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Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
The bachelor's degree in computer science emphasizes a broad foundation of computer organization, software and mathematics together with electives that focus on some aspect or application of computers.
Note: This page gives the curriculum requirements effective for Fall 2023. Students entering the Computer Science program in Fall 2024 or later should refer to the Fall 2024 curriculum requirements.
Curriculum requirements (120 hours)
A grade of C or better is required for all requirements prefixed with an '*'.
Required CIS courses (35 hours)
- CIS 015 Undergraduate Seminar (0 hours; required for all students new to the program)
- CIS 018 Professional Development Seminar (0 hours; required for all students every semester after their first)
- * CIS 115 Introduction to Computing Science (3 hours)
- * CIS 200 Programming Fundamentals (4 hours)
- * CIS 300 Data and Program Structures (3 hours)
- * CIS 301 Logical Foundations of Programming (3 hours)
- * CIS 308 C/C++ Programming Laboratory (1 hour)
- * CIS 400 Object-Oriented Design, Implementation and Testing (3 hours)
- * CIS 415 Ethics and Conduct for Computing Professionals (3 hour)
- * CIS 450 Computer Architecture and Operations (3 hours)
- * CIS 501 Software Architecture and Design (3 hours)
- * CIS 505 Introduction to Programming Languages (3 hours)
- * CIS 560 Database System Concepts (3 hours)
- * CIS 575 Introduction to Algorithm Analysis (3 hours)
Technical electives (12 hours)
- * Either CIS 520 Operating Systems I, CIS 525 Introduction to Network Programming, or CIS 625 Parallel Programming (3 hours)
- * A capstone experience consisting of either CIS 598 Computer Science Project (3 hours), CIS 599 Cybersecurity Project (3 hours), or both CIS 642 Software Engineering Project I and CIS 643 Software Engineering Project II (6 hours total)
- Additional upper-division computing courses (3-6 hours depending on which capstone experience was selected). These may be any CIS course at the 500-level or above, or any of the following:
- ECE 542 Computer Networking
- GEOG 602 Computer Mapping and Geographic Visualization
- MATH 615 Digital Image Processing
- MATH 655 Elementary Numerical Analysis I
- MATH 656 Elementary Numerical Analysis II
- MATH 725 The Mathematics of Data and Networks I
- MATH 726 The Mathematics of Data and Networks II
- MIS 670 Social Media Analytics and Web Mining
Quantitative courses (14 hours)
- * MATH 220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4 hours)
- * MATH 221 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (4 hours)
- * MATH 510 Discrete Mathematics (3 hours)
- * STAT 510 Introductory Probability and Statistics I (3 hours)
Other required courses (20-21 hours)
- * ECE 241 Introduction to Computer Engineering (3 hours)
- * ENGL 100 Expository Writing I (3 hours)
- * ENGL 200 Expository Writing II (3 hours)
- * One of —
- ENGL 415 Written Communication for Engineers (3 hours)
- ENGL 516 Written Communication for the Sciences (3 hours)
- * One of —
- COMM 105 Public Speaking IA (2 hours)
- COMM 106 Public Speaking I (3 hours)
- One of —
- COMM 322 Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
- COMM 323 Nonverbal Communication (3 hours)
- COMM 326 Small Group Discussion Methods (3 hours)
- MANGT 420 Management Concepts (3 hours)
- THTRE 261 Fundamentals of Acting (3 hours)
- THTRE 265 Fundamentals of Improvisation I, II (3 hours)
- * ECON 110 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 hours)
Humanities and social sciences (12 hours)
Twelve hours taken from the list of Humanities and Social Science courses approved by the College of Engineering. These and other courses must cover all areas from the K-State 8 list.
Math/science electives (17 hours; must include at least one course at the 300 level or above)
At least 17 hours from the following:
- BIOCH 265 Introductory Organic and Biochemistry (5 hours)
- BIOCH 521 General Biochemistry (3 hours)
- BIOL 198 Principles of Biology (4 hours)
- BIOL 221 Organismic Biology (5 hours)
- BIOL 450 Modern Genetics (4 hours)
- BIOL 455 General Microbiology (4 hours)
- CHM 210 Chemistry I (4 hours)
- CHM 230 Chemistry II (4 hours)
- At most one of CHM 350 General Organic Chemistry (3 hours) or CHM 531 Organic Chemistry I (3 hours)
- CHM 371 Chemical Analysis (4 hours)
- CHM 550 Organic Chemistry II (3 hours)
- GEOL 100 Earth in Action (3 hours)
- GEOL 102 Earth Through Time (3 hours)
- GEOL 103 Geology Laboratory (1 hour)
- GEOL 502 Mineralogy (3 hours)
- MATH 222 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III (4 hours)
- MATH 340 Elementary Differential Equations (4 hours)
- MATH 506 Introduction to Number Theory (3 hours)
- MATH 511 Introduction to Algebraic Systems (3 hours)
- MATH 512 Introduction to Modern Algebra (3 hours)
- MATH 515 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3 hours)
- MATH 551 Applied Matrix Theory (3 hours)
- MATH 572 Foundations of Geometry (3 hours)
- MATH 633 Advanced Calculus I (3 hours)
- At most one of PHYS 113 General Physics I (4 hours), PHYS 213 Engineering Physics I (5 hours), or PHYS 223 Physics I, Mechanics, and Thermodynamics (5 hours)
- At most one of PHYS 114 General Physics II (4 hours), PHYS 214 Engineering Physics II (5 hours), or PHYS 224 Physics II, Electromagnetism, and Sound (5 hours)
- PHYS 325 Physics III, Relativity and Quantum Physics (4 hours)
- STAT 511 Introductory Probability and Statistics II (3 hours)
One of the following two-semester sequences must be included:
- BIOL 198 and 221 (9 hours)
- CHM 210 and 230 (8 hours)
- PHYS 213 and 214 (10 hours)
- PHYS 223 and 224 (10 hours)
One of the following mathematics courses must be included:
- MATH 222 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III (4 hours)
- MATH 340 Elementary Differential Equations (4 hours)
- MATH 506 Introduction to Number Theory (3 hours)
- MATH 511 Introduction to Algebraic Systems (3 hours)
- MATH 512 Introduction to Modern Algebra (3 hours)
- MATH 515 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3 hours)
- MATH 551 Applied Matrix Theory (3 hours)
- MATH 572 Foundations of Geometry (3 hours)
- MATH 633 Advanced Calculus I (3 hours)
- STAT 511 Introductory Probability and Statistics II (3 hours)
Unrestricted electives (9-10 hours)
Nine to 10 hours of additional coursework — a total of 120 hours are required for the B.S. degree.