Computer Science (BSCS) Degree Requirements Effective Fall 2007

The degree requirements provided here are for convenience only. The official statement of BSCS degree requirements is contained in the University of Idaho Catalog which is available at the Registrar's web site. In the event of conflict between material presented in the CS Department's web site and the University of Idaho catalog, the catalog shall prevail.

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Degree Requirements

Total Credit Requirements: The minimum number of credits for the degree is 128, not counting Engl 101, Math 143, and other courses that might be required to remove basic deficiencies in college preparation.

Required course work includes the university requirements for a comprehensive general education (see regulation J-3) and degree specific requirements as follows:

General Education and Broadening(30 cr):
    Engl 102 College Writing and Rhetoric (3 cr)
    Comm 101 Fundamentals of Public Speaking (2 cr)
    Engl 317 Technical Writing (3 cr)
    U of I General Core Studies (18 cr). See below for more information.
    Broadening Electives (4 cr). See the list below for more details.

Computer Science (55 cr)
    CS 105 Computer Science as a Profession (2 cr)
    CS 120 Computer Science I (4 cr)
    CS 121 Computer Science II (4 cr)
    CS 150 Computer Organization and Architecture (3 cr)
    CS 210 Computing Languages (3 cr)
    CS 240 Computer Operating Systems (3 cr)
    CS 270 System Software (3 cr)
    CS 383 Software Engineering I (3 cr)
    CS 384 Software Engineering II (3 cr)
    CS 385 Theory of Computation (3 cr)
    CS 395 Analysis of Algorithms (3 cr)
    CS 401 Contemporary Issues in Computer Science (1 cr)
    CS 445 Compiler and Translator Design (4 cr)
    CS 481 Senior Capstone Design (4 cr)
    Computer Science Electives (12 cr): Any upper-division CS course except 499 and those
        specifically required for the degree.

Math and Statistics (20 cr)
    Math 170 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4 cr)
    Math 175 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (4 cr)
    Math 176 Discrete Mathematics (3 cr)
    Math 330 Linear Algebra (3 cr)
    Stat 301 Probability and Statistics (3 cr)
    Mathematics Elective (3 cr): Math 275 or any upper-division Math or Stat course except
        Stat 301, Math 330, 400, 404, 499, and 513-519.

Science (12 cr)
    One of the following laboratory science sequences (8-9 cr):
        Biol 115 Cells and the Evolution of Life and Biol 116 Organisms and Environments (8 cr)
        Chem 111 Principles of Chemistry I and Chem 112 Principles of Chemistry II (9 cr)
        Phys 211 Engineering Physics I and Phys 212 Engineering Physics II (8 cr)
        Phys 211 Engineering Physics I and Phys 213 Engineering Physics III (8 cr)
    Science electives (3 - 4 cr): Science courses selected from the list below.

Free Electives (11 cr)
    Any course offered for credit by the University except those precluded from being used
    towards a degree by the University or the College of Engineering regulations.

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General Core Studies

The General Cores Studies (GCS) area has multiple requirements. Individual courses taken in the GCS area can be used to satisfy more than one GCS area. In summary the GCS area requires a total of at least 18 credits distributed as follows:

See the Core Curriculum section of the Registrar's web site for additional information.

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Broadening Electives

Broadening electives are courses in the humanities, social sciences, arts and other academic disciplines that serve to broaden the background of the student. They exclude courses in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, the sciences, physical education, and courses within disciplines that provide significant emphasis on computers, computer use, and computer applications. Vocational courses are also excluded. Students should consult with their advisor to ensure that courses selected to meet this requirement will be accepted by the department. Click here for a list of disciplines and courses that qualify as broadening electives.

During a review and assessment of our degree requirements against the requirements for an ABET accredited computer science program we discovered an administrative oversight in the publication of the 2007 catalog. ABET Standard IV-3 requires "at least 30 semester hours of study in humanities, social sciences, arts and other disciplines that serve to broaden the background of the student." As part of the University of Idaho Core Curriculum all students are required to complete course work in Communications and General Core Studies which we apply towards the 30 credit ABET standard. Our curriculum also enumerates specific additional course work that we apply to this category. In the presentation of the degree requirements shown above we have added a specific call out of 4 credits of Broadening Electives to reach the credit level specified by ABET. Students and advisors are strongly encouraged to develop degree plans and to enroll in courses that will result in fulfillment of this requirement.

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Science Electives

The program requires completion of 4 credits of science electives. Science electives must be taken in recognized scientific disciplines and must be courses that enhance the student's ability to apply the scientific method. Disciplines and specific courses listed below may be used to satisfy this requirement:

• Biology - all courses except 102
• Chemistry - all courses except 100 and 101
• Entomology - only 211
• Environmental Science - only 101 and 102
• Geography - only 100, 301 or 401
• Geology - all courses
• Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry - all courses
• Physics - all courses except 110, 200, 400, and 403

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8-semester Plan:

Click here to see a model, 8 semester schedule of courses that satisfies the 2007 Curriculum requirements.

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Course Sequence and Prerequisite Map

Click here to see the normal course sequence based on prerequisites.

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Eligibility for 200-level Courses

Students majoring in computer science must earn a grade of C or better, with a 2.50 GPA or higher, in CS 120, 121, and 150 and a C or better in Math 176 before registration is permitted in 200-level CS courses.

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Eligibility for Upper Division Courses

Students majoring in computer science must earn a grade of C or better in CS 210, 240, 270, and Math 170 and 175 before registration is permitted in upper-division CS courses.

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Academic Advising

Students must consult with their advisor each semester prior to registration. This helps ensure that degree requirements and career objectives are met. A list of students and their academic advisor is posted outside the CS Department's Main Office, JEB 236. You can also determine who is your academic advisor by logging in to your VandalWeb account.

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