Computer Science
Gullickson Hall, Room 112
Phone: 304-696-5453
Email: cite@marshall.edu
Dr. Bill Pierson, Division Chair
Program Description
This is an updated program description that applies to all students admitted beginning Summer, 2010.
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program prepares students for careers in computer science through learning based on practice and grounded in theory. Students learn how to analyze, design, build, test, and deploy computer based systems by making technical trade offs between performance, scalability, availability, reliability, security, maintainability, cost and societal impact. Marshall's computing facilities are state-of-the-art and readily available to students.
Admission and Transfer Criteria
Minimum requirements for admission into the Computer Science major for first-time freshmen are
- An ACT composite score of 21 (SAT 980) and
- An ACT mathematics score of 24 (MTH SAT 560).
Minimum requirements for admission into the Computer Science major for transfer students, whether from within Marshall University or from another institution, are:
- 15 earned semester credit hours of college-level coursework,
- an overall Grade Point Average of at least 2.0 in all college-level coursework,
- completion of ENG 101 (or equivalent) with a grade of C, and
- completion of MTH 132, or MTH 127/130 and MTH 132 (or equivalent) with a grade of C.
Since enrollment may be limited, prospective students are encouraged to apply for admission as soon as possible and are urged to contact an advisor.
For those desiring to major in computer sciences who do not meet the admission or transfer criteria listed above:
- Students may be admitted to "Pre-Computer Science" with a minimum ACT composite of 19 (SAT 900) and an ACT mathematics score of 19-23 (SAT 460-550) Transfer students must be eligible for MTH 127/130 and MTH 132.
Pre-Computer Science students must complete the criteria for transfer students to Computer Science. Registration for Computer Science courses will be limited until transfer criteria are met.
B.S. Degree Requirements
The B.S. degree program requires 120 credit hours (CH) of coursework. Students are advised to pay careful attention to General Education requirements; please consult an advisor.
1. Core Curriculum
Core I (9 CH)
- FYS 100 - First Year Seminar or FYS 100H - First Year Seminar - Honors(3 CH)
- Two Critical Thinking courses (CT)(6 CH)
Core II (18 CH)
- Composition:
ENG 101 - English Composition I (3 CH) and ENG 201 - Advanced Composition (3 CH)
or ENG 201H - English Composition Honors (6 CH) - Communication:
CMM 103 - Fundamentals of Speech Communications or CMM 207 - Business and Professional Communication (3 CH) - Math: requirement met in major
- Physical or Natural Science: requirement met in major
- Social Science (3 CH)
- Humanities (3 CH)
- Fine Arts (3 CH)
Additional University Requirements
- Writing Intensive courses (W) (6 CH)
- Multicultural or International course (3 CH)
Freshmen transfer students must complete Core I at Marshall. Core II can be completed with Marshall or transfer courses.
Transfers with 26 or more credit hours must complete one CT course but are exempt from the remaining Core I requirements. Core II can be completed with Marshall or transfer courses.
