The program educational objectives are:
The program educational objectives are met by a modern curriculum that balances computing practices with the fundamental theories of computer science. Mathematics, projects, and digital hardware courses are important components of the curriculum. In addition to traditional technical courses, and in keeping with the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person, the curriculum includes studies in the humanities, communications, social sciences, and fine arts. Opportunities for involvement in professional societies, student design competitions, public open-source projects, research with faculty, and University co-curricular activities are plentiful and help to accomplish these objectives.
Students interested in transferring into the Computer Science undergraduate program must complete MATH 131 Calculus I, CMSI 1010 Computer Programming and Laboratory, and CMSI 2120 Data Structures and Applications with a minimum grade of B (3.0) in each course before being considered. Final approval of the transfer request resides with the department chair.
Graduates of the Computer Science undergraduate program will be able to:
Department criteria for graduation include:
The course requirements fall into six areas.
Lower-division courses required of all computer science majors. These courses aim to convey the concepts and skills that are needed across computer science’s many subdisciplines.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMSI 1010 | Computer Programming and Laboratory | 4 |
| CMSI 1900 | Exploring Computer Science | 0 |
| CMSI 2120 | Data Structures and Applications | 4 |
| CMSI 2130 | Algorithms and Analysis | 4 |
| CMSI 2210 | Computer Systems Organization | 4 |
| EECE 2242 | Logic and Computer Design | 4 |
| Total Semester Hours | 20 | |
Courses that build on foundational knowledge and skills to deepen undergraduate-level exposure to the field. In addition to two required theory courses, students must select four or more additional courses that include at least one course from three distinct tracks, determined in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. Students have the flexibility to emphasize breadth by continuing to select courses across multiple tracks or emphasize depth by focusing on courses within a single track aligning to more specialized interests.
All students are required to complete both CMSI 3801 Languages and Automata I and CMSI 3802 Languages and Automata II. In addition, four (4) additional breadth courses are required: one from each of the three tracks listed below, plus one additional upper division computer science course that includes any but is not limited to the selections below.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMSI 3801 | Languages and Automata I | 4 |
| CMSI 3802 | Languages and Automata II | 4 |
| Artificial Intelligence (AI) course | 4 | |
| Systems/Architecture (SA) course | 4 | |
| Games and Interaction (GI) course | 4 | |
| Additional upper-division elective | 4 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 24 | |
This track prepares students to address modern problems in cognition, machine learning, and intelligent agent design, extending both industry capabilities and theoretic development for academia.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMSI 3300 | Artificial Intelligence | 4 |
| CMSI 4320 | Cognitive Systems Design | 4 |
| CMSI 5350 | Machine Learning | 4 |
| CMSI 5370 | Natural Language Processing | 4 |
This track focuses on the architecture and design of hardware and software systems, along with security and privacy issues relating to systems and networks.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMSI 3520 | Database Systems | 4 |
| CMSI 3550 | Networks and the Internet | 4 |
| CMSI 3510 | Operating Systems | 4 |
| EECE 3140 | Microprocessor and Microcontroller Systems | 4 |
This track provides an in-depth examination of both game design (the rules, objectives, etc. that make games successful) and development (the implementation of a designed game), alongside the underpinning theories of user interaction and computer graphics:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMSI 3700 | Interaction Design | 4 |
| CMSI 3710 | Computer Graphics | 4 |
| CMSI 3751 | Game Design | 4 |
| CMSI 3752 | Game Development | 4 |
The fourth exploration course may be fulfilled with an additional course in any of the above categories, thus forming a “mini-specialization” of the student’s choosing. Other Computer Science upper-division courses not already listed above, such as CMSI 3920 Human Contexts and Computer Ethics, will also fulfill the elective exploration requirement.
