Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Nature of the Program
Computer scientists are distinguished from other computer professionals, such as information technology specialists and system administrators, by the higher level of theoretical expertise, the innovation they apply to complex problems, and the extensive knowledge and experience they possess in software engineering. A computer scientist can often expect to work on multidisciplinary projects such as robotics, human - computer interaction, advanced computer graphics, and artificial intelligence based systems.
The first two years of study in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BS CS) program focus on the fundamentals of computer science concepts and provide a firm foundation in mathematics. During the junior and senior years, students are introduced to advanced concepts in the science of computation and are presented the opportunity to take elective courses such as video game development, cryptology, computer graphics, artificial intelligence and image processing. The two semester senior project sequence provides the culminating experience for the Computer Science students. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research projects with the computer science faculty.
Educational Objectives
In three to five years after graduation, the graduates of the WVU Tech BS degree program in Computer Science will do the following:
- Demonstrate success in the professional practice of Computer Science through recognition of their contributions to an organization or entrepreneurial accomplishments.
- Alternatively or additionally, demonstrate success in the field of computing by continuing formal education through earning post graduate degrees, technical certificates, or other technical training.
- Demonstrate lifelong learning habits either as a professional or a researcher in their field.
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.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 22 | |
| Program Requirements | 32 | |
| Computer Science Major Requirements | 67 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
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, 5, 6, 7, and 8 | 18 | |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives (Students are free to choose any college level course to fulfill this requirement) | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 22 | |
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Science, Students may select any of the two courses from the following list: (also fulfills GEF 2 and GEF 8) | 8 | |
| General Biology | ||
| General Biology | ||
| Survey of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 1 and Survey of Chemistry 1 Laboratory | ||
| Survey of General Organic Biological Chemistry 2 and Survey of Chemistry 2 Laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Physics 1 and Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Physics 2 and Introductory Physics 2 Laboratory | ||
| General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory | ||
| General Physics 2 and General Physics 2 Laboratory | ||
| MATH 155 | Calculus 1 (GEF 3) | 4 |
| MATH 156 | Calculus 2 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| MATH 251 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 441 | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 448 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| ECON 215 | Elementary Economic Analysis (GEF 4) | 3 |
| WRIT 305 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Computer Science Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| An overall GPA of 2.0 is required for all CS and CYBE courses. | ||
| CS 121 & 121L | Computer Science 1 and Computer Science 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| CS 122 & 122L | Computer Science 2 and Computer Science 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| CS 201 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CS 220 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| CS 222 | Intro Software Engineering | 3 |
| CS 231 | Introduction to Computer Organization | 3 |
| CS 265 | C Programming | 2 |
| CS 310 | Principles of Programming Languages | 3 |
| CS 320 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 321 | Introduction to Networking | 3 |
| CS 324 | Database Management | 3 |
| CS 355 | Computer Systems | 3 |
| CS 410 | Compiler Construction | 3 |
| CS 450 | Operating Systems Structure | 4 |
| CS 479 | Advanced Computer Science Mathematics | 3 |
| CS 480 | Capstone Project - Design | 2 |
| CS 481 | Capstone Project - Implementation | 3 |
| Select one of the following: AOE in Cybersecurity or Coursework Option | 15 | |
| Coursework Option: | ||
Technical Electives (6 credits) (See approved list) * | ||
| Total Hours | 67 | |
- *
Any Student completing a minor is not required to take the Technical Electives. Cybersecurity minor is not available for Computer Science majors.
Approved Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | ||
| Principles of Accounting 1 | ||
| Principles of Accounting 2 | ||
| Biology | ||
| General Biology ** | ||
| General Biology ** | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Survey of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 1 and Survey of Chemistry 1 Laboratory ** | ||
| Survey of General Organic Biological Chemistry 2 and Survey of Chemistry 2 Laboratory ** | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory ** | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory ** | ||
| Computer Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Digital Logic Design | ||
| Computer Science | ||
CS 300+ or 400+ (Except CS 491) | ||
| Cybersecurity | ||
| Foundations of Cybersecurity | ||
| Secure Software Development | ||
| Host Based Cyber Defense | ||
| Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing | ||
| Electrical Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Engineering | ||
| Electrical Circuits | ||
| Mechanical Engineering | ||
| Statics | ||
| Dynamics | ||
| Mechanics of Materials | ||
| Fluid Mechanics | ||
| Information Systems | ||
| Linux | ||
| C# | ||
| e-Commerce | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Elementary Differential Equations | ||
| Physics | ||
| Introductory Physics 1 and Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory ** | ||
| Introductory Physics 2 and Introductory Physics 2 Laboratory ** | ||
| General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory ** | ||
| General Physics 2 and General Physics 2 Laboratory ** | ||
| ** Unless taken as a science requirement | ||
| Other courses are accepted as technical electives only with advance approval from the department. Most of the 300-400 level ACCT, BIOL, CHEE, CHEM, CPE, CE, EE, MAE, MATH, and PHYS courses are considered acceptable. | ||
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| CS 121 & 121L | 4 | CS 122 & 122L | 4 |
| WVUE 191 | 1 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| GEF 5 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | MATH 156 | 4 |
| CS 201 | 3 | CS 220 | 3 |
| CS 231 | 3 | CS 222 | 3 |
| CS 265 | 2 | CS 310 | 3 |
| GEF 2 (Laboratory Science) | 4 | GEF 8 (Laboratory Science) | 4 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ECON 215 (GEF 4) | 3 | MATH 441 | 3 |
| MATH 251 | 4 | WRIT 305 | 3 |
| CS 320 | 3 | CS 324 | 3 |
| CS 321 | 3 | CS 355 | 3 |
| Computer Science Elective/AOE Course | 3 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MATH 448 | 3 | CS 410 | 3 |
| CS 450 | 4 | CS 479 | 3 |
| CS 480 | 2 | CS 481 | 3 |
| Computer Science Elective/AOE Course | 3 | CS/CYBE Elective/AOE Course | 3 |
| Technical Elective/AOE Course | 3 | Technical Elective/AOE Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 121 | |||
Area of Emphasis Offered
Cybersecurity Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CYBE 266 | Foundations of Cybersecurity | 3 |
| CYBE 465 | Cybersecurity Principles and Practice | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Secure Software Development | ||
| Host Based Cyber Defense | ||
| Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing | ||
| Introduction to Cryptography | ||
| Information Security and Controls | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Major Learning Outcomes
Computer Science
Graduates with a BS degree in Computer Science at WVU Tech 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.