2. Mathematics (13 CH)
- MTH 220 - Discrete Structures (3 CH)
- MTH 229 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (5 CH)
- MTH 230 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (4 CH)
- MTH 329 - Elementary Linear Algebra (3 CH)
- MTH 345 - Applied Probability and Statistics (3 CH)
3. Science (12-15 CH)
Choose any three courses with labs from the following science areas:
- BSC 120 - Principles of Biology I (4 CH) or above
- CHM 211 - Principles of Chemistry I and CHM 217 - Principles of Chemistry Lab I (5 CH total)(or above)
- GLY 200 - Physical Geology and GLY 210L - Earth Materials Lab (4 CH total)
- PHY 201 - General Physics I (3 CH) or PHY 211 - Principles of Physics I and
- PHY 202 - Laboratory Methods in Physics I (1 CH) (or above)
4. Business and Communication (9 hrs)
- ENG 354 - Scientific and Technical Writing (3 CH)
- ENGR 221 - Engineering Economy (3 CH)
- ENGR 451 - Introduction to Project Management (3 CH)
- MGT 320 - Principles of Management I (3 CH)
5. Computer Science (40 CH)
- CS 110 - Computer Science I (3 CH)
- CS 120 - Computer Science II (3 CH)
- CS 210 - Algorithm Analysis and Design (3 CH)
- CS 215 - Advanced Algorithm Analysis and Design (3 CH)
- CS 300 - Programming Languages (3 CH)
- CS 305 - Software Engineering I (3 CH)
- CS 320 - Internetworking (3 CH)
- CS 330 - Operating Systems (3 CH)
- CS 340 - Cyber Security (3 CH)
- CS 350 - Database Engineering (3 CH)
- CS 360 - Automata and Formal Languages (3 CH)
- CS 490 - Senior Project I (capstone) (3 CH)
- ENGR 204 - Introduction to Digital Systems (4 CH)
6. Computer Science Electives (minimum 6 CH)
Choose at least two of the following electives:
- CS 315 - Software Quality Assurance (3 CH)
- CS 370 - Computer Graphics (3 CH)
- CS 420 - Distributed Systems (3 CH)
- CS 440 - Image Processing (3 CH)
- CS 455 - Systems Engineering (3 CH)
- CS 460 - Multimedia Systems (3 CH)
- CS 475 - Internship (3-12 CH)
- CS 481 - High Performance Computing (3 CH)
7. Free Electives
Students may choose additional CS courses, liberal arts courses, courses towards a minor, or any other courses according to personal preference.
A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for graduation.
Minor in Computer Science
A student may be awarded a minor in Computer Science by completing a minimum of 15 credit hours that include the following courses:
- CS 110 - Computer Science I (3 CH)
- CS 120 - Computer Science II (3 CH)
- CS 210 - Algorithm Analysis and Design (3 CH)
- Any two CS courses at the 300- or 400-level (6 CH)
Please consult your advisor for more information.
Four Year Curriculum Plan Template
The following plan is a sample; please consult an advisor when creating your own plan of study.
Freshman Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS 110 - Computer Science I | 3 | CS 120 - Computer Science II | 3 | ||
| ENG 101 - English Composition I | 3 | Communication | 3 | ||
| Fine Arts | 3 | MTH 220 - Discrete Structures | 3 | ||
| FYS 100 - First Year Seminar | 3 | MTH 229 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 5 | ||
| MTH 132 - Pre-Calculus with Science Applications (P) | 5 | Social Science (CT) | 3 | ||
| Total CH | 17 | Total CH | 17 | ||
Sophomore Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||
| CS 210 - Algorithm Analysis and Design | 3 | CS 215 - Advanced Algorithm Analysis and Design | 3 | ||
| ENG 201 - Advanced Composition | 3 | CS 300 - Programming Languages | 3 | ||
| ENGR 221 - Engineering Economy | 3 | CS 305 - Software Engineering I | 3 | ||
| MTH 230 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 | MTH 329 - Elementary Linear Algebra | 3 | ||
| Science with Lab (see degree requirements) | 4 | Science with Lab (see degree requirements) | 4 | ||
| Total CH | 17 | Total CH | 16 | ||
Junior Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||
| CS 320 - Internetworking | 3 | CS 340 - Cyber Security | 3 | ||
| CS 330 - Operating Systems | 3 | CS 350 - Database Engineering | 3 | ||
| ENG 354 - Scientific and Technical Writing | 3 | ENGR 204 - Introduction to Digital Systems | 4 | ||
| MGT 320 - Principles of Management I | 3 | ENGR 451 - Introduction to Project Management | 3 | ||
| MTH 345 - Applied Probability and Statistics | 3 | ||||
| Total CH | 15 | Total CH | 13 | ||
Senior Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||
| CS 360 - Automata and Formal Languages | 3 | CS 490 - Senior Project I | 3 | ||
| CS Elective I | 3 | CS Elective II | 3 | ||
| Humanities (CT, W) | 3 | Free Elective I (W) | 3 | ||
| Science with Lab (see degree requirements) | 4 | Free Elective II | 3 | ||
| Total CH | 13 | Total CH | 12 | ||
Legend:
CT - Critical Thinking designated course
P - Placement is based on ACT/SAT Math scores
W - Writing Intensive designated course
The current through Spring 2010 Computer Science program description is available here.
