Major Requirements
Total units required for the Bachelor of Science degree: 129
Total units required for the Computer Science major: 87-89 units.
Note: A minimum grade of C- is required in all courses applied to the Computer Science degree. Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.
Whenever possible, CSC course numbers below link to full course outlines in PDF format. (Although they are the most recent formal descriptions available, they may not reflect the current textbooks being used or the faculty member currently teaching the course. Students should check with the department office if they have questions about textbooks or instructors.)
Courses without full outlines are linked to catalog descriptions.
A. Required Lower Division Courses (15 Units)
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Programming Concepts and Methdology I (CSC 10 or programming experience) | |
3 |
Programming Concepts and Methodology II (CSC 15) | |
3 |
Discrete Structures for Computer Science (MATH 29 and CSC 20; CSC 20 may be taken concurrently | |
3 |
Introduction to Computer Architecture (CSC 15) | |
3 |
Introduction to Systems Programming in UNIX (CSC 20, CSC 35) |
B. Required Mathematics Courses (15-16 units)
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
4 |
Calculus I (MATH 29 or four years of high school mathematics which include two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and one year of mathematical analysis; completion of Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) requirement and Pre-Calculus Diagnostic Test) | |
4 |
Calculus II (MATH 30 or appropriate high school based AP credit) | |
4 |
Introduction to Probability and Statistics (MATH 26A, MATH 30, or appropriate high school based AP credit) | |
3-4 |
Select one of the following: |
|
| Calculus III (MATH 31) | ||
| Differential Equations for Science and Engineering (MATH 31) | ||
| Applied Linear Algebra (MATH 26B or MATH 31) | ||
| Number Theory (MATH 31) | ||
| Introduction to Techniques of Operations Research (MATH 31; STAT 50, STAT 103, or STAT 115A; MATH 31 may be taken concurrently) | ||
OR |
Another advanced MATH course with CSC Department approval | |
C. Required Science Courses (11-13 units)
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
4 |
General Physics: Mechanics (MATH 30, MATH 31, or equivalent certificated high school courses; MATH 31 may be taken concurrently) | |
4 |
General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics (MATH 31, PHYS 11A) | |
3-5 |
Select one of the following (the course chosen cannot also be used to satisfy the General Education B2 requirement): |
|
| Basic Biological Concepts | ||
| Animal Biology (BIO 10) | ||
| Plant Biology (BIO 10) | ||
| Introductory Human Anatomy (BIO 10, BIO 20, or instructor permission) | ||
| The Natural History of Plants (a college biology course) | ||
| Plants and Civilization (BIO 10 or equivalent) | ||
| Physiology of Human Reproduction (BIO 10, BIO 20, or instructor permission) | ||
| Introduction to Neuroscience (PSYC 1, PSYC 101, physiology and chemistry background strongly recommended), cross-listed with PYSC 155 | ||
| Biology of Aging (BIO 10 or BIO 20) | ||
| General Chemistry (high school algebra (2 years) and high school chemistry, or equivalent) | ||
| Modeling and Experimental Design (MATH 31, STAT 50, proficiency in a programming language); if chosen for a science elective, cannot also be used for a computer science elective | ||
| Introduction to Econometrics (ECON 1A, ECON 1B, ECON 140; ECON 100A or ECON 100B recommended) | ||
| Introductory Circuit Analysis (PHYS 11C, MATH 45; either may be taken concurrently) | ||
| Engineering Materials (PHYS 11A, CHEM 1A) | ||
| General Physics: Heat, Light, Sound (MATH 31, PHYS 11A) | ||
| Electronics and Instrumentation (PHYS 11C or PHYS 5B with instructor permission) | ||
Note: To satisfy the requirements of CAC, the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET which accredits Computer Science programs, students must take a total of four courses in a scientific discipline and/or quantitative science. The courses in a scientific discipline must be those typically taken by the majors in that discipline. As part of this requirement a two-semester sequence in a laboratory science must be included (Physics 11A and 11C satisfies this requirement). Students ordinarily complete one of the remaining two courses required by choosing an appropriate course in General Education Category B2 (BIO 10 is recommended). The second course is expected to be chosen from the list above. Hence, students will have taken a total of four courses in this category.
D. Required Upper Division Courses (37 units)
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis (CSC 20, CSC 28; CSC 28 may be taken concurrently) | |
3 |
Computer Software Engineering (CSC 130; may be taken concurrently) | |
3 |
Computing Theory (CSC 28, CSC 130; CSC 130 may be taken concurrently) | |
3 |
Object-Oriented Computer Graphics Programming (CSC 130, CSC 131) | |
3 |
Database Management and File Organization (CSC 130) | |
3 |
Programming Languages (CSC 35, CSC 132) | |
4 |
Computer Organization (CSC 28, CSC 35, CSC 130) | |
3 |
Computer Networks and Internets (CSC 35, CSC 60, CSC 130) | |
3 |
Operating System Principles (CSC 60, CSC 137, or equivalents) | |
2 |
Senior Project: Part I (Senior status; passing score on the Writing Placement for Juniors (WPJ); CSC 130, CSC 131, and four additional 3-unit upper-division CSC courses that fulfill the major requirements, excluding CSC 192, CSC 194, CSC 195, CSC 195A, CSC 198, and CSC 199) | |
2 |
Senior Project: Part II (CSC 190) | |
3 |
Business and Computer Ethics | |
2 |
Select 2 units from the following: |
|
| Career Planning (1 unit maximum) (CSC 190, may be taken concurrently) | ||
| Computer Science Seminar (upper division or grad status in CSC) | ||
| Field Work in Computer Science | ||
| Professional Practice | ||
| Co-curricular Activities in Computer Science | ||
| Special Problems | ||
E. Electives (9 units)
In addition to the required lower-division and upper-division Computer Science courses, Computer Science majors must take three additional elective courses, totaling at least nine units, chosen from undergraduate Computer Science courses numbered CSC 140 or above (excluding CSC 192, CSC 194, CSC 195, CSC 195A-D, CSC 198, and CSC 199). A variety of combinations is acceptable, but it is required that these elective courses be chosen with advisor consultation and approval. With advance written approval from their advisor, the course instructor, and the Department Chair, students with a GPA of 3.0 or better may take graduate courses as electives. In any case students must meet the prerequisite stated in the catalog prior to taking any elective course.
