2002-2003 Edition
Texas A&M University Undergraduate CatalogTexas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog
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Curriculum in Computer Science

The curriculum in computer science is designed to prepare students to enter the rapidly expanding computer field. It is based upon the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineer Computer Society and the Association for Computing Machinery recommendations for curricula and courses. A major in computer science at Texas A&M includes a 12-hour area of concentration in another department of the University. This area of concentration will not in general appear on the student's transcript. 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 Automata.

(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, 6 from POLS 206 and 207, and 6 from international and cultural diversity. The international and cultural diversity requirement 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.

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 more information.