Undergraduate
Degree Programs
The College of Computer and Information Science offers a variety of degree programs:
- The BS in Computer Science
- The BS in Information Science
- The BA in Computer Science
- The Dual Major of CS and IS
- Many Dual Majors with Other Colleges
- The Combined BS and MS in Computer Science
Coming Attraction: It is anticipated that a program in Game Design will be created during Spring 2008 through the joint effort of Multimedia Studies, Art & Design, Music, and Computer & Information Science. Additional details will follow.
Cooperative Education: Almost all computer and information science majors do 12 or 18 months of co-op work experience during their 5 year degree program. This gives students the opportunity to practice computing and communication skills in the workplace; to try out different kinds of technology work at diverse types of companies; to deepen their knowledge of how to apply computing principles to practical problems; and to add impressive credentials to their resumes.
For the full details of all degree programs, click Programs Details in the menu to the left or click on the appropriate title below.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
The discipline of computer science draws on mathematics, logic, science, and engineering as well as on the principles of design. Using these resources, computer scientists develop program structures, ways to represent data, algorithms to examine and process data, and methods to perform other active behavior. Computer scientists also study the efficient use of computational resources, techniques to ensure robustness and security, methods for computing and communication within computers and across networks, and issues of human-computer interaction.
The BSCS program focuses on the fundamentals of program design, software development, computer organization, systems and networks, theories of computation, principles of languages, and advanced algorithms and data. The program also provides a solid grounding in science and math, a core of inquiry courses in arts, humanities, and social sciences, and an introduction to electrical engineering. Students may explore special fields in computer science through elective courses and co-op experiences.
Bachelor of Science in Information Science
Information science is the study of how information is acquired, organized, communicated and used by both people and computers. Why are many computer systems difficult to use? Why do many large information systems fail to meet the needs of the organizations they are designed to help? How can we realize the social benefits of information technology while avoiding the potential negative side-effects? To answer these questions and develop effective solutions requires both technical expertise and an understanding of the cognitive and cultural environment in which computers and people interact.
The BSIS program combines concepts and skills from computer science, behavioral/social science, and system design into an integrated curriculum. The required coursework covers information architecture; information system design and development; programming and software design; database design; systems and networks; information resource management; social informatics; quantitative and qualitative research methods; and human-computer interaction. A variety of elective courses in information and computer science, business, and the behavioral and social sciences complement the core curriculum. In a two semester senior capstone project, students utilize their experience in the co-op program to apply what they have learned in the classroom to analyze a real world situation in depth.
Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
The BACS program combines the discipline of computer science with a broad-based liberal arts education. In-depth technical subjects from the CS curriculum are combined with courses in the humanities, arts, and social sciences chosen from the College of Arts and Sciences core curriculum. Graduates of this program are well-qualified to appreciate the impact of technology on people and society and are able to communicate with users and interpret their needs for software and other technology.
The Dual Major in Computer and Information Science
The dual major in CS and IS combines all of the core requirements of the CS and IS degree programs into an intense educational experience that touches on both fundamental computing principles and the integration of these principles into systems that can serve the needs of people and the business, health, and governmental organizations in which people work. This degree program was designed at the request of several undergraduate students and is an example of the willingness of the college to respond to the ideas of its students.
The Dual Major Programs with Other Colleges
The presence of computers in every aspect of modern life and the development of the world-wide internet for rapid electronic communication amounts to a fundamental technical, social, and economic change. This change has created a need for professionals who understand both computing and information technologies and the role that these technologies play in advancing the work of other academic disciplines and in achieving the goals of business, health, and governmental organizations. The College of Computer and Information Science is responding to this need by developing creative dual major programs with other Northeastern academic units.
In addition to the internal dual major of CS and IS, the college has developed the following dual majors with other colleges:
- Duals of CS or IS and Business
- Duals of CS or IS and Cognitive Psychology
- Duals of CS with the sciences: Mathematics, Physics, or Biology
- Duals of CS with the arts: Multimedia, Music Technology, or Digital Art
Dual majors require about 65-75% of the coursework for each full major and possibly related courses in a third discipline. The dual major programs are carefully designed to emphasize the connections between computer and information science and the partner discipline. The dual majors with Mathematics, Physics, and Cognitive Psychology have been in place for several years and these programs have attracted many excellent students and have been quite successful. With the introduction of the dual majors with Business, Biology, Multimedia, Music Technology, and Digital Art we see an increasing number of students selecting a dual major as their academic option.
The dual major programs are a demanding experience but are ultimately quite rewarding for the talented students who choose to enroll in them.
The Combined BS and MS in Computer Science
The combined BS & MS in Computer Science is designed to use 4 Master's level courses (16 SH) to substitute for corresponding undergraduate courses and then to use 4 additional Master's level electives (16 more SH) to complete the BS & MS requirements. This enables a strong student to get both a BS & MS degree in 6 years and have a full co-op experience. Because this program is quite demanding, it has strong academic requirements.