Computer Science, BS

Total number of hours for the program: 120.

Liberal Studies Hours (42 hours)

Major Requirements

The major requires 73 credit hours, which includes 16 credit hours in Pre-Computer Science, 43 credit hours in Computer Science and Mathematics, 8 credit hours in the Natural Sciences, and 6 credit hours of major electives.

The approved courses that can be used to fulfill the 8 credit hours of required Natural Sciences also meet the Liberal Studies requirement. Students must be aware that if the 8 credit hours of Natural Sciences required for the major are not taken to meet Liberal Studies requirements, they will still need to be completed for the BS Computer Science degree.

Pre-Computer Science Major Requirements (16 hours)

A grade of C or higher is required for CS 150 and CS 151 as part of completing the prerequisites for the major.

CS 150 - Problem Solving and Programming I Credits: 4
CS 151 - Problem Solving and Programming II Credits: 4
MATH 153 - Calculus I Credits: 4
MATH 255 - Calculus II Credits: 4

Additional Required Computer Science and Mathematics Courses (43 hours)

In addition to the prerequisite courses, the following courses are required: A grade of C (2.0) or higher is required for CS 351 and CS 253 to satisfy the requirements for the major.

CS 253 - Software Development Credits: 3
CS 263 - Software Engineering Credits: 3
CS 325 - Information Security I Credits: 3
CS 350 - Computer Organization Credits: 3
CS 351 - Data Structures and Algorithms Credits: 4
CS 353 - Professional Ethics in Computing Credits: 2
CS 352 - Organization of Programming Languages Credits: 3
CS 370 - Operating Systems Credits: 3
CS 453 - Database Systems Credits: 3
CS 465 - Computer Networking Credits: 3
CS 495 - Capstone I Credits: 2
CS 496 - Capstone II Credits: 2
MATH 250 - Introduction to Logic and Proof Credits: 3
MATH 310 - Discrete Structures Credits: 3
MATH 270 - Statistical Methods I Credits: 3
or
MATH 370 - Probability and Statistics I Credits: 3

Required Natural Science Courses: (8 hours)

Complete 8 hours selected from the following courses.

BIOL 140 - Principles of Biology I Credits: 4
BIOL 141 - Principles of Biology II Credits: 4
CHEM 139 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHEM 140 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
GEOL 150 - Methods in Geology Credits: 4
GEOL 155 - Historical Geology Credits: 4
PHYS 130 - Introductory Physics I Credits: 4
or
PHYS 230 - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHYS 131 - Introductory Physics II Credits: 4
or
PHYS 231 - General Physics II Credits: 4

Major Electives (6 hours)

Six additional hours of courses selected from Computer Science courses numbered above 250 or from the courses listed below.

MATH 441 - Introduction to Numerical Analysis Credits: 3
MATH 450 - Linear Optimization Credits: 3
MATH 475 - Statistical Machine Learning Credits: 3
Three hours of the Computer Science elective courses must be at the 400 level.

Additional Requirements

Students must complete all liberal studies requirements and general electives as needed to reach the total of 120 hours. At least 30 hours taken at WCU must be at the junior-senior level to meet one of the general university degree requirements. Visit the department’s website at https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/science-and-math/mathcsdept/index.aspx to view the eight-semester curriculum guide.