Computer Science, B.S.

Computer Science B.S.

Contact Information

Dr. Kyle Riley
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
McLaury 308
(605) 394-2471
E-mail: Kyle.Riley@sdsmt.edu

Faculty

Professors Corwin, Logar and Weiss; Associate Professors McGough and Pyeatt; Assistant Professors Karlsson and Qiao; Lecturer Schrader; Emeritus Professors Carda, Opp and Weger.

Computer Science Major

The primary goal of the computer science program is to prepare graduates to enter a dynamic and rapidly changing field as competent computer scientists. Graduates are expected to be capable in all phases of software development including design, development, and testing. Graduates should also have a firm understanding of hardware technologies. These capabilities require the graduate to possess good communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to work effectively as a team member. Graduates must be able to read and comprehend the literature of the discipline and be sufficiently well-versed in general theory to allow growth within the discipline as it advances. Most of the graduates will pursue careers as software engineers within the computer industry. Some may choose careers as entrepreneurs and others will pursue advanced degrees and careers in research.

The sample Computer Science Checklist in this section lists all required courses for the bachelor’s degree in their proper prerequisite sequence. Students should consult course listings for prerequisites and should consult their advisors at each registration.

A computer science major must complete a minimum of 15 credits in humanities and social science, with at least 6 credit hours in humanities and at least 6 credit hours in social science. Refer to the humanities and social sciences section of this catalog for a list of courses satisfying these requirements. It is also important to refer to the general education core requirements under bachelor of science graduation requirements for further information. Students must complete the general education core requirements within the first 64 credits.

Any computer science major desiring a minor in another field should consult his or her advisor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as early in his or her program of study as possible. The Office of the Registrar and Academic Services has a form that must be signed by the student and the department heads of both departments involved.

Computer Science and Mathematics Double Major

Due to the large number of courses common to the computer science major and the mathematics major, many students fnd it attractive to pursue a double major in these two areas. Students seeking the double major should consult their advisors for details about this option.

Computer Science Curriculum

For the bachelor of science in Computer Science, a student must:

Take all of the courses listed in the Computer Science curriculum checklist;
Successfully complete a minimum of 4 computer science elective courses numbered 400 or above must be taken. A 3-credit Co-op (CP 497) may be substituted for one computer science elective. Special topics and independent study courses may not be used to satisfy the computer science elective requirement.; and
Have a departmental grade point average of at least 2.00 in all CSC courses 300 level or higher. (Courses taken more than once will have only the higher grade counted for computing the departmental grade point average.)

Computer Science Curriculum/Checklist

Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

Freshman Year

First Semester

ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 123 Calculus I Credits: (4-0) 4
CSC 150/150L Computer Science I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
¹Humanities or Social Sciences Elective(s) Credits: 3
CSC 110 Survey of Computer Science Credits: (1-0) 1

Total: 14

Second Semester

MATH 125 Calculus II Credits: (4-0) 4
¹Humanities or Social Sciences Elective(s) Credits: 3
CSC 250 Computer Science II Credits: (4-0) 4
CSC 251 Finite Structures Credits: (4-0) 4

Total: 15

Sophomore Year

First Semester

CSC 300 Data Structures Credits: (4-0) 4
MATH 225 Calculus III Credits: (4-0) 4
CSC 314/314L Assembly Language/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
¹Humanities or Social Science Elective(s) Credits: 3

Total: 14

Second Semester

ENGL 279 Technical Communications I Credits: (3-0) 3
CSC 317 Computer Organization and Architecture Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 315 Linear Algebra Credits: (3-0) 3
¹Humanities or Social Sciences Elective(s) Credits: 3
¹Science Elective Credits: 3
¹Science Elective Lab Credits: 1

Total: 16

Junior Year

First Semester

ENGL 289 Technical Communications II Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 211/211-A University Physics I/Recitation Credits: (3-0) 3
CSC 372 Analysis of Algorithms Credits: (3-0) 3
CSC 484 Database Management Systems Credits: (3-0) 3
¹Science Elective Credits: 3
¹Science Elective Lab Credits: 1

Total: 15

Second Semester

CSC 461 Programming Languages Credits: (3-0) 3
CSC 470 Software Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
¹Elective or CSC Elective Credits: 9

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

CSC 465 Senior Design I Credits: (2-0) 2
MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
CSC 421/521 Graphical User Interfaces with Object-Oriented Programming Credits: (3-0) 3
¹Humanities or Social Sciences Elective(s) Credits: 3
¹Elective or CSC Elective Credits: 4

Total: 15

Second Semester

CSC 456 /456L Operating Systems/Lab Credits: (3-1) 4
CSC 467 Senior Design II Credits: (2-0) 2
¹Elective or CSC Elective Credits: 6
¹Elective or MATH Elective Credits: 3

Total: 15

120 credits required for graduation

Curriculum Notes

CSC 465 /CSC 467 is a two-course sequence in senior design. It is expected that the course sequence will be taken in successive semesters.
An exit exam, such as the Major Field Achievement Test in Computer Science, will be given as part of CSC 467 . The overall results of this exam will be used to assess the computer science program.
CHEM 106 , CHEM 108 , CSC 105 , MATH 021 , MATH 101 , MATH 102 , MATH 120 , PHYS 111 , and PHYS 113 may not be counted towards the Computer Science degree.

¹Elective courses must be chosen to satisfy all of the following requirements.

Fifteen semester hours in humanities or social science. At least 6 hours must be in humanities and at least 6 hours must be in social sciences.
Six credit hours of humanities and 6 credit hours of social science must be completed within the first 64 hours. It is important to refer to the general education requirements under bachelor of science graduation requirements for further information.
A minimum of 4 lecture based computer science elective courses numbered 400 or above must be taken. A 3-credit Co-op may be substituted for one computer science elective. Special topics and independent study courses may not be used to satisfy the computer science elective requirement.
Eleven credits of science. The science requirement for this major consists of PHYS 211/211-A and two more lecture courses from among BIOL 121 , BIOL 123 , BIOL 231 , BIOL 151 , BIOL 153 , CHEM 112 , CHEM 114 , GEOL 201 , or PHYS 213/213-A ; plus two labs that accompany the science courses taken, i.e., either BIOL 121L , BIOL 123L , BIOL 231 , BIOL 151L , BIOL 153L , CHEM 112L , CHEM 114L , GEOL 201L , or PHYS 213L . Students must complete science classes from at least two different disciplines.(Note: BIOL 121, BIOL 123, and BIOL 331 do not count towards general education.)
The math elective consists of at least three credits of a math lecture course that is at the 300 or 400 level course except MATH 373 or MATH 486 .