Department website: https://lcsee.statler.wvu.edu/
Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (B.S.C.S.)
Nature of the Program
Computer science is a discipline that involves the understanding and design of computational processes. The discipline ranges from a theoretical study of algorithms and information processing in general, to a practical design of efficient and reliable software that meets given specifications. This differs from most physical sciences, engineering included, that separate theoretical underpinnings of the science from applications within it. The computer science major prepares students for careers in fields such as software development, cybersecurity, machine learning, data analytics, virtual reality, and human computer interfaces. The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Computer Science.
Program Educational Objectives
The Program Educational Objectives (PEO) of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (B.S.C.S.) program at West Virginia University is to produce graduates who will apply their knowledge and skills to achieve success in their careers in industry, research, government service or graduate study. It is expected that in the first five years after graduation our graduate will achieve success and proficiency in their profession, be recognized as leaders, and contribute to the well-being of society.
Click here to view the Suggested Plan of Study
Curriculum in Computer Science
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
Students must meet the following criteria to qualify for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree:
- Complete a minimum of 122 credit hours
- Satisfy WVU's undergraduate degree requirements
- Satisfy Statler College's undergraduate degree requirements
- Complete all courses listed in the curriculum requirements with the required minimum grades
- Attain an overall grade point average of 2.00 or better
- Attain a WVU grade point average of 2.00 or better
- Attain a Statler grade point average of 2.00 or better
- A maximum of one math or science courses with a grade of D+, D, or D- may apply towards a Statler College degree
- Complete a survey regarding their academic and professional experiences at WVU, as well as post-graduation job placement or continuing education plans.
The Statler GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU with a subject code within Statler College (BIOM, BMEG, CE, CHE, CPE, CS, CSEE, CYBE, EE, ENGR, ENVE, ETEC, IENG, IH&S, MAE, MINE, PDA, PNGE, ROBE, SAFM, SENG) excluding ENGR 140, ENGR 150, and CS 101. The WVU GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU. The Overall GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU and transfer work.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 19 | |
| Fundamentals of Engineering Requirements | 2 | |
| Math and Science Requirements | 28 | |
| Computer Science Program Requirements | 73 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 | 18 | |
| ENGR 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Fundamentals of Engineering Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all Fundamentals of Engineering courses. | ||
| ENGR 101 | Engineering Problem Solving 1 | 2 |
| Total Hours | 2 | |
Math and Science Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all Math and Science courses except CS 220, MATH 303, and MATH 378. | ||
| Core Requirements | ||
| Calculus 1 (GEF 3): | 4 | |
| Calculus 1 | ||
| Calculus 1a with Precalculus and Calculus 1b with Precalculus | ||
| MATH 156 | Calculus 2 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| STAT 215 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics (GEF 8) | 3 |
| Lab Science Electives I (GEF 2B) & II (GEF 8): Select two GEF 2B courses and accompanying labs | 8 | |
| Math and Statistics Elective: Select one MATH course numbered 251 or higher or STAT course numbered 300 or higher | 3 | |
| Discrete Mathematics Requirement: Select one option from below: | 6 | |
| Option A | ||
| Discrete Mathematics | ||
Elective: Select one additional MATH course numbered 251 or higher or STAT course numbered 300 or higher | ||
| Option B | ||
| Introduction to the Concepts of Mathematics | ||
| Discrete Mathematics | ||
| Total Hours | 28 | |
Computer Science Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in CS 110, CS 110L, CS 111, and CS 111L. | ||
| CS 110 & 110L | Introduction to Computer Science and Introduction to Computer Science Laboratory | 4 |
| CS 111 & 111L | Introduction to Data Structures and Introduction to Data Structures Laboratory | 4 |
| CS 210 | File and Data Structures | 4 |
| CS 310 | Principles of Programming Languages | 3 |
| CS 320 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 330 & 330L | Introduction to Software Engineering and Introduction to Software Engineering Laboratory | 4 |
| CS 350 | Computer System Concepts | 3 |
| CS 410 | Compiler Construction | 3 |
| or CS 422 | Automata Theory | |
| CS 450 | Operating Systems Structure | 4 |
| CPE 271 & 271L | Introduction to Digital Logic Design and Digital Logic Laboratory | 4 |
| CPE 310 | Microprocessor Systems | 3 |
| CPE 453 | Data and Computer Communications | 3 |
| CSEE 380 | Engineering for Societal Impact | 2 |
| CSEE 480S | Capstone Project - Design | 2 |
| or CSEE 480 | Capstone Project - Design | |
| CSEE 481S | Capstone Project - Implementation | 3 |
| or CSEE 481 | Capstone Project - Implementation | |
| WRIT 304 | Business and Professional Writing | 3 |
| or WRIT 305 | Technical Writing | |
| or WRIT 403 | Grant Proposal Writing for Community & Industry | |
| Free Elective *, **, *** | 3 | |
| CS Elective (400-level or higher course in CS subject code) **, *** | 3 | |
| Lane Department Electives (300-level or higher courses in BIOM, CPE, CS, CSEE, CYBE, EE, or ROBE subject codes) *, **, *** | 12 | |
| Statler College Elective (Course offered by Statler College) **, *** | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 73 | |
- *
Students choosing an AOE in Cybersecurity are not required to fulfill the Free Elective requirement and must choose only a total of 3 credits from Lane Departmental Electives.
- **
A maximum of 3 credits from any applicable 490 course may be used toward elective requirements.
- ***
- A maximum of 3 credits from any applicable 491 course may be used toward elective requirements.
Suggested Plan of Study
It is important for students to take courses in the order specified as closely as possible; all prerequisites and concurrent requirements must be observed. A typical B.S. degree program that completes degree requirements in four years is as follows.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 110 & 110L | 4 | CS 111 & 111L | 4 |
| ENGR 101 | 2 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| ENGR 191 | 1 | MATH 156 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | Lab Science Elective II (GEF 8) | 4 |
| Lab Science Elective I (GEF 2B) | 4 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 210 | 4 | CPE 271 & 271L | 4 |
| CS 330 & 330L | 4 | STAT 215 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| GEF 4 | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| Discrete Mathematics Requirement Course | 3 | Discrete Mathematics Requirement Course | 3 |
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 310 | 3 | CPE 310 | 3 |
| CS 320 | 3 | CSEE 380 | 2 |
| CS 350 | 3 | Lane Department Elective | 3 |
| WRIT 304, 305, or 403 | 3 | Lane Department Elective | 3 |
| Lane Department Elective | 3 | Math and Statistics Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 410 or 422 | 3 | CSEE 481S | 3 |
| CS 450 | 4 | Lane Department Elective | 3 |
| CPE 453 | 3 | CS Elective | 3 |
| CSEE 480S | 2 | Free Elective | 3 |
| GEF 7 | 3 | Statler College Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 122 | |||
Area of Emphasis
- Cybersecurity
Area of Emphasis in Cybersecurity
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CPE 453 | Data and Computer Communications | 3 |
| CYBE 366 | Secure Software Development | 3 |
| CYBE 465 | Cybersecurity Principles and Practice | 3 |
| CYBE 467 | Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computer Incident Response | ||
| Host Based Cyber Defense | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Student Outcomes
Upon graduation, all Bachelor of Science students in Computer Science will have an ability to:
- Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
- Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.