This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.

Computer Science

Computer Science Major

The computer science undergraduate programs, based on recommendations of the Association for Computing Machinery, consist of a core of courses required for majors and a large selection of service courses and advanced courses. A grade of 'C' or better is required in all Computer Science courses. In the core, students are offered an opportunity to study concepts, applications, and implementation techniques that provide a broad practical base for both further study and a career in computing. Through a variety of service courses, every student in the university is provided an opportunity to develop computer literacy or competency. Through advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, students are offered an opportunity for in-depth study of such topics as artificial intelligence, programming languages, mobile applications, computer networks, security, information assurance, office automation, bioinformatics, software development, data mining, and data base management systems. Students are encouraged to choose elective courses from related areas including business, economics, engineering, mathematics, operations research, and statistics.

After completing part of their studies, students will find many opportunities to work part time as a research assistant to a scientist on campus, or as an intern with a local business, applying what they have learned in the classroom. Cooperative education opportunities starting in the junior year are available.

The B.A. concentrates on web development. Students receive an applied grounding in application design, web development, and deployment.

The B.S. program provides the widest exposure to computing with emphasis on high level languages, software development and advanced mathematical concepts.

Top students are encouraged to inquire about the 4+1 program providing a fast track through graduate school resulting in combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees.

Computer Science Minor

A minor in Computer Science requires at least 17 semester hours of select computer science courses. A grade of 'C' or better is required in all courses applied toward the computer science minor.

Major Requirements

Major: Computer Science

Degree Type: B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
UNIV 189Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
ENGL 321Writing in the Technical Professions3
or ENGL 324 Writing in the Sciences
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
MATH 165Calculus I4
Science & Technology (S):10
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education list
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): Select from current general education list6
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list
Total Credits41

College Requirements

Bachelor of Science Degree - An additional 6 credits in Humanities and Social Sciences*

* Humanities and Social Sciences may be fulfilled by any course having the following prefix: ADHM, ANTH, ARCH, ART, CJ, CLAS, COMM, ECON, ENGL, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HDFS, HIST, LA, LANG, MUSC, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOC, SPAN, THEA, WGS, or any course from the approved list of general education courses in humanities and social sciences (general education categories A and B). These credits must come from outside the department of the student’s major.

Major Requirements

 A Grade of 'C' or better is required for all CSCI courses.

General Education Requirements40
Science and Mathmatics College Requirements6
B.S. Computer Science Core Requirements
CSCI 160Computer Science I4
CSCI 161Computer Science II4
CSCI 213Modern Software Development3
CSCI 222Discrete Mathematics3
CSCI 313Software Development for Games3
CSCI 336Theoretical Computer Science II3
CSCI 366Database Systems3
CSCI 372Comparative Programming Languages3
CSCI 374Computer Organization and Architechure3
CSCI 415Networking and Parallel Computation3
CSCI 445Software Projects Capstone *3
CSCI 467Algorithm Analysis3
CSCI 474Operating Systems Concepts3
CSCI 489Social Implications of Computers *3
Computer Science Electives: Select 3 courses form the categories listed below. No more than 2 courses may come from any single category9
Software Engineering:
Principles of Software Engineering
Object-Oriented Systems
Human-Computer Interaction
Large Systems:
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Microcomputer Graphics
Foundations of Computer Networks
Systems Modeling:
Simulation Models
Linear Programming and Network Flows
Operations Research
Emerging Areas:
Topics on Personal Computers
Network Security
Foundations of the Digital Enterprise
Computer Forensics
Introduction to Data Mining
Mathematics and Statistics:
MATH 166Calculus II4
STAT 367Probability3
STAT 368Statistics3
Science:
One Year Lab Science Sequence: Select one of the following sequences:8-10
Human Biology
and Human Biology Laboratory
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory **
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
and General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory **
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
and Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II **
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Lab
and The Earth Through Time
and The Earth Through Time Lab ***
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory
and College Physics II
and College Physics II Laboratory **
University Physics I
and University Physics I Laboratory
and University Physics II
and University Physics II Laboratory **
Additional Science Course: Select one additional science course that satisfies general education requirements3
B.S. Degree Requirements: Potential of 11 credits to reach 12211
Total Credits122-124
*

CSCI 445 Software Projects Capstone & CSCI 489 Social Implications of Computers form the department capstone. CSCI 445 is typically taken during the last spring semester and CSCI 489 is typically taken during the last fall semester prior to degree completion. 

**

 Fulfills Gen Ed Req.

***

 Fulfills Gen Ed & Global Perspective Req.

Major Requirements

Major: Computer Science

Degree Type: B.A.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
UNIV 189Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
ENGL 321Writing in the Technical Professions3
or ENGL 324 Writing in the Sciences
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
MATH 146Applied Calculus I4
or MATH 165 Calculus I
Science & Technology (S):
CSCI 114Microcomputer Packages3-4
or CSCI 116 Business Use of Computers
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education list7
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): Select from current general education list6
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list
Total Credits41-42

College Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree - An additional 12 credits of Humanities and Social Sciences* and proficiency at the second year level in a modern foreign language.

* Humanities and Social Sciences may be fulfilled by any course having the following prefix: ADHM, ANTH, ARCH, ART, CJ, CLAS, COMM, ECON, ENGL, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HDFS, HIST, LA, LANG, MUSC, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOC, SPAN, THEA, WGS, or any course from the approved list of general education courses in humanities and social sciences (general education categories A and B). These credits must come from outside the department of the student’s major.

Major Requirements

 A Grade of 'C' or better is required for all CSCI courses.

General Education Requirements40
Science and Mathematics College Requirements12
B.A. Computer Science Core Requirements
CSCI 159Computer Science Problem Solving3
CSCI 160Computer Science I4
CSCI 161Computer Science II4
CSCI 213Modern Software Development3
CSCI 222Discrete Mathematics3
CSCI 313Software Development for Games3
CSCI 366Database Systems3
CSCI 371Web Scripting Languages3
CSCI 445Software Projects Capstone *3
CSCI 488Human-Computer Interaction3
CSCI 489Social Implications of Computers *3
Related Courses
COMM 260Introduction to Web Design3
COMM 261Introduction to Web Development3
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3
STAT 331Regression Analysis2
Other Courses: Select these seven credits from the following areas:7
Science (not CSCI)
Engineering (not ENGR 311 or ENGR 312)
Math (higher than MATH 147, but not MATH 165)
Statistics (not STAT 330 or STAT 331)
B.A. Degree Requirements: Potential of 16 credits to reach 12216
Total Credits122
*

CSCI 445 Software Projects Capstone & CSCI 489 Social Implications of Computers form the department capstone. CSCI 445 is typically taken during the last spring semester and CSCI 489 is typically taken during the last fall semester prior to degree completion. 

Minor Requirements

Computer Science Minor

Minor Requirements

Required Credits: 17

Required Courses
CSCI 213Modern Software Development3
Choose one of the following two sequences:7-8
Computer Science I
and Computer Science II
Computing Fundamentals I
and Computer Science II
Additional Electives: At least 3 credits must be CSCI 300-400 level. 7
Total Credits17-18

Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
  • A grade of 'C' or better is required in all courses applied to the computer science minor.