Program Description
Within the College of Computing and Informatics, the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Computer Science are fulfilled by completing specific concentrations designed to best prepare students to match the diverse requirements of employers. They also prepare students to pursue graduate studies in related areas. The program is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in one of the following concentrations:
The B.A. program requires a compact set of a computer science core (15 credit hours). In addition to one of three primary computer science concentrations, the program also requires 15 credit hours of a second concentration in a non-computer science discipline, satisfied by a second major, a minor, or a set of coordinated courses developed through consultation with an advisor. Graduates of the B.A. program are thus expected to have knowledge and skill in computer science, plus a complementary discipline to which computing applies. The emphasis in this program is less theoretical/mathematical, and more on the applied side of computing.
Under this program, the requirements for the B.A. degree may be fulfilled by completing any of the three concentrations. The Concentration in Information Technology emphasizes usability, security, and reliability of IT infrastructures, as well as writing and communications skills. The Concentration in Human-Computer Interaction emphasizes the design, development, and implementation of interactive systems from a human-centric perspective. These two concentrations prepare students for a wide variety of jobs or graduate studies. The Concentration in Financial Services Informatics is designed to meet the needs of the financial services sector with a unique combination of finance and information technology courses, industry internships, and sponsored capstone projects.
A common feature of this degree program is that students in all concentrations must complete a course in critical thinking (PHIL 1106 ) and a course in ethics that addresses issues of information technology. ITIS 2211 satisfies the requirement of LBST 2211 and fulfills both departmental and General Education requirements for a course in ethical issues and cultural critique.
Cooperative Education Program
By participating in the Cooperative Education program, students in a Computer Science degree program may pursue their education along with alternating semesters of full-time work experiences so that they may be better prepared to enter their chosen professional career. Interested students should contact the University Career Center for more information.
Experiential Learning and Service Opportunities
Students are encouraged to participate in professional work experiences in support of their academic and career development through the cooperative education, 49ership, internship, and service programs offered to them. The College of Computing and Informatics works with the University Career Center to expand experiential learning offerings to enable more students to graduate with career-related experience. For more information about experiential learning opportunities, please see the University Career Center section in this Catalog.
Grade Requirements
The GPA requirement for all Computer Science undergraduate degree programs is 2.0 or above in each of the following three categories: (1) all courses applied to the degree, (2) all courses in the major, and (3) all upper-division courses in the major.
