Computer Science Program Requirements for 2024-2025

Computer science majors are expected to demonstrate a serious attitude toward the University's liberal arts Core Requirements and to select their elective courses with care. In particular, students completing the major in computer science leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree should work carefully with their advisors to ensure that they meet the requirement of 90 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences for the B.A. degree since not all computer science courses are considered liberal arts. This may mean that majors could need additional credits in liberal arts beyond what is taken for the Fisher core, the major, and the chosen minor.

Students contemplating a major in computer science should take MATH 150C in the first year.

B.A. in Computer Science

For students majoring in computer science, required courses from all disciplines (CSCI, MATH, COMM, and ENGL) that may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Requirements

Basic Computer Science Component – 24 credits

  • CSCI 161 – Foundations of Computer Science I (3)
  • CSCI 162 – Foundations of Computer Science II (3)
  • CSCI 231 – Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
  • CSCI 241 – Computer Architecture (3)
  • CYBR 101 – Intro to Cybersecurity (3)
  • CSCI 290 – Theory of Computation (3)
  • CSCI 353 – Database Structures (3)
  • CSCI 480 – Senior Project (3)

Advanced Computer Science Electives – 9 credits

Choose THREE courses from the following group.

  • CSCI 300 – Networking (3)
  • CSCI 303/304/307 – C/Visual Basic®/Python Modules (3)
  • CSCI 342 – Operating Systems (3)
  • CSCI 365 – Computer Graphics (3)
  • CSCI 375 – Programming the WWW (3)
  • CSCI 385 – Data Mining (3)
  • CSCI 395 – Artificial Intelligence (3)
  • CSCI 400 – Special Topics (3)
  • CSCI 451 – Applied Security Techniques (3)
  • CSCI 452 – Database Applications (3)
  • CSCI 461 – Programming Language Concepts (3)
  • CSCI 475 – Software Engineering (3)
  • CSCI 490 – Internship (3)
  • CSCI 496 – Independent Study (3)
  • MATH 200 – Discrete Structures (3)
  • MATH 301 – Mathematical Stats I (3)

Mathematics Component – 6 credits

  • MATH 150C – Elementary Discrete Mathematics (3)
  • STAT 160 – P4 Introduction to Data Science (3)

Total: 39 credits

B.S. in Computer Science

For students majoring in computer science, required courses from all disciplines (CSCI, MATH, COMM, and ENGL) that may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Requirements

Basic Computer Science Component – 21 credits

  • CSCI 161 – Foundations of Computer Science I (3)
  • CSCI 162 – Foundations of Computer Science II (3)
  • CSCI 231 – Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
  • CSCI 241 – Computer Architecture (3)
  • CYBR 101 – Intro to Cybersecurity (3)
  • CSCI 290 – Theory of Computation (3)
  • CSCI 303/304/307 – C/Visual BASIC®/Python (3)

Advanced Computer Science Component – 12 credits

  • CSCI 353 – Database Structures (3)
  • CSCI 461 – Programming Language Concepts (3)
  • CSCI 475 – Software Engineering (3)
  • CSCI 480 – Senior Project (3)

Computer Science/Mathematics Electives – 18 credits

Choose 18 credits of courses in MATH and/or CSCI. CSCI courses must be numbered 300 or higher. MATH courses must be numbered 200 or higher with a maximum of 2 three or four credit courses allowed.

Mathematics Component – 6 credits

  • MATH 150C – Elementary Discrete Mathematics (3)
  • STAT 160 – P4 Introduction to Data Science (3)

Professional Component – 6 credits

  • COMM 253 – Business Communication (3)
  • ENGL 355 – Professional Writing Topics (or any approved writing course) (3)

Total: 63 credits

B.S. Inclusive Childhood Education Major with a Liberal Arts Concentration in Computer Science

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive childhood education must declare either a second major or a concentration in a liberal arts field. Either choice results in a Bachelor of Science degree. Inclusive childhood education majors who wish to pursue a dual major with computer science take all of the major requirements as listed above (B.A. or B.S. degree requirements) in addition to meeting all of the inclusive childhood education requirements (49 - 52 credits: see Inclusive Childhood Education for details). If an inclusive childhood education major wishes to complete a concentration in computer science, the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics in conjunction with the Education Department, has outlined the following courses which will meet the New York state requirement for a liberal arts concentration in this field. Students must earn grades of "C" or higher in all courses in the content area.

  • CSCI 140C – P2 Computer/Internet Ethics (3)
  • CSCI 150 – P4 Life in a Digital World (3)
  • CSCI 161 – Foundations of Computer Science I (3)
  • CSCI 162 – Foundations of Computer Science II (3)
  • CSCI 241 – Computer Architecture (3)
  • CSCI 251 – Introduction to Computer Security (3)
  • CSCI 260 – Introduction to Databases (3)
  • CSCI 300 – Networking (3)
  • MATH 150C – Elementary Discrete Mathematics (3)
  • STAT 160 – P4 Introduction to Data Science (3)

Total: 30 credits

Minor in Computer Science

A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the minor.

Requirements

Foundation Courses – 6 credits

  • CSCI 161 – Foundations of Computer Science I (3)
  • CSCI 162 – Foundations of Computer Science II (3)

Electives – 12 credits

  • Choose 12 computer science credits above the 100 level with at least 6 credits chosen at the 300 level or above.

Total: 18 credits

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ.