Undergraduate Programs

The undergraduate degree programs currently offered are:

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science,
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Information Systems, and
• Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Computer Science

The following sections describe these degree programs and show suggested programs of study to fulfill the requirements for graduation. Continuing students are to follow the degree program in effect when they started. The following sections discuss specific Computer Science requirements.

If there are any concerns regarding the program, students must refer to their academic advisors for guidance. The program of study form must be reviewed and signed by the student and the advisor each semester prior to the student's registering for the following semester. A copy of this form is kept in the student's departmental file.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science

Table 1 shows the four-year program of study leading to the B.S. degree in Computer Science. A CIS requirement is an appropriate research/design project course from the sequence of CIS 492-495, leading to an acceptable technical report and a comprehensive examination on its contents.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems

Table 2 shows the four-year program of study leading to the B.S. degree in Computer Information Systems. A CIS requirement is an appropriate research/design project course from the sequence of CIS 492-495, leading to an acceptable technical report and a comprehensive examination on its contents.

Accelerated B.S./M.S. Degree in Computer Science

The Department of Computer and Information Science offers the opportunity for beginning undergraduate students with superior records to enter the Five-Year B.S./M.S. Degree Program. Students may be chosen for this program based on their academic achievement in secondary school. To be eligible for selection, beginning undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.25 and a minimum composite Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) score of 1000 or a minimum ACT score of 24. Participants are selected for this program from eligible applicants through a screening process conducted by the departmental faculty.

Students must satisfy all University general education requirements for undergraduates, the requisite major and cognate courses for the bachelor's degree and at least twenty-four (24) semester hours of graduate course work in the major field. Students pursue advanced course work and research during their fourth year of enrollment. Summer research opportunities are provided and may be required depending on the type of the student's research project.

Academic progress is monitored continuously. Students must maintain a cumulative B or better average. After successful completion of the third year, students must be admitted to the graduate program. Graduate admission may be provided upon the recommendation of the departmental chairperson and approval of the School Dean.

During the fourth year, students may begin graduate course work while completing undergraduate degree requirements. The maximum credit hour load for undergraduate study shall remain through the fourth year of study. Students are engaged in graduate study exclusively during the fifth year at which time the maximum credit hour load for graduate study shall apply. During the fifth year students satisfy the graduate residence requirement.

In order to receive the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Science, students must complete at least fifty-four (54) semester hours of course work in the major. At least (24) of these must be at the graduate level. Students must complete an acceptable thesis and apply for candidacy for each degree at the times specified in the University catalogues. Upon completion of the above course of study, students will receive two degrees---the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science.

At any point during the students' participation in this program, they may elect or be required, owing to academic performance, to opt for the traditional four-year bachelor's degree program. In such cases, the bachelor's degree may be awarded once the undergraduate degree requirements are satisfied.

A suggested outline for pursuing the accelerated B.S./M.S. degree program is presented in Table 3.