Program: Computer Science, BS - Binghamton University (2024)

Jun 03, 2024

2024-2025 Binghamton University Academic Guide

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2024-2025 Binghamton University Academic Guide

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In keeping with the mission statement of Watson College, the Bachelor of Science program in Computer Science (BS CS) strives to provide its graduates with a firm grounding in the fundamentals of computer science, elements of practical application, and an appreciation for liberal learning. At its core, the degree programaims to provide all graduates with an understanding of the theory and practice of automating the representation, storage, and processing of information. With the understanding that CS graduates will pursue a wide variety of career paths upon graduation, it is the program’s goal to also provide students with the opportunity to pursue specific interests within computer science and/or interests in other disciplines.

The BS in Computer Science offers two optional tracks: Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the BS in Computer Science program will be:

Successful in their profession in leadership or supporting positions, in which they exercise and apply their technical computer science background. These positions will use their skills in problem-solving and software or systems development.
Capable of working well in teams, communicating effectively, and meeting the social and ethical responsibilities of their profession.
Engaged in lifelong learning relevant to their profession, including earning advanced degrees based on their computer science background or completing professional training.

Admission Requirements

The School of Computing serves incoming first year students, community college graduates, and transfer students from other institutions seeking a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The School welcomesincoming first-year students with or without prior computer science experience. Unlike most other majors on campus, students need to apply directly to the computer science major instead of applying directly to Watson College.

Program Requirements

University General Education Requirements

All Binghamton University undergraduate students are required to fulfill this set of university-wide requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of a SUNY university undergraduate education. Please refer to the General Education page for more information.

Watson College Requirements

For Watson College requirements, please refer to the Requirements for Degreessection in the Watson College Undergraduate Information.

Major Requirements

To receive the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, students must earn a minimum of 126 credit hours, including transfer credits, with a minimum 2.0 (C) grade-point average in computer science major courses and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0. A minimum of 40 credits must be earned in courses taught inWatson College. All courses must be taken for a normal letter grade, unless a course is only offered Pass/Fail; an exception is made for a maximum of four free-elective credits in liberal arts and science. A grade of C- or better in required computer science courses is needed to satisfy prerequisites for computer science courses, except for CS 301.

Credit Requirements

A minimum of 126 semester credits, of which:

A minimum of 60 credits must be in liberal arts and sciences courses.
A minimum of 40 credits must be earned in courses taught in Watson College.
A minimum of 45 credits must be completed at the 300-level or above.

Area Requirements

1. Communications (8 credits):

One course that meets the Binghamton University General Education composition requirement (4 credits)

2. Humanities/Social Science Electives (20 credits):

A single course cannot be counted in both Block 1 (Communications) and Block 2 (Humanities/Social Science Electives).

3. Science (8 or 10* credits):

Choose one of the following two-course or three-course sequences:

PHYS 131 - Gen. Physics I(Calculus Based)
PHYS 132 - Gen.Physics II(Calculus Based)
BIOL 115 - Intro Biology Lab
CHEM 104 - General Chemistry I
CHEM 105 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 106 - General Chemistry Laboratory

4. Mathematics (20 credits):

MATH 224 - Differential Calculus
MATH 225 - Integral Calculus
MATH 227 - Infinite Series
MATH 314 - Discrete Mathematics
OR MATH 330 - Number Systems
MATH 327 - Probability with Stat Methods
OR MATH 448 - Mathematical Statistics

One elective chosen from:

MATH 304 - Linear Algebra
MATH 371 - Ordinary Diff. Equations
MATH 381 - Graph Theory
MATH 386 - Combinatorics
MATH 407 - Intro to the Theory of Numbers

5. Math or Science Elective (4 credits):

MATH 323 - Calculus III or a science elective chosen from courses that meet the General Education Laboratory Science requirement.

6. Free Electives (12 or 14* credits):

At least four credits must be in liberal arts and science.
At most, one free elective in liberal arts and science may be taken Pass/Fail instead of a letter grade.
At most, two credits of activity/wellness may be used as free elective credit.

7. Computer Science Courses (52 credits):

CS 220 - Arch from a Prog Perspective
CS 320 - Advanced Computer Architecture
CS 350 - Operating Systems
CS 471 - Programming Languages

Computer Science electives (at least 15 credits) chosen from areas A, B, C, D, and E below:

At least one course must be chosen from each of the areas A, B, and C, and courses with multiple areas count as meeting all the areas indicated.
Courses from areas D and E are optional.
At most, one course can be taken from area E**.

