Texas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog 2004-2005 Edition

The curriculum in computer science is designed to prepare students to enter the rapidly expanding computer field. Curricula and courses are based upon recommendations by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineer Computer Society and the Association for Computing Machinery.

Program Mission

The mission of the computer science program at Texas A&M University is to prepare intellectual, professional, and ethical graduates, capable of meeting challenges in the field of Computer Science; and to coordinate with other parts of the university to facilitate the effective use of educational resources by sharing cross-disciplinary courses.

Program Objectives

1. Graduates of the Computer Science Program will have the technical knowledge and skills both in breadth and depth, to pursue the practice or advanced study of computer science.

2. Graduates of the Computer Science Program will understand the importance of life-long learning; and be prepared to understand and apply new technological developments in their field.

3. Graduates of the Computer Science Program will understand the technical, social and ethical context and obligations of their computer science contributions.

4. Graduates of the Computer Science Program will continue to develop the communication, teamwork, and leadership skills necessary to function productively and professionally.

A major in computer science at Texas A&M includes a 12-hour area of concentration in another department of the University. This allows students to design a course of study which takes advantage of opportunities offered by other departments within the colleges of the University.

The four-year undergraduate curriculum in computer science includes a sound preparation in science, mathematics, English, statistics and computing. Students select three senior electives from upper level computer science courses. The most popular are offered in multiple sections and semesters. Elective courses are available in the areas of: algorithms; languages and computability; software systems; computer systems and architecture; artificial intelligence and cognitive modeling; vision, graphics and robotics; and computational science and engineering. Graduate courses in these areas may be taken by advanced undergraduates.

The Department of Computer Science has significant computer resources of its own, shares resources with other departments and makes use of University systems. Departmental resources include about 300 general purpose Unix and Pentium workstations. Other resources include large computer servers; disk servers; and massively parallel systems as well as network access to the University mainframes and supercomputers.

Freshmen must submit a formal degree plan to the department during their third semester. Transfer students must submit one during the first semester in the department. Departmental advisors are available for assistance.

FRESHMAN YEAR

First Semester	(Th-Pr)	Cr	Second Semester	(Th-Pr)	Cr
CPSC 111 Intro. Comp. Sci. Con. and Prog.	(3-2)	4	CPSC 211 Data Struct. and Imp.	(3-2)	4
MATH 151 Engineering Mathematics I	(3-2)	4	ENGL 104 Comp. and Rhetoric	(3-0)	3
Science elective 1		4	MATH 152 Engineering Mathematics II	(3-2)	4
Elective 2		3	Science elective 1		4
* KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity	(0-2)	1	* KINE 199 Required Physical Activity	(0-2)	1
		16			16

SOPHOMORE YEAR

CSPC 310 Database Systems	(3-0)	3	MATH 302 Discrete Mathematics	(3-0)	3
MATH 251 Engineering Mathematics III	(3-0)	3	STAT 211 Principles of Statistics I	(3-0)	3
Concentration area elective 4		3	Science elective 1		4
Science elective 1		4	Electives 2		6
Elective 2		3			16
		16

JUNIOR YEAR

CPSC 311 Analysis of Algorithms	(3-0)	3	CPSC 321 Computer Architecture	(3-2)	4
ELEN 220 Intro. to Digital Design	(3-3)	4	CPSC 332 Prog. Lang. Design	(3-0)	3
Concentration area elective 4		3	CPSC 431 Software Engr.	(2-2)	3
Mathematics elective 5		3	Concentration area elective 4		3
Elective 3		3	Speech and writing skills elective 6		3
		16			16

SENIOR YEAR

CPSC 410 Operating Systems	(3-0)	3	CPSC 420 Artificial Intelligence	(3-0)	3
CPSC 481 Seminar	(0-2)	1	CPSC 433 Formal Lang. and Automation	(3-0)	3
Computer science electives 7		6	ENGR 482 Ethics and Engineering	(2-2)	3
Speech and writing skills elective 6		3	Computer science elective 7		3
Elective 2		3	Concentration area elective 4		3
		16	Elective 2		3
					18

NOTES: Grade Requirements: A grade of C or better will be required for the following courses: CPSC 111, 211, 310, 311, 321, 332, 410, 420, 431, 433, 481; MATH 151, 152, 251, 302; ENGL 104; at least two science courses.

1. Science courses must be taken from two areas. See advisor for list of acceptable courses.

2. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum. Of the 18 hours shown as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from visual and performing arts, 3 from social and behavioral sciences, 6 from U.S. history, and 6 from POLS 206 and 207. The required 6 hours from international and cultural diversity may be met by courses satisfying the visual and performing arts, social and behavioral sciences, and the political science and history requirements if they are also on the approved list of international and cultural diversity courses (see the International and Cultural Diversity table).

3. Three hours of course work to be approved by student's advisor.

4. The concentration area should be chosen only after consultation with a departmental advisor who will help the student arrange a program appropriate to his or her plans following graduation. Students should file a degree plan before taking minor courses to ensure their use in the degree plan.

5. Mathematics elective must be selected from MATH 304 or 308.

6. Select from ENGL 301 or ENGL 210 and COMM 203.

7. Computer science electives are to be selected from CPSC 434, 435, 436, 441, 442, 452, 456, 462, 463, 464, 469, 485, 489.

The Systems Safety Engineering Specialty is available for students pursuing this degree . Click here for detailed information.

* See Kinesiology requirements.