Practicum, capstone, and research experiences. A mid-program practicum provides sophomore students the experience of building full-stack applications before undertaking the upper-division courses. A two-semester capstone or thesis gives seniors the opportunity to build comprehensive applications or perform research into theoretical or current topics in the field.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMSI 2021 | Web Application Development | 2 |
| or CMSI 2022 | Mobile Application Development | |
| CMSI 4071 | Senior Project I | 4 |
| or CMSI 4081 | Senior Thesis I | |
| CMSI 4072 | Senior Project II | 4 |
| or CMSI 4082 | Senior Thesis II | |
| Total Semester Hours | 10 | |
Pure and applied mathematics experiences essential to the study of computer science as a discipline. These courses provide concepts and paradigms for reasoning about and solving problems within the field in general.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 131 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 132 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CMSI 2820 | Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science | 4 |
| or MATH 266 | Methods of Proof and Discrete Mathematics | |
| MATH 251 | Applied Linear Algebra | 4 |
| or MATH 241 | Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 361 | Probability and Mathematical Statistics | 4 |
| Total Semester Hours | 20 | |
Courses from the LMU-approved core curriculum. Students are required to complete a minimum of 32 semester hours that must include the following:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FFYS 1000 | First Year Seminar | 3-4 |
| RHET 1000 | Rhetorical Arts | 4 |
| Philosophical Inquiry | 4 | |
| Theological Inquiry | 4 | |
| American Diversity | 4 | |
| Faith and Reason | 4 | |
| Ethics and Justice 1 | 4 | |
| Additional Explorations or Integrations courses where necessary to achieve the 32-semester hour minimum. 2 | As needed | |
Courses necessary to bring the total semester hour count to 124. Students will normally prepare a coherent program of electives and related core courses with a faculty advisor. Students may use elective slots for additional Computer Science courses, either emphasizing breadth by taking courses across multiple tracks, or depth by selecting multiple courses within a track. Students may also use free electives to help pursue a second major or minor or take any combination of courses that suits their interests. Example elective groups include, but are by no means limited to:
(124 Semester Hours)
A typical course of study leading to the B.S. degree in computer science is as follows. Note that this chart is not a substitute for the official requirements above. Students must consult with an academic advisor to ensure all graduation requirements are satisfied and that 124 total semester hours are completed.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Hours | |
| CMSI 1010 | Computer Programming and Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 131 | Calculus I | 4 |
| FFYS 1000 | First Year Seminar | 4 |
| University Core | 4 | |
| CMSI 1900 | Exploring Computer Science | 0 |
| ORNT 1000 | First Year Forum | 0 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMSI 2120 | Data Structures and Applications | 4 |
| MATH 132 | Calculus II | 4 |
| RHET 1000 | Rhetorical Arts | 4 |
| University Core | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMSI 2130 | Algorithms and Analysis | 4 |
| CMSI 2210 | Computer Systems Organization | 4 |
| CMSI 2021 | Web Application Development 1 | 2 |
| CMSI 2820 or MATH 266 |
Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science or Methods of Proof and Discrete Mathematics |
4 |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Semester Hours | 17-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 251 or MATH 241 |
Applied Linear Algebra or Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra |
4 |
| CMSI 2022 | Mobile Application Development 1 | 2 |
| EECE 2242 | Logic and Computer Design | 4 |
| University Core | 4 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Semester Hours | 17-18 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMSI 3801 | Languages and Automata I | 4 |
| CMSI Exploration Elective | 4 | |
| University Core | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMSI 3802 | Languages and Automata II | 4 |
| CMSI Exploration Elective | 4 | |
| University Core | 4 | |
| MATH 361 | Probability and Mathematical Statistics | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMSI 4071 or CMSI 4081 |
Senior Project I or Senior Thesis I |
4 |
| CMSI Exploration Elective | 4 | |
| Elective or University Core if needed 2 | 4 | |
| Elective | 2-6 | |
| Semester Hours | 14-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMSI 4072 or CMSI 4082 |
Senior Project II or Senior Thesis II |
4 |
| CMSI Exploration Elective | 4 | |
| Elective or University Core if needed 2 | 4 | |
| Elective | 0-6 | |
| Semester Hours | 12-18 | |
| Minimum Semester Hours | 124-136 | |
Only one of CMSI 2021 Web Application Development or CMSI 2022 Mobile Application Development is required, though students are welcome to take both.
Students who take Computer Science exploration electives that also satisfy university core requirements (e.g., CMSI 3700 Interaction Design, CMSI 3710 Computer Graphics, and CMSI 3920 Human Contexts and Computer Ethics) will be able to take additional free electives.
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