Areas:
A: Networking and Communications
B: Large Software Development
C: Data and Information Management
D: Other courses
E: Internship, Co-op, Research

(D)
CS 415 - Social Media Data Sci Pipeline (C)
CS 417 - Intr to Human Comp Interaction (C)
CS 424 - Intelligent Mobile Robotics (D)
CS 426 - Internet of Things (A)
CS 427 - Mobile Systems Security (A)
CS 428 - Computer Networks (A, B)
CS 432 - Database Systems (B, C)
CS 433 - Information Retrieval (B, C)
CS 435 - Introduction To Data Mining (C)
CS 436 - Intro to Machine Learning (C)
CS 440 - Adv Topics - Obj Oriented Prog (A, B)
CS 441 - Game Dev For Mobile Platforms (D)
CS 442 - Design Patterns (A, B)
CS 444 - Programming for the Web (A, B)
CS 445 - Software Engineering (D)
CS 447 - High Performance Computing (A, B)
CS 451 - Systems Programming (A, B)
CS 452 - Intro to Cloud Computing (A)
CS 453 - Software Security (D)
CS 455 - Intro to Visual Info Processin (B, C)
CS 456 - Intro to Computer Vision (D)
CS 457 - Intro To Distributed Systems (A, B)
CS 458 - Intro to Computer Security (A)
CS 459 - Science of Cyber Security (D)
CS 460 - Computer Graphics (B)
CS 461 - Topics in Data Privacy (C)
CS 465 - Intro to Artificial Intelligen (C)
CS 472 - Compiler Design (B)
CS 476 - Program Models Emerg Platforms (B)
CS 480 Any approved CS topics course and any future-approved CS 400-level course (D, othersas appropriate)

Area E Courses: To count as a CS elective, Area E courses must be taken for at least three credits:

CS 395 - Computer Science Internship Prerequisites: CS 220, CS 310, junior or senior standing, and School of Computingapproval.
CS 396 - Computer Science Co-Op Prerequisites: CS 220, CS 310, junior or senior standing, and School of Computing approval.
CS 499 - Undergraduate Research Prerequisites vary by research area. Requires junior or senior standing, supervision by a computer science faculty member, and completion of School of Computing approval form.

Notes:

* The total of the Science and Free Elective credits (Blocks 3 and 6) should be 22 credits.

** For students conditionally accepted to the BS CS/MBA 4+1 program, MGMT 501 - Accounting counts as a CS elective in area E.

BS in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence Track

To complete the artificial intelligence track in the BS in Computer Science, students must replace four CS electives with the following courses. Students select their fifth CS elective from the School of Computing list of CS Electives. Some courses in this track also satisfy the requirements for computer science electives in one or more areas (A, B, C). For convenience, we place the area(s) for each course in parentheses following the course. Students must still complete at least one course from each of the areas A, B, and C, and at most, one course can be taken from area E.

Two required artificial intelligence courses:

CS 436 - Intro to Machine Learning (C)
CS 465 - Intro to Artificial Intelligen (C)

Two artificial intelligence electives chosen from the following list:

CS 415 - Social Media Data Sci Pipeline (C)
CS 417 - Intr to Human Comp Interaction (C)
CS 424 - Intelligent Mobile Robotics (D)
CS 435 - Introduction To Data Mining (C)
CS 455 - Intro to Visual Info Processin (B, C)
CS 456 - Intro to Computer Vision (C)
CS 480Certain approved CS topics course in areas such as Computational Social Science, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing. The School of Computing website will maintain a current listing.

BS in Computer Science with Cybersecurity Track

To complete the Cybersecurity track in the BS in Computer Science, students must replace four CS electives with the following courses. Students select their fifth CS elective from the School of Computing list of CS Electives. Some courses in this track also satisfy the requirements for computer science electives in one or more areas (A, B, C). For convenience, we place the area(s) for each course in parentheses following the course. Students must still complete at least one course from each of the areas A, B, and C, and at most, one course can be taken from area E.

Two required cybersecurity courses:

CS 458 - Intro to Computer Security (A)
CS 459 - Science of Cyber Security (D)

Two cybersecurity electives chosen from the following list:

CS 427 - Mobile Systems Security (A)
CS 428 - Computer Networks (A, B)
CS 436 - Intro to Machine Learning (C)
CS 453 - Software Security (D)
CS 461 - Topics in Data Privacy (C)
CS 480Certain approved CS topics courses in areas such as Hardware and Systems Security and Data Privacy. The School of Computing website will maintain a current listing.

Prerequisites

The following courses, or their equivalent(s), are required prerequisites for courses in the major:

If a student does not have sufficient programming experience to be placed into CS 120 and CS 210, then CS 110 is required.
If students donot place into MATH 224, then MATH 223 (or its equivalent) and, if needed, MATH 108 (or its equivalent) and, if needed, MATH 107 (or its equivalent) and, if needed, MATH 106 (or its equivalent) are required prerequisites for completion of the major.
Students who have not had adequate course preparation may need to take CHEM 100 prior to taking CHEM 104, CHEM 105, and CHEM 106.
Students who take MATH 448 to meet the BS in Computer Sciencedegree requirement must take MATH 323 and MATH 447 as prerequisites.

Artificial Intelligence Micro-Credential

Undergraduate CS seniors are eligible to earn this micro-credential by completing four graduate courses specified in the Artificial Intelligence Micro-CredentialProgram.

Additional Information about the Program

The Bachelor of Science program in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria forComputer Science and Similarly Named Computing Programs.

For more information on the Computer Science BS program, please refer to the Computer Science Undergraduate Program website.To apply to the Computer Science BS program, please visit the University Undergraduate Admissions website.