Program Requirements
Our modern world relies on computers for everything from electronic commerce to medicine, from online entertainment to online searching for information, from social networking to robotics, from controlling power plants to flying airplanes. Computer scientists are needed more than ever to design and build the computational systems that society depends on now and will need to solve future problems.
Why Roanoke College?
The Computer Science program at Roanoke College prepares students to play a part in meeting these computational needs and challenges and to be lifelong learners capable of adapting to the changing landscape of technology. It provides students with a balanced breadth and depth of knowledge in computer science that allows them the choice between continuing their education in graduate school or beginning their professional career.
Our program gives students a solid foundation in computer science while developing the skills necessary to apply their knowledge in the modern computing environment. The Computer Science program gives students a deeper understanding of the theoretical foundations of computer science. The departmental faculty regularly work with students on research projects, often leading to publications and presentations at conferences.
Learn Firsthand
All the system administration, for maintaining the computer systems used in Computer Science courses, is done by students giving them invaluable hands-on experience in this area.
Course Requirements
The Computer Science Department at Roanoke College offers a Bachelor of Science degree as well as a minor in Computer Science. The versions below are current as of the fall of 2019 (for previous versions, please see the appropriate edition of the academic catalog).
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
A Bachelor of Science degree with a major in computer science requires the satisfactory completion of 13 units in the areas of computer science, mathematics, and statistics to include:
- Computer Science 120 (Fundamentals of Computer Science I) or 150 (Scientific Computing), 170 (Fundamentals of Computer Science II), 250 (Data Structures and Algorithms), 270 (Software Engineering and Project Design), 350 (Databases and Web Programming), 370 (Data Mining), 450 (Theory of Computation), 470 (Senior Project),
- Mathematics 131 (Discrete Mathematics),
- Statistics 210 (Statistical Methods I) or 220 (Statistical Methods II),
- three additional units, of which any CPSC course not in the above requirements, at the 300-level or above, can count; one elective must be a CPSC course at the 400-level, and at most one elective may be a MATH course at the 200-level or above with the appropriate of the program coordinator.
Minor
A minor in Computer Science requires the satisfactory completion of 6 units in the areas of computer science and mathematics:
- Computer Science 120 (Fundamentals of Computer Science I) or 150 (Scientific Computing), 170 (Fundamentals of Computer Science II), 250 (Data Structures and Algorithms),
- Mathematics 131 (Discrete Mathematics), and
- two additional units from computer science courses chosen from 270 or any CPSC at or above the 300-level.