Faculty: Nathley Caesar, Noreen Herzfeld, J. Andrew Holey, James Schnepf, Lynn Ziegler

Computers and information technology now permeate human society. People in almost any career find themselves using computers, many on a daily basis. This activity is supported by computing professionals who work in many areas, including computer design, software development, systems management, technology, consulting and computing education. Study in the field of computer science provides both computer users and professionals with an understanding of what is computable, how it can be computed and how the power of computation affects human society.

The computer science curriculum stresses the underlying theory and abstraction of computing, providing students with a broad foundation on which to build more specialized understanding. At the same time, the curriculum seeks to combine these principles with the design of applications current to each topic.

Required Courses:

MATH 119 or 123, 120 or 124, and 240; CSCI 150, 160, 200, 210, 338, 339, 340; one of 372, 373, or 398; eight additional upper-division credits in computer science, four of which may include MATH 320, 325, or 338.

Required Courses:

CSCI 150, 160, 200, and 210; MATH 119, 120, 239, 240, and 331 or 343; two of CSCI 338, 339, or 340; one of MATH 320, 325, or 338; four additional credits in upper-division mathematics or computer science.

150, 160, and 200; plus 12 additional upper-division credits in computer science. CSCI 210 may be counted for four of these credits. There are no mathematics course requirements for the minor, but students are urged to consider taking MATH 119 (Calculus I), MATH 123 (Essential Calculus), or MATH 124 (Probability and Statistical Inference) as their mathematics core course. Computer science courses use sophisticated mathematics and a certain level of mathematical maturity is necessary in many upper-division courses. Those students interested in a computer science minor with a business emphasis will probably want to take 330 (Software Engineering) and 331 (Database Systems) as part of their minor.

Courses

(CSCI)

An overview of computing and its applications from a scientific perspective, designed to equip students with the basic tools needed to understand computers and use them effectively. Students will study the basic architecture of computers, the structure of programming, and the design of spreadsheets and databases. Through regularly scheduled labs they will gain hands-on experience with applications to scientific and business problems. Not intended for students majoring in the sciences. Prerequisite: Math proficiency.

An overview of the field of computer science, emphasizing a scientific approach to the design of computer hardware and the structure of computer programs. Regularly scheduled labs will explore the processes, possibilities and limits of computing. Intended for majors in computer science, mathematics, and the natural sciences and computer science minors. Prerequisite: Math proficiency.

Examines the fundamental skills of computer programming which underlie all of computer science. Using an advanced programming language, the laboratories will emphasize the use of control and data abstraction as well as program libraries to solve problems. Supporting mathematical structures are also covered. Prerequisite: 150.

176 January Term Topics. (0-4)

Study at the introductory level of a specific topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

Examines the software implementation of data structures and objects along with careful analysis of time and space complexity. Students will use software components to construct larger software systems. Laboratories will include both software development and testing. Prerequisite: 160, completion of four credits in mathematics.

210 Levels of Architecture, Languages and Applications. (4)  [Top]

Examines the variety of levels from which the discipline of computing can be viewed, including architecture, languages, systems, and applications and emphasizing the underlying structures of the computer. Labs will include testing and construction of some of these structures. Prerequisite: 200 or 160 and consent of instructor.

Supervised reading or research at the lower-division level. Permission of department chair required. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. Not available to first-year students.

Study of a special topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

Topics in computer architecture, including the structure of major hardware components, information transfer and control within a computer system, parallel architectures, and network configurations and protocols. Prerequisite: 210.

Introduction to the concepts, terminology and approaches used in data communication systems. Topics include protocol stacks as models and implementations, signal encoding, media for transmission, analysis of network architectures, addressing and routing, error and flow control, connection management and security. Prerequisite: 200, 210. Fall, alternate years.

Selected computer science topics such as distributed processing systems, graphics or artificial intelligence. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

Selected computer science topics requiring a major software development project. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

Examines the methods and tools used to determine information requirements of a business, construct logical models of business processes, prepare specifications for program development, prepare procedures and documentation, and test, install and maintain an information system. Prerequisite: 200. Spring, alternate years.

Introduction to physical file organization and data organization techniques, including an examination of data models, file security, data integrity and query languages. Discussion will focus on examples which illustrate various data models. Prerequisite: 200. Spring, alternate years.

Introduction to formal methods for the design and analysis of complex algorithms, with an emphasis on developing students' problem-solving abilities.   Focuses on computational resources and ways of conserving both time and memory. Prerequisite: 200 and MATH 240. Fall.

Introduction to the theoretical structures of programming languages and computers. Topics include regular expressions, formal grammars, abstract automata and computability. Prerequisite: 200 and MATH 240. Fall.

The structure, design and application of various programming language paradigms, with emphasis on the principles and semantics of languages. Prerequisite: 339. Spring.

Introduction to the design and construction techniques of modern language compilers, including both parsing and code generation. Prerequisite: 210, 339.

The fundamentals of the software that drives the computer, including single-user, multi-user and multi-tasking systems. Topics include networks, file systems, task scheduling, multiprocessing, memory management, user interfaces and peripheral devices. Prerequisite: 200, 210.

Supervised reading or research at the upper-division level. Permission of department chair and completion and/or concurrent registration of 12 credits within the department required. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. Not available to first-year students.

Individualized experimental, theoretical or applied projects for seniors. Each student intensively explores a topic, writes a major research paper, and makes a formal presentation to the department. May be repeated for up to 4 credits.

Directed research in computer science organized around a selected topic and conducted in a seminar format. Includes consideration of computer science research methodology and analysis of current research in the seminar topic.   Each student intensively explores a topic, writes a major research paper and makes a formal presentation to the department.

Full-time learning experience during the January Term done under the direction of a faculty moderator, often in conjunction with an off-campus supervisor.  Requires permission of instructor. Not available to first-year students.

Study at the upper-division level of a special topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

Required for graduation with "All-college Honors" and "Departmental Distinction in Mathematics/Computer Science" or "Departmental Distinction in Computer Science." Prerequisite: HONOR 396 and approval of the department chair and director of the honors program.