Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Major code BS7260

Computer science involves the design, development, analysis, and maintenance of the computer software that controls complex computer systems and networks. Computer scientists work with all aspects of computer software, including graphics, multimedia, the World Wide Web, e-mail, compilers, software engineering, artificial intelligence, theory of computer algorithms, operating systems, database systems, and internet applications.

While writing programs is an important function for computer scientists, they do much more than that. They analyze the needs of software users, develop algorithms and interfaces to meet those needs, and work in small groups to design software components. They must be proficient at problem solving, mathematical reasoning, logical thinking, and interpersonal communication. The computer science program at Ohio University, because of its strong ties with mathematics and engineering, emphasizes both the mathematical and the practical components of computer science.

The computer science program has three major objectives for its undergraduate students:

• Depth and Breadth: Produce graduates that will have the theoreticalk, practical, and professional knowledge for them to be immediately produtive among entering the workforce or advanced study;
  
• Staying Current: Produce graduates that will maintain and develop the knowledge and the skills needed to identify, formulate, and solve problems throughout their career; and
  
• Professionalism: Produce graduates that exhibit an understanding of the necessity for personal integrity, ethical behavior, and cultural awareness.

Program educational objectives are statements that describe the expected accomplishments of graduates during the first few years after graduation.

Computer science students must fulfill the University's General Education Requirements and the distribution requirement from the College of Arts and Sciences. Students are also required to complete one year of foreign language. Students then have the option of completing four technical courses (option E) or an additional year of foreign language (option L). (See the College of Arts and Sciences for requirement waiver policy for foreign languages taken in high school.) There are 10 courses in mathematics, engineering and basic sciences, which provide a foundation for the 14 required courses in computer science and electrical engineering. These courses culminate with CS 456 where students are required to complete a software project. Students take four technical elective courses in which they can explore areas of computer science at an advanced level. During the course of their program, students work with several programming languages using both personal computers and UNIX workstations.

Computer science majors must complete 192 hours of coursework for an average of 16 hours a quarter over four years of undergraduate study. Credit earned in approved internship or co-op programs may be applied toward graduation requirements.

Option E (1 year foreign language,
1 year technical courses)

Freshman Fall

MATH 263A          Calculus                            4

                   Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)       3-5 
 
                   Freshman composition ( 2 
)            5

                   Foreign language ( 3 
)                4 WinterCS 240A            Intro to Computer Sci. ( 4 
)          5

MATH 263B          Calculus                            4

CS 265             Computer Ethics                     1

                   Foreign Language ( 3 
)                4

EE 102             Intro to CPE                        4 SpringCS 240B            Intro to Computer Sci.              4

MATH 263C          Calculus                            4

                   Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)       3-5  

                   Foreign language ( 3 
)                4 Sophomore FallCS 240C            Intro to Computer Sci.              4

MATH 263D          Calculus                            4

PHYS 251           General Physics                     5

                   Additional sci. course  ( 1 
)       3-5 WinterCS 300             Intro to Discrete Structures        5

MATH 410           Matrix Theory                       4

PHYS 252           General Physics                     5 SpringCS 361             Data Structures                     5

MATH 340           Differential Equations ( 3 
)          4

PHYS 253           General Physics                     5 Junior FallCS 404             Design & Anal. of Algs.             5

EE 371             Applied Prob. and Stats.            3

EE 304             Basic Elec. Lab I                   3

EE 313             Basic Elec. Engr. I                 3

                   Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)       3-5 WinterCS 320             Org. of Prog. Languages             5

EE 314             Basic Elec. Engr. II                3

                   Junior Composition ( 2 
)              4

EE 395A            ECE Design I                        4 SpringCS 406             Computation Theory                  5

CS 456             Software Design and Dev.            5

                   Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)       3-5 Senior FallCS 442             Op. Sys. and Comp. Arch. I          5

                   Technical elective ( 6 
)              5  
                  
                   Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)      6-10 WinterTechnical elective ( 6 
)              5   
 
