Program Overview

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Computer Science, BS

Overview

The Computer Science, BS program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in computer science and prepare them for careers in the field. The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Objectives

The objectives of the Computer Science, BS program are to:

• Establish themselves as successful and productive computing professionals or engage in advanced study such as a graduate degree program.
• Work effectively both in team environments and as individuals.
• Fulfill their responsibilities in the areas of ethics, continuing professional development, and effective written and oral communications.

Policies

Advanced Placement, Credit by Exam

A score of 4 on the Advanced Placement (AP) computer science exam qualifies the student for credit in CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core). A score of 4 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) computer science exam qualifies students for credit in CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core), and a score of 5 or more qualifies students for credit in CS 211 Object-Oriented Programming.

Change of Major

Students who are considering computer science as their major must meet with the College of Engineering and Computing Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising. Students considering a change of major to computer science must have a GPA of at least 2.75 in all computer science and math courses, and successfully completed one of CS 112 or CS 211, and one of MATH 113, MATH 114 or MATH 125, with a grade of B or better.

Computer Science, Computer Engineering Double Major

Computer Science majors can earn a double major in Computer Science and Computer Engineering if they complete additional credits beyond the 120 credits required for the Computer Science degree. The additional credits must be part of an approved plan of study.

Cooperative Education

Students may participate in the Mason cooperative education program or a work-study program in the Washington, D.C. area.

Grades

Students must earn a C or better in any course intended to satisfy a prerequisite for a computer science course. Computer science majors may not use more than one course with grade of C- or lower toward department requirements.

Repeating Courses

Students may attempt an undergraduate course taught by the College of Engineering and Computing twice. A third attempt requires approval of the department offering the course. This policy does not apply to STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core), which follows the normal university policy for repeating undergraduate courses.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Computer science majors complete the writing-intensive requirement through a sequence of projects and reports in CS 405 Synthesis of Ethics and Law for the Computing Professional (Mason Core) and CS 321 Software Engineering (Mason Core). Faculty members provide feedback on students' expository writing.

Termination from the Major

No math, science, or College of Engineering and Computing course that is required for the major may be attempted more than three times. Those students who do not successfully complete such a course within three attempts will be terminated from the major. Undeclared students in the College of Engineering and Computing who do not successfully complete a course required for a College of Engineering and Computing major within three attempts will also be terminated.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Computer Science Core

• CS 110 Essentials of Computer Science 1 (3 credits)
• CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core) (4 credits)
• CS 211 Object-Oriented Programming (3 credits)
• CS 262 Introduction to Low-Level Programming (3 credits)
• CS 310 Data Structures (3 credits)
• CS 321 Software Engineering (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• CS 330 Formal Methods and Models (3 credits)
• CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming (4 credits)
• CS 405 Synthesis of Ethics and Law for the Computing Professional (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• CS 471 Operating Systems (3 credits)
• CS 483 Analysis of Algorithms (3 credits) Total Credits: 35

Senior Computer Science

• Select one from the following: (3 credits)
  • CS 455 Computer Communications and Networking
  • CS 468 Secure Programming and Systems
  • CS 475 Concurrent and Distributed Systems
  • CS 487 Introduction to Cryptography
• Select four additional courses from the following: (12 credits)
  • CS 425 Game Programming I
  • CS 440 Compilers
  • CS 450 Database Concepts
  • CS 451 Computer Graphics
  • CS 452 Virtual Reality
  • CS 453 Computational Photography
  • CS 455 Computer Communications and Networking
  • CS 463 Comparative Programming Languages
  • CS 465 Computer Systems Architecture 1
  • CS 468 Secure Programming and Systems
  • CS 469 Security Engineering
  • CS 475 Concurrent and Distributed Systems
  • CS 477 Mobile Application Development
  • CS 478 Natural Language Processing
  • CS 480 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
  • CS 482 Computer Vision
  • CS 484 Data Mining
  • CS 485 Autonomous Robotics
  • CS 487 Introduction to Cryptography
  • CS 489 Deep Learning
  • CS 490 Design Exhibition 2
  • CS 491 Industry-Sponsored Senior Design Project 2
  • CS 499 Special Topics in Computer Science 3
  • MATH 446 Numerical Analysis I 4
  • OR 481 Numerical Methods in Engineering Total Credits: 15

