Computer Science - B.S.

Program Overview

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Computer Science - B.S.

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program provides a rigorous curriculum that covers a wide range of computer science topics. With a focus on problem solving and critical thinking, you will be equipped to tackle real-world challenges and make an impact in the industry.

Admissions

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

• First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework.
• First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program.
• Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.
• Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students.

Coursework

Major Requirements

• CS 13001: COMPUTER SCIENCE I: PROGRAMMING AND PROBLEM SOLVING (min C grade)
• CS 23001: COMPUTER SCIENCE II: DATA STRUCTURES AND ABSTRACTION (min C grade)
• CS 23022: DISCRETE STRUCTURES FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE
• CS 32301: HUMAN INTERFACE COMPUTING
• CS 33007: INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE SYSTEM DESIGN
• CS 33101: STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
• CS 33211: OPERATING SYSTEMS
• CS 33901: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
• CS 35101: COMPUTER ORGANIZATION
• CS 35201: COMPUTER COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
• CS 44001: COMPUTER SCIENCE III - PROGRAMMING PATTERNS
• CS 46101: DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMS
• MATH 12002: ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
• MATH 12013: BRIEF CALCULUS II
• MATH 20011: DECISION-MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY
• MATH 21002: APPLIED LINEAR ALGEBRA
• Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
  • UC 10001: FLASHES 101
  • Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)
  • Science Electives, choose from the following (must include one laboratory)

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

• CS 49999: CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) (WIC)
• Computer Science (CS) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level)
• Computer Science (CS) Upper-Division Electives (40000 level)

Cybersecurity Concentration Requirements

• CS 43203: SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING
• CS 43401: SECURE PROGRAMMING
• CS 45203: COMPUTER NETWORK SECURITY
• CS 47205: INFORMATION SECURITY
• CS 47221: INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOLOGY
• CS 49999: CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) (WIC)

Data Engineering Concentration Requirements

• CS 43016: BIG DATA ANALYTICS
• CS 43105: DATA MINING TECHNIQUES
• CS 43118: GRAPH AND SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS
• CS 49999: CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) (WIC)
• Computer Science (CS) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level)
• Computer Science (CS) Upper-Division Elective (40000 level)

Game Programming Concentration Requirements

• CS 38101: INTRODUCTION TO GAME PROGRAMMING
• CS 47101: COMPUTER GRAPHICS
• CS 48101: GAME ENGINE CONCEPTS
• CS 48102: GAME DEVELOPMENT PRACTICUM (ELR) (WIC)
• Computer Science (CS) Upper-Division Electives (40000 level)

Robotics and Embedded Systems Concentration Requirements

• CS 33301: EMBEDDED SYSTEM PROGRAMMING
• CS 33302: INTRODUCTION TO INTELLIGENT ROBOTICS
• CS 43302: ALGORITHMIC ROBOTICS
• CS 49999: CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) (WIC)
• Concentration Electives, choose from the following

Graduation Requirements

• Graduation Requirements Summary
  • Minimum Major GPA: 2.000
  • Minimum Overall GPA: 2.000

Roadmaps

• Computer Science Major (No Concentration)
• Cybersecurity Concentration
• Data Engineering Concentration
• Game Programming Concentration
• Robotics and Embedded Systems Concentration

University Requirements

• Flashes 101 (UC 10001)
• Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG)
• Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR)
• Kent Core (see table below)
• Writing-Intensive Course (WIC)
• Upper-Division Requirement
• Total Credit Hour Requirement

Kent Core Requirements

• Kent Core Composition (KCMP)
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR)
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each)
• Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines)
• Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory)
• Kent Core Additional (KADL)

Program Learning Outcomes

• Analyze a complex computing problem and 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.

Program Policies

• Foreign Language Requirements
• Mandatory Outcomes Assessment

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science seeks to prepare students for careers as computing professionals, developing, managing and building software in a variety of industries, including finance, health care, entertainment, telecommunications and manufacturing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the following as top occupation choices for computer science majors: computer network architect; software developer; information security analyst; database administrator; computer systems analyst; computer programmer; and network and computer systems administrator.

The Computer Science major includes the following optional concentrations:

• Cybersecurity
• Data Engineering
• Game Programming
• Robotics and Embedded Systems

Students may declare the program with no concentration and develop a plan of study to meet their educational and career goals.

Computer Science students may apply early to the M.S. degree in Computer Science and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program at Kent State University offers a rigorous curriculum covering a wide range of computer science topics. The program emphasizes problem-solving and critical thinking, equipping students to tackle real-world challenges and make an impact in the industry.

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Objectives:

The program's educational objectives are:

• To prepare students for successful careers in computing, designing computing solutions and systems by applying principles of computing in areas such as software, hardware, network, data, and algorithmic design.
• To foster continued professional growth and advancement in the rapidly evolving fields of computer science, building upon the academic foundation and professional skills acquired in the program.
• To cultivate lifelong learners who stay abreast of emerging technologies, acquire new skills, and develop proficiencies with new software, networking, and computing tools.
• To encourage students to become impactful and contributing members of the global innovation ecosystem by applying their computer science knowledge and skills, coupled with a well-rounded liberal education, and to practice ethical, legal, and responsible computing towards building a better and more inclusive world.

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Description:

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science aims to prepare students for careers as computing professionals, developing, managing, and building software in various industries, including finance, healthcare, entertainment, telecommunications, and manufacturing. The program includes the following optional concentrations:

• Cybersecurity: This concentration prepares students to meet the security needs of industry and government through coursework that provides a thorough understanding of security, privacy, and cryptographic techniques and protocols used in computing and communication.
• Data Engineering: This concentration prepares students to perform the data analysis and modeling needed by organizations and to process structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data using statistical and semantic analysis techniques to meet their employers' needs.
• Game Programming: This concentration provides students with a solid understanding of the algorithms, techniques, and software used to construct interactive virtual environments.
Students work in teams with content specialists and artists to develop the teamwork skills required in this multidisciplinary field, which includes a range of opportunities, from the game industry to education to training design.
• Robotics and Embedded Systems: This concentration prepares students to work with devices that combine hardware and software.
Such devices include robots and most high-tech mechanical devices like cars, planes, farm equipment, and construction equipment. Students may declare the program with no concentration and develop a plan of study to meet their educational and career goals. Computer Science students may apply early to the M.S. degree in Computer Science and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs.

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Careers:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the following as top occupation choices for computer science majors:

• Computer network architect
• Software developer
• Database administrator
• Computer systems analyst
• Computer programmer
• Network and computer systems administrator

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Other:

• The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
• Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.
• The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science are exempt from the foreign language requirement.
• Students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start.
• Students may complete the foreign language requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses by passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level, receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University, or demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language.
• When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.
• All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation:
• Flashes 101 (UC 10001)
• Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG)
• Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR)
• Kent Core
• Writing-Intensive Course (WIC)
• Upper-Division Requirement
• Total Credit Hour Requirement
• Graduates of this program will be able to:
• Analyze a complex computing problem and 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.