Program Overview

Computer Science Major: Cybersecurity Option (B.A.)

The B.A. in Computer Science will allow students to combine the study of computer science with the study of another field. Given the emergence of computational approaches to virtually all areas of scholarship and creative expression, it is essential to offer this flexibility. The three tracks in the B.A. program contain the same computer science core as the B.S. program, but give more control to the student to choose the complementary and advanced courses.

Degree Requirements

• Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
• Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
• Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral
• Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
• Foreign Language Requirement: Yes

All Major, Option, and Elective Requirements as indicated. Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Computer science majors must maintain an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better in all required computer science, mathematics, and computer engineering courses in order to graduate. If at the end of any semester, including the first, a student's cumulative grade-point average in these courses falls below 2.0, the student may not be allowed to continue as a CS major.

The following courses or their equivalents must be completed with a grade of C- or better in order to meet the CS major requirements:

• CS 415
• CS 416
• CS 420
• CS 515
• CS 520
• IT 403

Students are expected to demonstrate consistent progress towards the satisfaction of the core degree requirements and are allowed two repeats of the aforementioned courses before being subject to removal from the program. This can be a single class repeated twice or two classes repeated once. Students may petition to be reinstated after one-year absence from the program.

If a student wishing to transfer into the computer science major has any coursework that is applicable to the major, the grades in those courses must satisfy the minimum grade requirements for the B.S. degree in computer science. The student must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better in all courses taken at the university.

Course List

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid First Year

• Fall:
  • CS 400 Introduction to Computing (2 credits)
  • CS 415 Introduction to Computer Science I (4 credits)
  • IT 403 Introduction to Internet Technologies (4 credits)
  • MATH 425 Calculus I (4 credits)
  • Discovery I (or Foreign Language) (4 credits)
  • Total Credits: 18
• Spring:
  • CS 416 Introduction to Computer Science II (4 credits)
  • CS 420 Foundations of Programming for Digital Systems (4 credits)
  • MATH 539 Introduction to Statistical Analysis (4 credits)
  • ENGL 401 First-Year Writing (4 credits)
  • Total Credits: 16

Second Year

• Fall:
  • CS 515 Data Structures and Introduction to Algorithms (4 credits)
  • CS 527 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (4 credits)
  • CS 501 Professional Ethics and Communication in Technology-related Fields (or Discovery II) (4 credits)
  • Discovery III (or Foreign Language) (4 credits)
  • Total Credits: 16
• Spring:
  • CS 520 Computer Organization and System-Level Programming (4 credits)
  • MATH Elective I (4 credits)
  • Discovery II (or CS 501) (4 credits)
  • Discovery IV (4 credits)
  • Total Credits: 16

Third Year

• Fall:
  • CS 620 Operating System Fundamentals (4 credits)
  • IT 666 Cybersecurity Practices (4 credits)
  • MATH Elective II (4 credits)
  • Discovery V (4 credits)
  • Total Credits: 16
• Spring:
  • CS 727 Software Security (4 credits)
  • Discovery VI (4 credits)
  • General Elective I (4 credits)
  • General Elective II (4 credits)
  • Total Credits: 16

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • CS 791 Senior Project I (2 credits)
  • CS 700-level Elective I (4 credits)
  • Discovery VII (4 credits)
  • General Elective III (4 credits)
  • General Elective IV (4 credits)
  • Total Credits: 18
• Spring:
  • CS 792 Senior Project II (2 credits)
  • CS 700-level Elective II (4 credits)
  • General Elective V (4 credits)
  • General Elective VI (4 credits)
  • Total Credits: 14
• Total Credits: 130

Discovery (7): Historical Perspectives, Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Social Science, World Cultures, Physical Science Discovery Lab, Biological Science Discovery Lab.

Two Discovery or General Elective courses must have the Writing Intensive (WI) attribute.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the UNH B.A. CS programs will have an ability to:

• Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
• Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program's discipline.
• Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
• Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
• Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program's discipline.
• Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.
• Learn independently about new technologies, and have the skills needed to understand them.