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Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Pathway
Notes:
- The 300- and 400-level course sequence begins in fall quarter.
- Depending on prior courses, you may need to take additional quarters of general education courses. While most of these can be taken at any time, some must be taken before advancing to the upper division courses, and it's recommended all be taken prior to advancing. See the course sequences, below, for more details.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (180-190 credits)
The BSCS program aims to prepare graduates with a comprehensive understanding of computer science, equipping you with both theoretical and practical skills applicable to real-world computing challenges.
Completion of a transfer degree (associate in arts and sciences, associate in arts, or associate in computer science) with an emphasis in computer science, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and from an accredited college or university approved by WCC.
The following specific courses (or equivalents) must also be completed, each with a minimum C (2.0) grade:
CS& 141 - Computer science I Java (5 credits)
CS 145 - Computer science II (5 credits)
CS 240 - Data structure and algorithm fundamentals (5 credits)
MATH& 151 - Calculus I (5 credits)
The recommended path for students starting their higher education career is the associate in arts and sciences (DTA) with a focus on computer science (chemistry or physics option).
While not prerequisites, the following general education and lower-level core courses (or equivalents) are part of the BSCS degree. If you did not complete them as part of your associate degree, they will need to be completed for you to earn the BSCS.
CMST& 101 - Introduction to communication (5 credits)
or CMST& 210 - Interpersonal communication (5 credits)
or CMST 245 - Introduction to organizational communication (5 credits)
ENGL& 101 - English composition (5 credits)
ENGL& 235 - Technical writing (5 credits)
MATH& 141 - Precalculus I (5 credits)
MATH& 142 - Precalculus II (5 credits)
MATH& 152 - Calculus II (5 credits)
Humanities - Any humanities (H) courses, click for list (15 credits)
Social sciences - Any social sciences (SS) courses, click for list (15 credits)
Natural sciences - Choose the chemistry or physics sequence (10 credits)
CHEM& 161 - General chemistry with lab I (5 credits)
and CHEM& 162 - General chemistry with lab II (5 credits)
OR
PHYS& 221- Engineering physics I1 (5 credits)
and PHYS& 222 - Engineering physics II (5 credits)
1Note: PHYS& 221 prerequisite: one college level physics course (PHYS& 110 or PHYS& 114) or one year of high school physics.
| Description | This course introduces the fundamental principles of the theory of computation. The course covers automata theory, formal languages, computability, and computational complexity. It also integrates essential discrete mathematics concepts such as set theory, functions, relations, and logic. Students will explore what problems can be solved computationally and the inherent limitations of different models of computation. (LE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
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| Description | This introductory course offers students a foundational understanding of algorithms and data structures. Emphasizing both theoretical concepts and practical applications, students will learn how to analyze and implement basic algorithms and data structures. The course will cover essential topics such as algorithm efficiency, linear and non-linear data structures, and basic algorithm design techniques. Students will develop problem-solving skills essential for computer programming and software development. (LE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
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| Description | This course provides an introduction to computer architecture with an emphasis on understanding the hardware and software interface. Students will learn about the design and operation of modern computer systems, including instruction sets, memory hierarchies, and processor design. The course focuses on how system components interact to execute programs efficiently, providing insights from both a hardware and software perspective. (LE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
Action item: Meet with your advisor to build your degree plan.
| Description | Third of a three-course sequence designed for science, engineering, and other majors needing a full-year general chemistry sequence. Coversacids, bases, acid-base equilibria, solubility and complex-ion equilibria, thermodynamics and equilibrium, electrochemistry, and special topics. Lab work included. (MSPBl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of CHEM& 162 with minimum grade of C |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Functional understanding and appreciation for the foundations of electromagnetism and its applications. Topics include Coulomb's Law, electric potential, circuits and circuit theory, electrical devices, Ampere's Law, electric and magnetic flux, and induction. (MSPBl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of PHYS& 222 with a minimum grade of C |
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| Description | This advanced course builds upon the foundational concepts introduced in "Analysis of Algorithms and Data Structures 1." It delves deeper into complex data structures and sophisticated algorithms, emphasizing their design, analysis, and real-world applications. Students will explore advanced topics such as graph algorithms, dynamic programming, and computational geometry. Through hands-on programming assignments and projects, students will enhance their problem-solving skills and apply theoretical concepts to practical scenarios. (LE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of CS 305 with a minimum grade of C |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | This course delves into advanced topics in computer architecture, focusing on modern design techniques and performance optimization of computer systems. Students will explore pipelining, instruction-level parallelism, advanced memory systems, and multi-core processors. The course emphasizes the trade-offs involved in designing and implementing high-performance computer architectures, providing both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of CS 361 with a minimum grade of C |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
| Description | This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of programming languages, covering different paradigms such as procedural, object-oriented, functional, and logic programming. Students will explore language design, syntax and semantics, type systems, memory management, and control structures. The course emphasizes the comparison of various programming languages and the principles underlying their implementation. (LE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of CS 301 with a minimum grade of C |
| Course Attributes |
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CS 320 Object oriented programming (5 credits)
CS 367 Computer networks I (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Action item: Apply for internships.
Quarter 4 (summer)
CS 490 Computer science internship (0-10 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 0-10
CS 330 Database systems (5 credits)
CS 350 Secure software development (5 credits)
CS 451 Mobile devices programming fundamentals (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
| Description | Elementary study of the fundamentals of linear algebra. Course is intended for stronger math or science students. Course to include the study of systems of linear equations; matrices; n-dimensional vector space; linear independence, bases, subspaces and dimension. Introductionto determinants and the eigenvalue problem; applications. Graphing calculator required. (QSR,MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH& 151 with a minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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CS 340 Operating systems (5 credits)
CS 452 Introduction to artificial intelligence (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Action item: Apply for graduation.
CS 453 Introduction to embedded systems (5 credits)
CS 454 Introduction to robotics (5 credits)
CS 499 CS course capstone (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15