Computer Science

• FACULTY
• LEARNING OUTCOMES
• MAJOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
• MINOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
• CERTIFICATE IN PROGRAMMING
• COMBINED B.S.-M.S. or B.A.-M.S. PROGRAMS
• INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS
• COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

FACULTY

Chair: James R. Glenn, Associate Professor

Professors: David W. Binkley; Arthur L. Delcher (emeritus); Roberta Evans Sabin; Bernard J. Weigman (emeritus)

Associate Professors: Roger D. Eastman; James R. Glenn; Dawn J. Lawrie

Assistant Professors: Megan M. Olsen; Mohammad S. Raunak

Instructor: Sibren Isaacman

Affiliate Faculty: David T. Opitz

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The Computer Science Department offers two major programs: one leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science, and the other leading to Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Computer Science. The suggested first-year programs for these majors are identical, allowing students to postpone choosing between them until their sophomore year.

The B.S. program is intended for students interested in a complete computer science curriculum, enhanced by additional science and math courses. Such a program may lead to graduate school in computer science and/or employment in a highly technical field. The B.S. program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) and the U.S. Department of Education.

The B.A. program is intended for students interested in a computer science degree with the flexibility to explore a double major, a minor, or an individually designed program. Students in this program may wish to combine their computer science studies with a physical science, an artistic discipline, a humanities or communications field, or a business degree. Because of the flexibility given to students, the B.A. program is not accredited by ABET.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Bachelor of Science

• Students will be proficient in computer languages, operating systems, and hardware.
• Students will be able to design high-quality solutions to problems using today’s technology based on well-established principles of software engineering process, understand how to participate effectively as a member of a team, and be able to evaluate those solutions by rigorous means.
• Students will understand well the fundamental principles of computer science theory.
• Students will be effective at written and oral communication, able to read and write technical papers and documentation and present results.
• Students will be knowledgeable of general ethical principles, the ethical codes of the computer science discipline, and the social context of computing.

Bachelor of Arts

• Students will be proficient in a computer language and hardware.
• Students will be able to design high-quality solutions to problems in today’s technology using well-established principles of software engineering process, understand how to participate effectively as a member of a team, and be able to evaluate those solutions by rigorous means.
• Students will have the mathematical background to implement sound solutions to problems.
• Students will be effective at written and oral communication, able to read and write technical papers and documentation and present results.
• Students will be knowledgeable of general ethical principles, the ethical codes of the computer science discipline, and the social context of computing.

MAJOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Bachelor of Science

Requirements for a major and an example of a typical program of courses are as follows:

Freshman Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Sophomore Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Junior Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Senior Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

* Required for major.

** One theory-oriented course required.

† Recommended for major but an equivalent majors-level, two-semester sequence of science courses may be substituted.

1. The three computer science electives for majors must be 400- or graduate-level courses.
2. All electives must be at least three credits. At least three electives must be taken in departments other than computer science.
3. The science elective must be a majors-level course emphasizing quantitative and/or experimental methods in a physical or biological science and not a primarily computational, mathematical, or engineering design course. EG, MA, and ST courses must be approved by the Computer Science Department.
4. A specialty track is offered in software engineering. To complete the track, students must complete all requirements for the computer science major and choose three of their electives as follows: software testing, object-oriented analysis and design, and one elective approved by the track coordinator.
5. Students must complete the diversity requirement through a designated diversity core, major, or elective course (see Diversity Requirement under Curriculum and Policies).

Bachelor of Arts

Requirements for a major and an example of a typical program of courses are as follows:

Freshman Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Sophomore Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Junior Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Senior Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

* Required for major.

1. Computer science electives for majors must be 300-level or above.
2. All electives must be at least three credits. At least three electives must be taken in departments other than computer science.
3. The science elective must be a majors-level course emphasizing quantitative and/or experimental methods in a physical or biological science and not a primarily computational, mathematical, or engineering design course. EG, MA, and ST courses must be approved by the Computer Science Department.
4. A total of five CS electives are required. At least three must be CS courses and up to two may be CS-related courses, depending on the track chosen. CS-related electives are courses at the 300-level or higher that are substantially different from those offered by the Computer Science Department and include a sufficiently advanced computing component. Students must submit written requests for approval to the track coordinator (see track requirements below).
5. Three specialty tracks are offered: software engineering, interdisciplinary study, and general computer science. To complete a track, students choose their CS and CS-related electives as follows:

Software Engineering: Programming languages, web programming, software testing, database management systems, and one elective approved by the track coordinator.

Interdisciplinary Study: Three CS courses at the 400-level or above and two CS-related electives in a single application area approved by the track coordinator.

General: Four CS electives at the 400-level or above and one CS-related elective approved by the track coordinator, or five CS electives at the 400-level or above.

6. Students must complete the diversity requirement through a designated diversity core, major, or elective course (see Diversity Requirement under Curriculum and Policies).

MINOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

The following courses are required for a Minor in Computer Science:

• CS201 Computer Science I
• CS202 Computer Science II
• CS295 Discrete Structures (same as MA295) or
• CS371 Computer Engineering I*
• CS301 Data Structures and Algorithms I
• CSxxx Approved Computer Science Elective**
• CS4xx Advanced Computer Science Elective

* Mathematics and statistics majors minoring in computer science must take CS371.

** An approved computer science elective for the minor is a CS300- or CS400-level course. Engineering majors may not count CS471 or CS476 as CS electives.

CERTIFICATE IN PROGRAMMING

The department awards a certificate in computer programming to students who successfully complete CS201, CS202, and CS301.

COMBINED B.S.-M.S. or B.A.-M.S. PROGRAMS

Students may choose computer science electives from Loyola's master's program in computer science. Two such courses may be counted toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees making it possible to complete the requirements for both degrees within a five-year span. For more information, consult the graduate catalogue.

INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS

Interdisciplinary majors which include computer science are offered. Interested students should contact the department chair to discuss the requirements (or visit, www.cs.loyola.edu). ABET/CAC accreditation only extends to those interdisciplinary degrees that satisfy all degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science.