| Global Feminisms | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Mathematics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Math in the Modern World | ||
| Math for Social Sciences I | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus I - Part A | ||
| Calculus I - Part B | ||
| Calculus I - Part C | ||
| Precalculus | ||
| Pre-calculus - Part A | ||
| Pre-calculus - Part B | ||
| Pre-calculus - Part C | ||
| Math for Social Sciences II | ||
| Descriptive & Inferential Stat | ||
| Elementary Statistical Methods | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Life & Physical Sciences - Lab
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 1-4 | |
| Astronomy Lab I | ||
| Introductory Biology Lab | ||
| Human Biology Laboratory | ||
| Topics in Study of Life I | ||
| Organismal Biology Laboratory | ||
| Human Anat/Physio Lab I | ||
| Human Anat/Physio Lab II | ||
| Laboratory for CHEM 1305 | ||
| Laboratory for CHEM 1306 | ||
CHEM 1407 | ||
CHEM 1408 | ||
| Environmental Sci. Lab | ||
| Non-major Lab for ESCI 1301 | ||
| Lab for GEOL 1313 | ||
| Lab for GEOL 1314 | ||
| Laboratory for GEOG 1306 | ||
| Principles of Earth Sci - Lab | ||
| Laboratory for Geology 1212 | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| Introductory Mechanics | ||
| Introductory Electromagnetism | ||
| Total Hours | 1-4 | |
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.)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select six hours of the following: 1 | 6 | |
| Astronomy Lab I | ||
| Elem Astronomy-Solar System | ||
| Elem Astr Stars & Galaxies | ||
| Introductory Biology Lab | ||
| Human Biology Laboratory | ||
| Topics in Study of Life I | ||
| Organismal Biology Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Biology | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| General Biology | ||
| Organismal Biology | ||
| Human Anat/Physio Lab I | ||
| Human Anat/Physio Lab II | ||
| Human Anat/Physiology I | ||
| Human Anat/Physiology II | ||
| Laboratory for CHEM 1305 | ||
| Laboratory for CHEM 1306 | ||
| General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry | ||
CHEM 1407 | ||
CHEM 1408 | ||
| Environmental Sci. Lab | ||
| Non-major Lab for ESCI 1301 | ||
| Intro to Environmental Sci | ||
| Lab for GEOL 1313 | ||
| Lab for GEOL 1314 | ||
| Laboratory for GEOG 1306 | ||
| Principles of Earth Sci - Lab | ||
| Laboratory for Geology 1212 | ||
| Principles of Earth Sciences | ||
| Principles of Earth Science | ||
| The Blue Planet | ||
| Natural Hazards | ||
| Physical Geography | ||
| Intro to Physical Geology | ||
| Intro to Historical Geol | ||
| Fundamentals of Nutrition | ||
| Wellness Dynamics | ||
| Microorganisms and Disease | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| Introductory Mechanics | ||
| Introductory Electromagnetism | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| POLS 2310 | Introduction to Politics | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | American Gover & Politics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Intro-Phys Anth/Archeolog | ||
| Intro-Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| Intro to Linguistics | ||
| Econ for Engrs & Scientists | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Mass Media and Society | ||
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Introduction to Ed Psychology | ||
| Action Research in Classrooms | ||
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| An Intro. to Linguistics | ||
| Lang. Inside & Out: Sel Topics | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Creative Arts
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art Appreciation | ||
| History of Art I | ||
| History of Art II | ||
| Dance Appreciation | ||
| Intro-Art of Motion Pict. | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Jazz to Rock | ||
| Music, Culture, and Society | ||
| Introduction to Theatre | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Component Area Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Intro to Global Business | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Business/Profession Comm | ||
| Intro-Computational Thinking | ||
| Computer Programming Sci/Engr | ||
| Inquiry in Math & Science | ||
| Seminar/Critical Inquiry | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |