Computer Science, B.S.
Admission and Transfer Criteria
Minimum requirements for admission into the Computer Science major for first-time freshmen are:
- an ACT composite score of 21 (composite SAT of 1060) and
- an ACT mathematics score of 24 (Math SAT of 570).
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 Beginning Composition (or equivalent) with a grade of C, and
- completion of MTH 132 Precalculus with Sci Applica, or MTH 127 College Algebra-Expanded/MTH 130 College Algebra and MTH 132 Precalculus with Sci Applica (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 science 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 and an ACT mathematics score of 19-23 (composite SAT of 990; Math SAT of 510-560). Transfer students must be eligible for MTH 127 College Algebra-Expanded/MTH 130 College Algebra and MTH 132 Precalculus with Sci Applica.
Students in Pre-Computer Science must complete the criteria for transfer students to Computer Science. Registration for Computer Science courses will be limited until transfer criteria are met.
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MTH 229 | Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | 5 |
| Critical Thinking Course | 3 | |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 229 | Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | 5 |
| Sci w/Lab Core II Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Core II Social Studies | 3 | |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Additional Univeristy Requirements | ||
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Multicultural or International | 3 | |
| CS 490 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Major-Specific | ||
| MTH 220 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| MTH 229 | Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | 5 |
| MTH 230 | Calculus/Analytic Geom II | 4 |
| MTH 329 | Elementary Linear Algebra | 3 |
| STA 345 | Applied Prob and Stat | 3 |
| CS 110 | Computer Science I | 3 |
| CS 120 | Computer Science II | 3 |
| CS 210 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 215 | Adv Data Struct and Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 300 | Programming Languages | 3 |
| CS 305 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CS 310 | Software Engineering II | 3 |
| CS 320 | Internetworking | 3 |
| CS 330 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS 360 | Automata and Formal Languages | 3 |
| CS 402 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CS 410 | Database Engineering | 3 |
| CS 430 | Cyber Security | 3 |
| CS 490 | Senior Project | 3 |
| ENGR 221 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
| ENG 354 | Scientific & Tech Writing | 3 |
| MGT 320 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| CS Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Software Quality Assurance | ||
| Computer Graphics | ||
| High Performance Computing | ||
| Computing for Bioinformatics | ||
| Computational Intelligence | ||
| Cyber Risk | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Systems Engineering | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Science w/ Lab | ||
| Select three of the following with labs: | 12 | |
| Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Lab (or above) | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chem Lab I (or above) | ||
| The Dynamic Earth and Earth Materials Lab (or above) | ||
| College Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory (or above) | ||
| University Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory (or above) | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
Major Information
- Students are required to know and track their degree requirements for graduation or for entrance to a professional school.
- Coursework listed as “free elective” may vary for each student. Students are encouraged to use elective hours toward a minor or toward prerequisites.
- Course offerings and course attributes are subject to change each semester. Please consult each semester’s schedule of courses for availability and attributes.
Semester Plan
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.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| CS 110 | Computer Science I | 3 |
| MTH 229 | Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | 5 |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CS 120 | Computer Science II | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MTH 220 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| MTH 230 | Calculus/Analytic Geom II | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CS 210 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| ENG 354 | Scientific & Tech Writing | 3 |
| MTH 329 | Elementary Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Core II Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Core II Social Science (CT, M/I) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CS 215 | Adv Data Struct and Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 300 | Programming Languages | 3 |
| STA 345 | Applied Prob and Stat | 3 |
| Science w/ Lab | 4 | |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CS 305 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CS 320 | Internetworking | 3 |
| CS 330 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| MGT 320 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| Core II Humanities (WI) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CS 310 | Software Engineering II | 3 |
| CS 402 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CS 430 | Cyber Security | 3 |
| CS 410 | Database Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 221 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CS Elective | 3 | |
| Science w/ Lab | 4 | |
| CS 360 | Automata and Formal Languages | 3 |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CS 490 | Senior Project (C) | 3 |
| CS Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |