Requirements for this program are current for
Fall 2023
Required credits to graduate with this
degree: 120
Required credits within the major: 57
to 58
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Computers are ubiquitous in today's society and have application in nearly every aspect of our working and personal lives. The field of computer science has evolved to the point where advanced computer science techniques are now an integral component in nearly every discipline. Computing professionals who have sufficient exposure to a second discipline in their undergraduate studies are desperately needed in order to interact in a knowledgeable manner with experts in other areas in order to solve a broad range of problems. The computer science BA degree program prepares students to become such computing professionals and also allows for the pursuit of graduate and professional degrees in a wide range of disciplines.
The computer science BA is an interdisciplinary program that will produce computing professionals who have the necessary depth of expertise in computer science to have lifelong professional careers in the field. The program requires each student to gain knowledge and experience in the fundamentals of computer science, including computer organization and architecture, data structures and related algorithms, and programming languages. In addition, it allows for significant course work in a second complementary discipline. Students who complete this degree will have enormous flexibility and opportunity in their future careers and education since there is no discipline that is not touched in significant ways by computer science.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Students must meet all course and credit requirements of the departments and
colleges or schools in which they are enrolled including an advanced writing course. Students
seeking two degrees must fulfill the requirements of both degrees. However, two degrees cannot be
awarded for the same major.
Students must complete all requirements of the Liberal
Education Program or its approved equivalent.
Students must complete a minimum of 120 semester credits completed in
compliance with University of Minnesota Duluth academic policies with credit limits (e.g.,
Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory Grading Policy, Credit for Prior Learning, etc).
At least 30 semester credits must be earned through UMD, and 15 of the last 30
credits earned immediately before graduation must be awarded by UMD.
At least half of upper-division (3xxx-level or higher) credits that satisfy
major requirements (major requirements includes all courses required for the major, including
courses in a subplan) through UMD.
If a minor is required, students must take at least three upper division
credits in their minor field from UMD.
For certificate programs, at least 3 upper-division credits that satisfy
requirements for the certificate must be taken through UMD. If the program does not require upper
division credits students must take at least one course from the certificate program from UMD.
The minimum cumulative University of Minnesota (UMN) GPA required for
graduation is 2.00 and includes only University of Minnesota coursework. A minimum UMN GPA of 2.00
is required in each UMD undergraduate major, minor, and certificate. No academic unit may impose a
higher GPA standard to graduate.
Diploma, transcripts, licensure, and certification will be withheld until all
financial obligations to the University have been met.
Program Requirements
1. A second field of study (e.g. minor, major, degree) is required for this major. The computer engineering minor may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
2. This schedule presupposes placement into MATH 1296.
3. A grade of C- or better is required in Computer Science I (CS 1511 or CS 1581), CS 1521, CS 2511, and CS 2521.
4. Senior survey; contact the computer science office for details.
Learning In Community (1 cr)
The Learning in Community requirement will be waived for transfer students with at least 30 credits taken post high school and for UMD students who started in a UMD program where this was not required. First-year students who have completed 30 PSEO credits may request a waiver to the student’s primary college.
One Stop for tuition, course registration, financial aid, academic calendars, and more
UST 1000 - Learning in Community
Credits:
1.0
-2.0
[max 2.0]
Course Equivalencies:
EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Facilitates the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD.
Credit will not be granted if already received for EHS 1000.
EHS 1000 - Into the World
(GLOBAL PER)
Credits:
3.0
[max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:
EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall
This course fulfills the UST 1000 requirement.
Facilitates the transition into college learning and student life at UMD and the College of Education and Human Service Professions. Introduces the promise and peril of global challenges in the 21st century and relates these challenges to local communities.
pre-req: 1st semester CEHSP student
ES 1000 - Global Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability
(GLOBAL PER)
Credits:
3.0
[max 3.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall
This course fulfills the UST 1000 requirement.
This course explores the global cultural context of sustainability while facilitating the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD. Examine the topic of environmental sustainability through the context of global culture and affairs. Explore different cultural approaches to solving environmental issues, compare and contrast these approaches with those taken in the US. Investigate the concept of outsourcing with respect to the peoples and ecosystems that are impacted by the practice.
pre-req: less than 30 credits earned
LING 1000 - Language and Culture in the U.S. What does it Mean to Speak American
(CDIVERSITY)
Credits:
3.0
[max 3.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall
This course fulfills the UST 1000 requirement.
Facilitates the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD while simultaneously fulfilling other core requirements. Examines the topic of Cultural Diversity in the U.S. through the context of language and dialect in American English. Explores the impact language has on the broad spectrum of American culture, and conversely, the ways in which various American cultures and their diverse heritages have influenced the many ways language is spoken in the United States. Investigates concepts of linguistic competency, perceptions and biases toward language, power structures manifested in language, and influences of class, race, ethnicity, and heritage on spoken language.
pre-req: less than 30 credits
PSY 1100 - Living Your Best Life: Applying Positive Psychology
(CDIVERSITY)
Credits:
3.0
[max 3.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall
This course fulfills the UST 1000 requirement.
