Program Overview

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Computer Science + Crop Sciences, BS

The Computer Science + Crop Sciences (CS+CPSC) program is a unique partnership between The Grainger College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science and the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This program is designed to produce multidisciplinary thinkers who can handle increasingly rich data sets in the agriculture sector, combining a strong technical background with crop sciences expertise.

Overview

The CS+CPSC program aims to equip students with the skills to analyze robotics-enabled soil and field measurements, predict weather and climate impacts on food supplies, and accelerate plant improvement through the simultaneous analysis of genetics, environment, and management.

Degree Requirements

To graduate from the Computer Science and Crop Sciences curriculum, a student must complete the following requirements:

• Minimum hours required for graduation: 126 hours.
• Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300 and 400 level.
• University and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
• General Education Requirements: Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Course List

The following courses are required for the program:

• Composition I: 4-6 hours
• Advanced Composition: 3 hours
• Humanities & the Arts (6 hours): 6 hours
• Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours): 6 hours
• Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours): 6 hours
• Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course): 3 hours
• Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course): 3 hours
• Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course): 3 hours
• Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I): 6-8 hours
• Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required): 0-15 hours
• Department Foundation:
  • Communication Option: 3 or 6 hours
  • ACES 101: 2 hours
• Crop Sciences Core:
  • CPSC 102: 2 hours
  • CPSC 112: 4 hours
  • CPSC 212: 4 hours
  • CPSC 393: 3 hours
  • CPSC 498: 1 hour
• Computer Science Core:
  • CS 100: 1 hour
  • CS 124: 3 hours
  • CS 128: 3 hours
  • CS 173: 3 hours
  • CS 222: 1 hour
  • CS 225: 4 hours
  • CS 374: 4 hours
  • CS 421: 3 hours
• Computer Science Technical Track:
  • Choose from the following options:
    • CS 233 & CS 341: 3 hours
    • CS 340: 3 hours
    • Any two (2) 400-level CS courses except CS 491: 6 hours
• Mathematical Foundations:
  • MATH 220: 4 or 5 hours
  • MATH 225: 2-4 hours
  • MATH 231: 3 hours
  • CS 361: 3 hours
• Foundational Data Analytics:
  • CPSC 440: 4 hours
  • CPSC 444: 4 hours
• Crop Sciences Electives:
  • At least one 3-hour 400-level CPSC/HORT/PLPA course: 3 hours
  • Any CPSC/HORT/PLPA course except CPSC 241: 3 hours

Sample Sequence

The sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals.

• First Year:
  • First Semester:
    • CS 100: 1 hour
    • CS 124: 3 hours
    • MATH 220 or 221: 4 hours
    • CPSC 102: 2 hours
    • Composition I or Communication Option: 3 hours
  • Second Semester:
    • CS 128: 3 hours
    • CS 173: 3 hours
    • MATH 231: 3 hours
    • CPSC 112: 4 hours
    • Communication Option or Composition I: 4 hours
• Second Year:
  • First Semester:
    • CS 222: 1 hour
    • CS 225: 4 hours
    • General Education course: 3 hours
    • Free Elective course: 3 hours
    • Free Elective course: 3 hours
  • Second Semester:
    • CPSC 212: 4 hours
    • CS 233 or 340: 3 hours
    • Language Other than English (3rd level): 4 hours
    • General Education course: 3 hours
    • Free Elective course: 2 hours
• Third Year:
  • First Semester:
    • MATH 225, 257, 415, or 416: 2 hours
    • General Education course: 3 hours
    • CS 341 (or CS 4XX course except CS 491): 4 hours
    • CPSC 393 or 395: 3 hours
    • CPSC 440: 4 hours
  • Second Semester:
    • CS 374: 4 hours
    • CS 361: 3 hours
    • CS 4XX: 3 hours
    • Free Elective Course or CS 4XX course except CS 491: 3 hours
    • General Education course: 3 hours
• Fourth Year:
  • First Semester:
    • CS 421: 3 hours
    • CPSC 498: 1 hour
    • CPSC 444: 4 hours
    • General Education course: 3 hours
    • General Education course: 3 hours
    • CPSC, PLPA or HORT 4XX Elective Course: 3 hours
  • Second Semester:
    • General Education course: 3 hours
    • General Education course: 3 hours
    • Any CPSC/HORT/PLPA course (except CPSC 241): 3 hours
    • Free Elective course: 3 hours
    • Free Elective course: 3 hours

Learning Outcomes

The program has the following learning outcomes:

Computer Science component:

1. Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
4. Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

Crop Sciences component:

1. Demonstrate knowledge in the key subject matter areas of applied plant biology; crop growth and development; crop management and protection; and soil science.
2. Demonstrate an ability to identify a problem and develop solutions using quantitative reasoning skills for analysis of biological data.
3. Demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary to listen and make effective arguments, to share applied scientific concepts with the public, and to make use of a broad variety of media.
4. Demonstrate an ability to lead and function in multidisciplinary teams.
5. Demonstrate the ability to perform self-guided discovery in agricultural sciences, practicing skills of engagement to enhance intellectual curiosity.