Mathematics

• MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) (4 credits)
• MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (4 credits)
• MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• MATH 203 Linear Algebra (3 credits)
• MATH 213 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III (3 credits) Total Credits: 17

Statistics

• STAT 344 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I (3 credits) Total Credits: 3

Computer Science-Related Courses

• Select 6 credits from the following: (6 credits)
  • STAT 354 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists II
  • OR 335 Discrete Systems Modeling and Simulation
  • OR 441 Deterministic Optimization
  • OR 442 Stochastic Models
  • ECE 301 Digital Electronics
  • ECE 231 Digital System Design
  • ECE 232 Digital System Design Lab
  • ECE 350 Embedded Systems and Hardware Interfaces
  • ECE 446 Device Driver Development
  • ECE 447 Microcontrollers
  • ECE 455 GPU Architecture and Programming
  • ECE 511 Computer Architecture
  • SWE 419 Object-Oriented Software Design and Implementation
  • SWE 432 Web Application Development
  • SWE 437 Software Testing and Maintenance
  • SWE 443 Software Architectures
  • SYST 371 Systems Engineering Management
  • SYST 470 Human Factors Engineering
  • PHIL 371 Philosophy of the Natural Sciences
  • PHIL 376 Symbolic Logic
  • ENGH 388 Professional and Technical Writing
  • Any MATH or CS course numbered above 300 (except MATH 351) 1,2
  • Any SWE course numbered 300 or above except SWE 301, SWE 401 and SWE 510 Total Credits: 6

Natural Science

• Select 12 credits of natural science (12 credits) Total Credits: 12

Additional Mason Core

• Oral Communication (3 credits)
  • COMM 100 Public Speaking (Mason Core)
  • COMM 101 Fundamentals of Communication (Mason Core)
• Written Communication (3 credits)
  • ENGH 100 Composition for Multilingual Writers (Mason Core)
  • ENGH 101 Composition (Mason Core)
• Advanced Composition 1 (3 credits)
  • ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core) (Natural Sciences section) 1
• Literature (3 credits)
• Arts (3 credits)
• Global History (3 credits)
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
• Global Contexts (3 credits) Total Credits: 24

Electives

• Students must complete 8 elective credits (8 credits) Total Credits: 8

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Sample Plan of Study

Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at [insert URL]

Honors in the Major

The Department of Computer Science offers a CS Honors Program for students with strong computational foundations and the drive to delve deeper into computing. The program is based on the bachelor of science in computer science and applied computer science curriculum and is distinct from the University Honors College curriculum.

Entry Requirements

• Students must be seeking a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science and must apply for entry into the CS Honors Program after completing 12 credits of CS courses.
• Applicants must meet the GPA requirements outlined below to enter into the CS Honors Program.

Honors Requirements

• CS Honors Program students must fulfill all standard courses required by the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Applied Computer Science degree as well as the following additional requirements:
  • GPA Requirement: Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.50 and a GPA of at least 3.50 for courses which count towards the BS/CS or BS/ACS major including math, natural sciences, and all CS/SWE courses.
  • Research Project Requirement: Students must complete a significant research project prior to graduation. Students should seek out a CS faculty member willing to serve as their research advisor for the project. The project should comprise original work by the student and be demonstrated via two channels:
    1. a written project report that is approved by the student's research advisor and submitted to the department;
    2. a presentation of the project to an audience of students and/or faculty.
  • Advanced Course Requirement: At least two Advanced Courses must be completed. A complete list of acceptable advanced courses is maintained by the CS department and is available on the department web site.

Accelerated Master's Programs

The Department of Computer Science offers several accelerated master's programs for undergraduate students. These programs allow students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter amount of time.