Facilitate the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD; applications of positive psychology across cultures and positive behavior change; the examination of diverse perspectives in positive psychology; the promotion of student well-being, community and inclusivity, and time- and stress-management techniques.
pre-req: less than 30 credits
CS 1511 - Computer Science I
(LE CAT)
Credits:
5.0
[max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies:
CS 1511/1581
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
A comprehensive introduction to computer programming using the C++ language. The course covers program design, C++ programming basics, control structures, functions and parameter passing. Students write and implement programs with data structures (arrays), pointers and files. Object-oriented programming is also introduced, along with concepts of abstraction, ADTs, encapsulation and data hiding.
prereq: 3 1/2 yrs high school math or instructor consent
CS 1581 - Honors: Computer Science I
(LE CAT)
Credits:
5.0
[max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies:
CS 1511/1581
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall
Similar to 1511, but in greater depth and with more challenging assignments. For high-ability students.
prereq: Honors student, 3 1/2 yrs high school math
CS 1521 - Computer Science II
Credits:
5.0
[max 5.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Continuation of introduction to computer science. Methods for procedural and data abstraction. Focus on classical data structures, procedural and data abstraction, and the abstract data type. Introduction to software engineering technique. Algorithm analysis, principles of object-oriented programming issues in ethical use of computers. Requires implementation of significant programming projects.
prereq: 1511 or 1581, a grade of C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses
CS 2511 - Software Analysis and Design
Credits:
4.0
[max 4.0]
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Techniques for analyzing, designing, and creating medium-scale software through object-oriented design and implementation. Analysis and use of data structures. Introduction to design patterns. Emphasis on polymorphism and abstraction to increase software modularity, reusability, and flexibility.
prereq: 1521 or instructor consent, a grade of C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses
CS 2521 - Computer Organization and Architecture
Credits:
4.0
[max 4.0]
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Internal representation of programs and data. Computer organization and introduction to computer architecture. Machine and assembly language programming. Data and procedural structures. Addressing methods. Systems software including linking and loading. Introduction to hardware performance analysis and measurements.
prereq: 1521 or instructor consent, a grade of C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses
CS 3541 - Software Engineering
Credits:
4.0
[max 4.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Recognition of conditions for production of high quality software. Use of current software development technology. Organization and management of software development projects. Includes a significant team project.
prereq: 2511 or instructor consent, a grade of C- or better is required in prerequisite course
CS 3111 - Computer Ethics
(HUMANITIES)
Credits:
4.0
[max 4.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Ethical issues posed by computer use, including those related to networking, intellectual property, privacy, crime and security, risk and reliability, and effects on work and wealth. Includes significant writing and a class presentation
prereq: WRIT 3100 or 3110 or 3121 or 3130 or 3140 or 3150 or 3160 or Engr 4001, minimum 60 credits or instructor consent; a grade of C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses
CS 3531 - Automata and Formal Languages
Credits:
4.0
[max 4.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Introduction to the theory of computation. Deterministic and nondeterministic finite automata, regular languages and regular expressions. Kleene's Theorem. Context-free languages, context-free grammars and pushdown automata. Turning Machines and computability.
pre-req: CS 2531 or MATH 3355; or instructor consent, a grade of C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses
CS 2531 - Discrete Structures for Computer Science
Credits:
4.0
[max 4.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Introduction to mathematical foundations for computer science; sets, relations, functions, propositional logic, quantified statements, proof methods, including mathematical induction, countability.
pre-req: Math 1296 or instructor consent; a grade of C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses
MATH 3355 - Discrete Mathematics
Credits:
4.0
[max 4.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Introduction to mathematical logic, predicates and quantifiers, sets, proof techniques, recursion and mathematical induction, recursive algorithms, analysis of algorithms, assertions and loop invariants, complexity measures of algorithms, combinatorial counting techniques, relations, graph theory.
prereq: 1297 or 1597 or instructor consent, a grade of C- or better in is required in all prerequisite courses
COMM 1112 - Public Speaking
(LE CAT, COMM & LAN)
Credits:
3.0
[max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:
Comm 1112/1511
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Application of the theoretical bases of rhetoric to the public speaking situation.
MATH 1296 - Calculus I
(LE CAT, LOGIC & QR)
Credits:
5.0
[max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies:
Math1290/1296/1596
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall, Spring & Summer
First part of a standard introduction to calculus of functions of a single variable. Limits, continuity, derivatives, integrals, and their applications.
prereq: Math ACT 27 or higher or a grade of at least C- in Math 1250 or department consent
STAT 3411 - Engineering Statistics
Credits:
3.0
[max 3.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall & Spring
Statistical considerations in data collection and experimentation. Descriptive statistics, least squares, elementary probability distributions, confidence intervals, significance tests, and analysis of variance as applied analysis of engineering data.
prereq: MATH 1297 with a grade of C- or better, cannot be applied to a math or statistics major
STAT 3611 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Credits:
4.0
[max 4.0]
Grading Basis:
A-F or Aud
Typically offered:
Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Basic probability, including combinatorial methods, random variables, mathematical expectation. Binomial, normal, and other standard distributions. Moment-generating functions. Basic statistics, including descriptive statistics and sampling distributions. Estimation and statistical hypothesis testing.
prereq: A grade of at least C- in Math 1290 or Math 1296
