Department of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Bachelor's Curriculum and Minor Concentration as of 01 January 2003

Information subject to change without notice.

Because computer science is a young and rapidly developing field, the curriculum must be revised frequently to keep it up-to-date. This description reflects the state of the curriculum as of January 2003. The most recent description is usually available at http://www.cs.purdue.edu. The Computer Sciences Undergraduate Office and the Science Counseling Office are other sources of information.

The Department of Computer Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program. An honors designation is available for students who fulfill requirements beyond those for the B.S. Qualified students in the bachelor's program may participate in the Cooperative Education Program.

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

The following requirements include the B.S. degree requirements of the School of Science. One hundred twenty-four credits are required. Mathematics courses below the level of MA 161 cannot be used to satisfy any degree requirements.

The typical semesters in which the courses listed below are taken are given in parentheses after the credit.

Computer Sciences 38 credits


All new computer sciences majors are strongly urged to take CS 192, Freshman Resources Seminar. 1 cr. (sem. 1)

Core requirements:
CS 180, Programming I, 4 cr. (sem. 1)
CS 182, Foundations of Computer Science, 3 cr. (sem. 2)
CS 240, Programming Laboratory (C), 3 cr. (sem. 2-4)
CS 250, Computer Architecture, 4 cr. (sem. 3-4)
CS 251, Data Structures, 3 cr. (sem. 3-4)
CS 352, Compilers: Principles and Practice, 3 cr. (sem. 5-6)
CS 354, Operating Systems, 3 cr. (sem. 5-6)
CS 381, Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms, 3 cr. (sem. 5-6)

Four other computer science courses at or above the 300 level. 12 cr. total (sem. 4-8)

Grades of A, B, or C are required in the courses used to fulfill the above requirements.

Mathematics 15-18 credits

Calculus: One of the sequences terminating with MA 174, 182, 261, or 271. 12-15 cr. (sem. 1-3)
Linear algebra: MA 265 or 350 or 351. 3 cr. (sem. 4-5)

Science 12-18 credits

Four approved courses in biology, chemistry, earth and atmospheric sciences, physics, astronomy, or electrical engineering. Introduction to Digital System Design (EE 270, 4 cr.) and Introduction to Computer Engineering (EE 362, 4 cr.) are permitted. 12-18 cr. total (sem. 3-6)

Additional Requirements 33-40 credits

English composition: ENGL 101 and 102 or ENGL 103. 3-6 cr. (sem. 1-2)
Modern foreign language: See the School of Science bulletin for requirements. 12-16 cr. (sem. 1-4)
Humanities and social sciences: See the School of Science bulletin for requirements. 18 cr. (sem. 3-8)

Free Electives 10-26 credits

Free electives may be selected from any department of the University. Courses from departments other than Computer Sciences must be approved by the student's academic counselor.

Free elective credit is not allowed for courses that significantly overlap courses taken to fulfill departmental degree requirements. This excludes, in particular, introductory programming courses regardless of the language used.

Honors

The Department of Computer Sciences awards honors to graduating students who have satisfied the requirements listed below. Students enter the CS Honors Program in one of three ways:
  1. By invitation to the Science Freshman Honors Program upon admission.
  2. By invitation to the Science Freshman Honors Program after their first semester.
  3. By application. Students may request admission to the Computer Sciences Honors Program to be effective in the semester following the completion of their lower-division core courses. The Undergraduate Committee may grant admission if they have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average, at least a 3.60 cumulative grade point average in computer science courses, and the recommendation of their advisor.

Honors students must maintain the above grade point requirements to remain in the honors program.

Honors students are encouraged, but not required, to take CS 197, Freshman Honors Seminar (class 1, credit 1, pass/not pass) in the fall and spring semesters of their freshman year. The seminar covers the history, context, and future of computer science.

Course requirements. ("Approved" means approved by the Computer Sciences Undergraduate Committee for the purpose of achieving honors.)

  1. The "Four other computer science courses at or above the 300 level" required for the bachelor's degree must include CS 497 (see below) and an approved 500-level course.

  2. Either MA 350 or MA 351, Elementary Linear Algebra. MA 350 is the honors version.

  3. An approved mathematics course beyond MA 351 or an approved statistics course beyond STAT 511.

  4. EE 270, Introduction to Digital System Design.

  5. CS 397, Honors Seminar (no credit, eight meetings, offered each semester). Honors students should typically take CS 397 the semester before taking CS 497. CS 397 is required to be taken only once. CS 397 may be taken (with the permission of their advisor) by students not yet admitted to the honors program to help determine whether to apply to the program. CS 397 meetings focus on what is involved in research, how to select a research project, and presentations by CS 497 students on their research projects.

  6. CS 497, Honors Research Project (credit 3, offered each semester). Each student in the honors program must complete a group research project directed by Computer Sciences faculty members. Each group must submit a technical report describing its work and results and must also give a short presentation in CS 397. One semester of the project may be counted as one of the "four computer science courses at or above the 300 level" required for the bachelor's degree. One more semester, if approved by the Undergraduate Committee, can be used as a free elective.

  7. Honors students may use CS 490 courses only as free electives.

Cooperative Education Program

The department participates in the Cooperative Education Program described in the School of Science bulletin.

To be eligible for the Cooperative Education Program, students must:

  1. Be in the computer sciences bachelor's degree program.
  2. Have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in computer sciences courses.
  3. Have an overall grade point average of at least 2.8.
Students are normally expected to complete CS 180, 182, and 240 before their first work session.

For additional information, please see http://www.cs.purdue.edu/courses/co-op.html or send email to jackson@cs.purdue.edu .

Minor Concentration in Computer Sciences

To obtain a minor concentration in Computer Sciences, students must pass, with grades of A, B, or C, CS 180, 182, 240, 250, and 251.

Purdue is an equal access / equal opportunity university.

wjg@cs.purdue.edu

2003.06.17