PRE-COMPUTER SCIENCE
This is an updated program description that applies to all students admitted beginning Summer, 2010.
Students interested in pursuing a degree in computer science who have a minimum composite ACT score of 19 and Math ACT scores of 19-23 (SAT composite 900; Math 460-550), will be admitted into Pre-Computer Science until all of the following minimum requirements are met:
- 15 earned semester credit hours of college level coursework
- Overall college Grade Point Average of 2.0
- Completion of ENG 101 (or equivalent) with a grade of C
- Completion of MTH 127/130 College Algebra (or equivalent) grade of C
- MTH 132 Pre-Calculus (or equivalent) grade of C
In order to transfer into the computer science program offered at Marshall, students must meet the Math ACT requirement or complete the requirements listed above for Pre-Computer Science majors. This pertains to transfer students within Marshall or from another institution.
Once all requirements listed above have been met, students will be transferred to the computer science major.
Pre-Computer Science Curriculum Plan Template
The following plan is a sample. Each student should meet with their faculty advisor early in the program to develop an individual plan of study since requirements will vary based on math courses completed.
Freshman Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 - English Composition I | 3 | CS 110 - Computer Science I | 3 | ||
| Fine Arts | 3 | Communication | 3 | ||
| FYS 100 - First Year Seminar | 3 | Humanities (CT, W) | 3 | ||
| MTH 127 - College Algebra - Expanded Version | 5 | MTH 132 - Pre-Calculus with Science Applications | 5 | ||
| or MTH 130 - College Algebra (P) | 3 | Social Science (CT) | 3 | ||
| UNI 101 - New Student Seminar | 1 | ||||
| Total CH | 13-15 | Total CH | 17 | ||
Sophomore Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||
| CS 120 - Computer Science II | 3 | CS 210 - Algorithm Analysis and Design | 3 | ||
| ENG 354 - Scientific and Technical Writing | 3 | CS 305 - Software Engineering I | 3 | ||
| ENGR 221 - Engineering Economy | 3 | ENG 201 - Advanced Composition | 3 | ||
| MTH 229 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 5 | MTH 220 - Discrete Structures | 3 | ||
| MTH 230 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 | ||||
| Total CH | 14 | Total CH | 16 | ||
Junior Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||
| CS 320 - Internetworking | 3 | CS 215 - Advanced Algorithm Analysis and Design | 3 | ||
| CS 330 - Operating Systems | 3 | CS 300 - Programming Languages | 3 | ||
| MTH 329 - Elementary Linear Algebra | 3 | CS 340 - Cyber Security | 3 | ||
| MTH 345 - Applied Probability and Statistics | 3 | CS 350 - Database Engineering | 3 | ||
| Science with Lab (see degree requirements) | 4 | Science with Lab (see degree requirements) | 4 | ||
| Total CH | 16 | Total CH | 16 | ||
Senior Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||
| CS 360 - Automata and Formal Languages | 3 | CS 490 - Senior Project I | 3 | ||
| CS Elective I | 3 | ENGR 204 - Introduction to Digital Systems | 4 | ||
| ENGR 451 - Introduction to Project Management | 3 | CS Elective II | 3 | ||
| MGT 320 - Principles of Management I | 3 | Free Elective (W) | 3 | ||
| Science with Lab (see degree requirements) | 4 | ||||
| Total CH | 16 | Total CH | 13 | ||
Legend:
CT - Critical Thinking designated course
P - Placement is based on ACT/SAT Math scores
W - Writing Intensive designated course
The current through Spring 2010 Pre-Computer Science program description is available here.
Curriculum Sheet
Here is a curriculum sheet (PDF format) that recaps the above information.
Program-Related Links
Prior Computer Science program description.
www.acm.org - Association for Computing Machinery
www.computer.org - IEEE Computer Society