                   Tier III ( 2 
)                        4

                   Soc. sci or humanities ( 5 
3-5 SpringTechnical electives ( 6 
)          6-10

                   Free elective                     1-3 Option L (2 years foreign language) Freshman FallMath 263A          Calculus                            4

                   Science sequence ( 1 
)                5

                   Freshmen composition ( 2 
)            5

                   Foreign Language ( 3 
)                4 WinterCS 240A            Intro to Computer Sci.( 4 
)           5 

MATH 263B          Calculus                            4

                   Foreign language( 3 
)                 4

EE 102             Intro to CPE                        4 SpringCS 240B            Intro to Computer Sci.              4 

MATH 263C          Calculus                            4

                   Science sequence( 1 
)               4-5

                   Foreign language ( 3 
)                4 Sophomore FallCS 240C            Intro to Computer Sci.              4

MATH 263D          Calculus                            4

                   Foreign language ( 3 
)                4

                   Science sequence ( 1 
)                5 WinterCS 300             Intro to Discrete Structures        5

MATH 410           Matrix Theory                       4

CS 265             Computer Ethics                     1

                   Foreign language ( 3 
)                4

                   Additional sci. course ( 1 
)          5 SpringCS 361             Data Structures                     5

                   Soc. sci.or humanities( 5 
)         3-5 

                   Foreign language( 3 
)                 4 Junior FallCS 404             Design & Anal. of Algs.             5 

EE 371             Applied Prob. and Stats.            3

                   Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)      6-10 WinterCS 320             Org. of Prog. Languages             5

                   Junior Composition( 2 
)               4

                   Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)       3-5

EE 395A            ECE Design 1                        4 SpringCS 406             Computation Theory                  5

CS 456             Software Design and Dev.            5

                   Soc. sci. or humanities           3-5 Senior FallCS 442              Op. Sys. and Comp. Arch. 1         5

                    Technical elective ( 6 
)             5

                    Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)     6-10 WinterTechnical elective ( 6 
)             5

                    Tier III( 2 
)                        4

                    Soc. sci. or humanities ( 5 
)      3-5 SpringTechnical elective( 6 
)              5

                    Technical elective( 6 
)              5

                    Free elective                    1-3

1Computer science majors must complete a year-long laboratory science sequence: either PHYS 251, 252, and 253 or CHEM 151, 152, and (123 or 153). *NOTE THAT STUDENTS TAKING OPTION E, ABOVE, MUST TAKE THE PHYSICS SEQUENCE. In addition, students must complete one additional natural science course. Eligible courses include BIOS 170, 171, 275; CHEM 151 (if not taken to satisfy the year-long sequence requirement), 241, 305, 351, 453; PBIO 110, 111, 247, 248; GEOL 101, 480; ASTR 305; PHSY 251 (if not taken to satisfy year-long sequence requirement), 311, 351, 411, 423, 427. PHYS 251 has a prerequisite of MATH 263A, so you may need to wait until winter quarter to start the PHYS sequence.

2The Tier I freshman composition requirement can be satisfied any quarter of the freshman year. The Tier I junior composition requirement can be satisfied in any quarter of the junior year; ENG 305J is preferred. The Tier III requirement can be satisfied in any quarter of the senior year.

3Computer science majors must take either two years of foreign language or one year of foreign language and MATH 340, EE 313, EE 314, and EE 304. Two or three years of high school foreign language fulfill one year of the foreign language requirement; four or more years of high school foreign language fulfil two years of the foreign language requirement.

4Students without experience in computer programming are encouraged to take CS 210 Computer Programming I before taking CS 240A.

5Computer Science majors have the same humanities and social science requirements as the College of Arts and Sciences (see College of Arts and Sciences "College Requirements" section). The natural science portion of the requirements is fulfiled by required coursework in mathematics and science. Careful selection of courses under this requirement will also fulfill University Tier II requirements.

6Computer science technical electives can be satisfied at any time; four classes are required. Students can select from MATH 444, MATH 445, EE 467, EE 468, CS 410, CS 444, CS 458, CS 462, CS 475, CS 480.