Program Overview

Program Guide

Computational Science

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Computational Science. This emerging discipline provides the tools necessary to solve natural and social science and engineering problems on computers.

Description of Major

Computational Science is the discipline that provides the tools necessary to solve natural and social science and engineering problems on computers. Graduates of the Computational Science program will be prepared for employment in industry and government laboratories as well as for entry into graduate schools. The skill and knowledge sets acquired by students in this program complement those of scientists and engineers so that, as part of interdisciplinary teams, those students are ideally positioned to help solve science and engineering problems using computers.

Requirements

• The College of Arts and Science requires proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (2614 or equivalent) level.
• Students must also have completed a minimum of 52 hours of credit and at least half the required hours in General Education including the required two English and two mathematics courses, or an A.A degree.
• A grade of "C minus" or better is required in all courses required for the BS Degree in Computational Science.
• All State Common Program Prerequisites listed as Term 1-4 Milestones must be completed with a "C" range (C minus, C, or C+) grade or better.

Prerequisite Coursework

• MAC 2311 (4) Calculus I
• MAC 2312 (4) Calculus II
• ISC 3313 (3) Introduction to Scientific Computing or COP 3014 Programming I or COP XXXX (3) Introductory Programming (in C or C++, JAVA or equivalent language or other approved programming course).
• Science with lab (4) A laboratory-based science course designed for science majors (BSC XXXXc, CHM XXXXc, GLY XXXXc, MET XXXXc, or PHY XXXXc), or other courses approved by the department.

Major Program of Studies at FSU: (54 hours)

• All of the following: (30 hours)
  • ISC 3222 (3) Symbolic and Numerical Computations
  • ISC 4304 (4) Programming for Scientific Applications
  • ISC 4220 (4) Continuous Algorithms for Science Applications
  • ISC 4221 (4) Discrete Algorithms for Science Applications
  • ISC 4223 (4) Computational Methods for Discrete Problems
  • ISC 4232 (4) Computational Methods for Continuous Problems
  • MAS 3105 (4) Applied Linear Algebra I
  • Approved statistics course designed for statistics majors: STA 3XXX (3) or STA 4XXX (3)
• Seminar classes (3 hours)
  • Three seminars are required: specialized topics and/or new developments in computational sciences.
  • ISC 4931 (1,1) Junior Seminar in Computational Science
  • ISC 4932 (1) Senior Seminar in Computational Science
• Practicum (3 hours)
  • ISC 4943 (3) Practicum in Computational Science
• Electives (18 hours)
  • 9 hours of computational science courses selected from an approved list.
  • 9 hours of additional STEM electives from the Department of Scientific Computing or other appropriate department at the 3000/4000 level or from approved list.

Collateral Courses: (26 hours)

• The following courses are required. These may also be used to satisfy prerequisites, General Education or minor requirements.
  • ISC 3313 (3) Introduction to Scientific Computing or COP XXXX (3) Programming course
  • MAC 2311 (4) Calculus I
  • MAC 2312 (4) Calculus II
  • Two laboratory-based science courses (8 hrs) designed for science majors: BSC, CHM, GLY, MET, or PHY.

Minor: (0-12+ hours beyond other requirements)

A minor is required. If not also used to meet the General Education mathematics requirement, the required collateral courses MAC 2311, MAC 2312, and MAS 3105 will satisfy the requirements for a minor in mathematics. The student may select another minor in consultation with the program advisor.

Digital Literacy: (0 hours beyond other requirements)

ISC 3313 Introduction to Scientific Computing or COP 3014 Programming I fulfills this requirement for the major.

Oral Communication Competency: (0-3 credits hours)

Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with an approved college-level course.

Minimum Program Requirements Summary

• Total Hrs. Required: 120
• General Education: 36
• Prerequisite Coursework: 15 (also count for collateral coursework)
• Major Coursework: 54
• Collateral Coursework: 26
• Minor Coursework: 0-12 or more
• Foreign Language: 0-12 (depending on placement)
• Digital Literacy: 0 beyond major
• Oral Communication Competency: 0-3
• Electives to bring total hours to 120

Mapping

Mapping is FSU's academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors.

Remarks

1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.

Employment Information

• Salary Information: For more information, refer to national employment statistics.
• Representative Job Titles Related to this Major:
  • Baccalaureate level: computational scientist, computer center consultant, graduate student, programmer, computer modeler.
  • Master of Science level: computational scientist, computer center consultant, Ph.D student, programmer, software engineer, computer modeler.
  • With a Ph.D: computational scientist, professor, postdoctoral associate, research scientist, research associate, computer modeler, research group leader.
• Representative Employers: Universities and college computer centers, government and private research laboratories, manufacturing and service businesses, industry, state and federal government agencies.