Computer Science and Physics
Major Requirements
Major: Computer Science & Physics
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category C: Communication | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Category R: Quantitative Reasoning † | 3 | |
| Category S: Science and Technology † | 10 | |
| Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts † | 6 | |
| Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences † | 6 | |
| Category W: Wellness † | 2 | |
| Category D: Cultural Diversity *† | ||
| Category G: Global Perspectives *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
- *
Courses for category D & G are satisfied by completing D & G designated courses in another general education category.
- †
General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.
Major Requirements
A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for all CSCI, PHYS, and AST prefix courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Major Requirements | ||
| CSCI 160 | Computer Science I | 4 |
| CSCI 161 | Computer Science II | 4 |
| CSCI 189 | Skills for Academic Success 1 | 1 |
| CSCI 213 | Modern Software Development | 3 |
| CSCI 336 | Theoretical Computer Science | 3 |
| CSCI 366 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CSCI 372 | Comparative Programming Languages | 3 |
| CSCI 374 | Computer Organization and Architecture | 3 |
| CSCI 467 | Algorithm Analysis | 3 |
| CSCI 474 | Operating Systems Concepts | 3 |
| CSCI Electives | CSCI 313 and/or any 400-level CSCI course that is not already used. | 6 |
| Physics Major Requirements: | ||
| PHYS 171 | Introductory Projects in Physics | 1 |
| PHYS 251 & 251L | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| PHYS 252 & 252L | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 360 | Modern Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 361 | Electromagnetic Theory (or PHY 370: Electromagnetic Theory at MSUM) | 3 |
| PHYS 370 | Introduction to Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 355 | Classical Mechanics (or PHY 330: Internediate Mechanics at MSUM) | 3 |
| PHYS 462 | Thermal and Statistical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 486 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| Physics Electives: Select from the following: | 6 | |
| Research For Undergraduates | ||
| Optics for Scientists & Engineers | ||
| Lasers for Scientists and Engineers | ||
| Elements of Photonics | ||
| Materials Physics | ||
| Senior Project I (If not used to satisfy project requirement) | ||
| Senior Project II (If not used to satisfy project requirement) | ||
MSUM AST | Astronomy courses (300/400-level) with departmental permission. | |
| Related Required Courses | ||
| MATH 129 | Basic Linear Algebra | 3 |
| or MATH 329 | Intermediate Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R) | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 265 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 270 | Introduction to Abstract Mathematics | 3 |
| CSCI 445 | Software Projects Capstone | 3 |
| or PHYS 488 & PHYS 489 | Senior Project I and Senior Project II | |
| Total Credits | 101 | |
- 1
CSCI 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student. Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take CSCI 189.
Program Notes
- Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.