Computer Science

NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY  COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

2003-2004 Program of Study for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

This is a suggested program of study.  Courses can be taken in any sequence, if prerequisites and corequisites are satisfied.  You must earn a C or better in each course listed as a prerequisite for any CS/EE/EGR/ME/CENE course you take.  See the catalog description of each course for prerequisites and corequisites. Please be aware that some courses are not offered every semester.

FALL                                                        FRESHMAN YEAR                                           SPRING

(The prerequisite for CS 126 is a previous programming course at the high school or college level (e.g. CS 122).

FALL                                                      SOPHOMORE YEAR                                           SPRING

FALL                                                                JUNIOR YEAR                                                             SPRING

FALL                                                                SENIOR YEAR                                                             SPRING

LIBERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENT (NAU and ABET accreditation requirements.)

• 1.       21 total elective credits are required in the NAU liberal studies categories of Social and Political Worlds, Aesthetic and Humanistic Inquiry, and Cultural Understanding. At least 6 hours must be completed in two of the three categories. (CS prefix courses are not permitted.)
• 2.        4 hours of NAU lab science and 3 hours of NAU science/ applied science as specified on the next page.
• 3.        A 2-course lab science sequence as specified on the next page.
• 4.        UC 101, ENG 105, MAT 136 (foundations), ENG 302W (Jr. writing requirement), CSE 486C (Sr. capstone)

SCIENCE ELECTIVES

For ABET-CAC accreditation a student must complete a two semester sequence of lab science where both courses come from either the same science: biology, chemistry or physics. For NAU liberal studies requirements, a student must complete 4 hours of Lab Science and at least 3 hours of Science and Applied Science credits.  Three options are given below:

Option 1.                 

•          PHY 161/161Lab (4): satisfies 4 hours of  NAU Lab Science
•          PHY 262/262Lab (4) : satisfies 4 hours of NAU Science and Applied Science
•          4 additional hours of science.

Option 2.                 

•          CHM 151/151Lab (4): satisfies 4 hours of  NAU Lab Science
•          CHM 152/152Lab (4) : satisfies 4 hours of NAU Science and Applied Science
•          4 additional hours of science.

Option 3.                 

•          BIO 181(with lab) (4): satisfies 4 hours of  NAU Lab Science
•          BIO 182 (with lab) (4): completes the two semester lab science requirement of ABET-CAC but carries no NAU Science and Applied Science credit.
•          4 additional hours of science must be taken, at least three of which must qualify as NAU Science and Applied Science.

OTHER ELECTIVES

Computer Science majors are required to complete at least 9 hours of general computer science electives, 6 hours of computer science breadth electives, and 9 hours of open electives selected in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.  In general, any CS breadth elective or any CS course numbered 200 or above that is not otherwise required for the major may be submitted as a general CS elective.  Also, any CS breadth or CS general elective may be substituted for an open elective. Breadth electives and general computer science electives are listed separately below.

Computer Science breadth electives currently include the following (all carry three hours credit):

                                    Course                         Course Title 

                                    CS 460                        Computer Networks  

                                    CS 480                        Operating Systems

CS 481                           Compilers

Computer Science general electives currently include the following (all carry three hours credit):

                                    Course                         Course Title                                  

                                    CS courses not required at the 200 level and CS breadth electives

CS 410                           Logic Design Theory

                                    CS 450                        Introduction to Parallel Computing

                                    CS 455                        Modeling in Reactive Systems

                                    CS 470                        Introduction to Intelligent Systems

                                    CS 477                        Advanced User Interfaces

                                    CS 485                        Undergraduate Research

                                    CS 497*                      Independent Study

                                    CIS 310                       System Development I

                                    CIS 410                       Advanced Database Concepts

                                    EE 414                        Computer Architecture

                                    EE 442                        Image Processing

                                    EE 448                        Digital Signal Processing

(*NOTE:  No more than six hours of Undergraduate Research and Independent Study may be submitted as computer science general or breadth electives.)

OPEN  ELECTIVES

Computer science majors are required to complete 9 hours of open electives, selected in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.  These can be selected from courses with the prefixes EE, MAT, PHY, CHM, and BIO as well as from CS general electives at the 200 level or above.  Courses with other prefixes can be selected with permission of your advisor. Computer scientists work in collaboration with professionals in a wide variety of disciplines. The open elective requirement is meant to encourage computer science students to minor in an additional field of interest or to pick up additional expertise in one or more additional fields of interest. Several examples of how the 9 hours of open electives can be used to satisfy minors are given on the next page.

A few examples of how to integrate a minor into the computer science curriculum.

Minor in Mathematics:

   Courses already required the in CS program:  MAT 136, MAT 137, MAT 316, MAT 226

   Open electives:  (At least 6 units must be at the upper division level.)

              9 units MAT or STA courses numbered 200 level or above (except MAT 301, 401, and 402).

Minor in Chemistry:

With consultation from your chemistry minor advisor you would select 18-24 units of chemistry. The following 20 hours of chemistry courses give one possibility. This plan satisfies the 12 units of science electives required in the CS program as well as the additional 9 units of required open electives in the computer science program.

  Courses that satisfy science units already required in the CS program:

           CHM 151, CHM 151L, CHM 152, CHM 152L, CHM 235

   Open electives:  CHM 238, plus two of CHM 320, 350, 360   

Minor in Physics:

With consultation from your physics minor advisor you would select 18-24 units of physics. The following 20 hours of physics courses give one possibility. This plan satisfies the 12 units of science electives required in the CS program as well as the additional 9 units of required open electives in the computer science program.

  Courses that satisfy science units already required in the CS program:

PHY 161, PHY 161L, PHY 262, PHY 262L, PHY 263

   Open electives:

Nine hours of additional courses in physics, all at or above the 200 level

Minor in Biology:

   Courses that satisfy science units already required in the CS program:

BIO 181, BIO 182, at least one of BIO 300 (3 hours), BIO 366, or BIO 372.

   Open electives:

• One additional lab course (1-4 hours).
• 6-9 hours of nonduplicating coursework, which may include up to 3 hours of BIO 300. (Please note that you can use BIO 205 or 220 but not both; also BIO 100 and 310 may not be used.)

Minor in Electrical Engineering:

   Courses that satisfy units already required in the CS program:

              EE 188

   Open Electives (plus 2 additional credit hours):

• EE 280 plus 8 credit hours from EE 200-level and higher courses.
• Two Computer Science General Electives:
• 6 credit hours from EE 300-level and higher courses

Minor in Linguistics:

   Courses that satisfy units already required in the CS program:

              CS 126, CS 136, CS 396

   Open Electives:

      3 additional courses selected from a variety of disciplines as described on page 365 of the NAU Catalog (Interdisciplinary Minor in Linguistics).