Computer Science Major, B.S.

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The department offers a complete degree program in computer science that follows the guidelines of the Computing Curricula 2001 for Computer Science, a joint undertaking of the Computer Society of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE-CS) and The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Students are encouraged to contact the department for further details (303-556-3208). The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone 410-347-7700.

A grade of “C” or better is required in all CS courses included in the major, all ancillary courses, and all courses in the required mathematics minor. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.

120 total credits are required for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

Required Computer Science Courses: 54 credits

CS 1050 - Computer Science 1 Credits: 4
CS 1400 - Computer Organization 1 Credits: 4
CS 2050 - Computer Science 2 Credits: 4
CS 2400 - Computer Organization 2 Credits: 4
CS 3210 - Principles of Programming Languages Credits: 4
CS 3240 - Introduction to the Theory of Computation Credits: 2
CS 3600 - Operating Systems Credits: 4
CS 4050 - Algorithms and Algorithm Analysis Credits: 4
CS 4250 - Software Engineering Principles Credits: 4
CS 4260 - Software Engineering Practices Credits: 4 *
*CS 4260 is the University-required Senior Experience course in Computer Science.

Additional Semester Hours

A minimum of 16 additional semester hours selected from upper-division CS courses or MTH 4480.

Mathematics and Science Requirements: 30 credits

Mathematics Minor (Required for the Computer Science Major): 18 credits

MTH 1410 - Calculus I Credits: 4
MTH 2140 - Computational Matrix Algebra Credits: 2 ^**
MTH 2410 - Calculus II Credits: 4
MTH 3170 - Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science Credits: 4 ***
MTH 3210 - Probability and Statistics Credits: 4 (Calculus-based)

Notes

** MTH 3130 or MTH 3140 may be substituted for MTH 2140. Only one of MTH 2140, MTH 3130, or MTH 3140 may be counted.

*** MTH 3100 may be substituted for MTH 3170 with prior departmental approval (substitution of the 3-credit MTH 3100 for the 4-credit MTH 3170 will require one additional credit of math coursework chosen from MTH 2420 or a 3000- or 4000-level math course, excluding MTH 3240. This course is needed to satisfy the 18-credit hour, Mathematics minor requirement).

Additional MTH hours may be selected from MTH 2420 or MTH 3000- or 4000-level courses with the exception of MTH 3240.

Required Science Courses: 4-10 credits

BIO 1080 - General Biology I Credits: 3
BIO 1090 - General Biology Laboratory I Credits: 1
or
BIO 1081 - General Biology II Credits: 3
BIO 1091 - General Biology Laboratory II Credits: 1
or
CHE 1800 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHE 1810 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHE 1850 - General Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2 (requires corequisite of CHE 1810)
or
PHY 2311 - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHY 2321 - General Physics I Laboratory Credits: 1
or
PHY 2331 - General Physics II Credits: 4
PHY 2341 - General Physics II Laboratory Credits: 1

Notes

Additional science courses, if not from the above sequence, must have prior departmental approval.

The total credits of departmentally approved science and mathematics courses must be at least 30 credits.

Required Ancillary Courses: 9 credits

SPE 1010 - Public Speaking Credits: 3
COM 2610 - Introduction to Technical Writing Credits: 3
PHI 3370 - Computers, Ethics, and Society Credits: 3

Additional Course Requirements

Students must complete the required MSU Denver General Studies course requirements. Some of the science, mathematics, or ancillary courses required for the CS major or Math minor may partially or fully satisfy specific General Studies requirements.

The Multicultural graduation requirement of 3 credit hours must also be satisfied. Some courses that satisfy the Multicultural requirement also satisfy a General Studies requirement.

Note

As an alternative to the B.S. degree program, the CS Department works with the Center for Individualized Learning to provide students with programs customized to their educational needs.