BS (any)/Statistical Science, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BS degree and the Statistical Science, MS in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the Statistical Science, MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:
  • An overall GPA of 3.0
  • Completion of Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completion of application for graduation.
• Accelerated Pathway Requirements: To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
  • STAT 544 Applied Probability *
  • STAT 554 Applied Statistics I
  • STAT 560 Biostatistical Methods
  • STAT 574 Survey Sampling I
  • STAT 663 Statistical Graphics and Data Visualization

Computer Science, BS/Computer Engineering, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BS in Computer Science and an MS in Computer Engineering in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:
  • 3.0 overall GPA
  • Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.
• Accelerated Pathway Requirements: To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
  • CS 571 Operating Systems (to replace CS 471)
  • CS 580 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
  • CS 583 Analysis of Algorithms
  • CS 584 Theory and Applications of Data Mining
  • ECE 508 Internet of Things
  • ECE 511 Computer Architecture
  • ECE 512 Computer Architecture Security
  • ECE 516 Mobile Systems and Applications
  • ECE 527 Learning From Data
  • ECE 542 Computer Network Architectures and Protocols

Computer Science, BS/Computer Science, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS can complete both a BS-CS and a Computer Science, MS in five years through the BS-CS accelerated (BAM) program.
• Admission Requirements: Students in the Computer Science, BS program are encouraged to apply to the BAM program after earning 60 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must also have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures and CS 330 Formal Methods and Models with a grade of B or higher.
• Accelerated Option Requirements: Students accepted to the BAM program may earn up to 12 credits of graduate coursework that count towards both the BS and MS degrees. They may begin taking graduate courses after completing 75 undergraduate credits and successfully completing CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming with a grade of B or higher.

Computer Science, BS/Data Analytics Engineering, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS can complete both a BS-CS and a Data Analytics Engineering, MS in five years through the BS-MS accelerated (BAM) program.
• Admission Requirements: Students in the Computer Science, BS program are encouraged to apply to the BAM program after earning 60 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures and CS 330 Formal Methods and Models with a grade of B or higher.
• Accelerated Option Requirements: Students accepted to the BAM program may earn up to 9 credits of graduate coursework that count towards both the BS and MS degrees. They may begin taking graduate courses after completing 75 undergraduate credits and successfully completing CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming with a grade of B or higher.

Computer Science, BS/Information Systems, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS can complete both a BS-CS and an Information Systems, MS in five years through the BS-MS accelerated (BAM) program.
• Admission Requirements: Students in the Computer Science, BS program are encouraged to apply to the BAM program after earning 60 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures and CS 330 Formal Methods and Models with a grade of B or higher.
• Accelerated Option Requirements: Students accepted to the BAM program may earn up to 12 credits of graduate coursework that count towards both the BS and MS degrees. They may begin taking graduate courses after completing 75 undergraduate credits and successfully completing CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming with a grade of B or higher.

Computer Science, BS/Operations Research, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a Computer Science, BS and an Operations Research, MS in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: The criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Operations Research, MS program. Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the Operations Research, MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:
  • An overall GPA of at least 3.0
  • Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.

Computer Science, BS/Secondary Education, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education - Computer Science Concentration)

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BS in Computer Science (degree without concentration) and an MEd in Secondary Education (Secondary Education - Computer Science concentration) in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 143 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MEd program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:
  • 3.0 overall GPA
  • Completion of undergraduate coursework, at least three credits of approved advanced standing coursework and any reserve graduate courses that have met the minimum grade requirement of B-.
  • Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.

Computer Science, BS/Software Engineering, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS program can complete both a BS-CS and a Software Engineering, MS in five years through the BS-MS accelerated (BAM) program.
• Admission Requirements: Students in the Computer Science, BS program are encouraged to apply to the BAM program after earning 60 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must also have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures and CS 330 Formal Methods and Models with a grade of B or higher.
• Accelerated Option Requirements: Students accepted to the BAM program may earn up to 12 credits of graduate coursework that count towards both the BS and MS degrees. They may begin taking graduate courses after completing 75 undergraduate credits and successfully completing CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming with a grade of B or higher.

Computer Science, BS/Systems Engineering, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a Computer Science, BS and a Systems Engineering, MS in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: The criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Systems Engineering, MS program. Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the Systems Engineering, MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:
  • An overall GPA of at least 3.0
  • Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.