2016-2017 Undergraduate Course Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science, BS


Program Director

Susan Older
4-181 Center for Science and Technology
315-443-  4679, Fax 315-443-2583
sueo@ecs.syr.edu.

Faculty

Thomas Barnard, Howard A. Blair, Tomislav Bujanovic, Stephen J. Chapin, Biao Chen, C.Y. Roger Chen, Shiu-Kai Chin, Jun Hwan (Brandon) Choi, Wenliang (Kevin) Du, Sara Eftekharnejad, Ehat Ercanli, Makan Fardad, James W. Fawcett, Prasanta Ghosh,  Jennifer Graham, Mustafa Cenk Gursoy, Can Isik,  Andrew Chung-Yeung Lee, Jay Kyoon Lee, Yingbin Liang, Duane L. Marcy, Kishan G. Mehrotra, Chilukuri K. Mohan, Jae C. Oh, Susan Older, Vir Phoha, Qinru Qiu,  James S. Royer, Jeffrey Saltz, Tapan K. Sarkar, Fred Schlereth, Q. Wang Song, Sucheta Soundarajan, Jian Tang, Yuzhe (Richard) Tang, William C. Tetley, Pramod K. Varshney, Senem Velipasalar, Li Wang, Hong Wang, Yanzhi Wang, Heng Yin, Edmund Yu, Reza Zafarani

The mission of the computer and information science programs is to assist students to be ready for work and ready for change. This means preparing students to make professional contributions to computer and information science immediately upon graduation and throughout their professional careers, and to adapt to technological and societal changes.

The educational objective of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) program in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at Syracuse University are:

  • To prepare well-rounded graduates who are known by their professional competence, innovative thinking, ability to work individually and in diverse teams, leadership abilities, communication skills, and integrity.
  • To prepare well-rounded graduates who engage in applying the knowledge acquired in their major, combined with their problem solving abilities, to produce feasible solutions to problems, in a timely manner, which are deemed important in industry, government, or academia.
  • To prepare well-rounded graduates who exhibit the intellectual flexibility necessary to solve new problems in innovative ways by integrating multiple viewpoints from several disciplines in search of the best possible solutions.

This program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

The programs in computer science prepare professionals who will adapt to constant changes in technology and who will be leaders in developing the new technologies of the Information Age. The multidisciplinary nature of the curricula offers students a high degree of flexibility to design a program of study tailored to their interests and professional aspirations.

Computer science focuses on programming, algorithms, large-scale software development, and the principles of computing that underlie these areas. Syracuse’s program weaves together an emphasis on fundamental principles with new developments in computing, producing graduates prepared either to begin careers or to pursue advanced studies in the field.

With this program you will have opportunities to learn about:

  • Computer and internet security
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop machines that can work among humans.
  • Operating system design to develop the next innovation to change Windows, Mac OS X and Unix or to invent a completely new operating system.
  • Innovative thinking so you can design programs that control rockets, future search engines, and cars that drive themselves.
  • Mathematics to reveal the limits of today’s computers and explore the possibility of a new kind of computer that has yet to be imagined.
  • Problem solving, independent thinking and team collaboration in developing a large-scale software systems with other computer scientists and software engineers.

Graduates of the Syracuse University bachelor of science in computer science program achieve the following student outcomes:

  • Ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the program’s student outcomes and to the discipline. In particular, students should be able to apply this knowledge in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the tradeoffs involved in modeling, design and development of software systems of various scales and complexity.
  • Ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define computing requirements appropriate to its solution.
  • Ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs.
  • Ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish common goals
  • Understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities.
  • Ability to communicate effectively.
  • Ability to analyze the local and global impact to computing on individuals, organizations, and society.
  • Recognition of the need for lifelong learning and an ability to engage in the same.
  • Ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice.
  • Ability to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the tradeoffs involved in design choices.
  • Ability to apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity

Distribution and Core Requirements


The programs are divided into a general education section, a mathematics section, and a major section.

General Education Section


Completion of the general education section requires at least 51 credits of coursework, as follows. Each student is required to complete 6 credits of writing (WRT 105 , WRT 205 ) and 3 credits in presentational skills by taking at least one course out of the following:

Natural Sciences


The student is further required to complete 12 credits of natural sciences including

Additional Information

These 12 credits must include a two-semester sequence in a laboratory science.

(see exclusions in the Undergraduate Student Handbook)

Social Science and Humanities


The student is required to complete 21 credits in social science and humanities (A/SS/H), including the following two courses:

Free Electives


Finally, each student has 9 credits of free electives. This requirement can be satisfied by any courses except for CPS courses and certain remedial courses. A list of such courses can be obtained from the CIS program office.

Mathematics Section


The mathematics section requires at least 15 credits of math. The student must take

Major Section


The major section consists of ECS 101 - Introduction to Engineering and Computer Science , ECS 102 - Introduction to Computing , the 33-credit computer science core (listed below), and an 18-credit option in computer science.

Academic Standards


Students are required to meet academic standards as follows: no grade below C- will satisfy the requirements for the 6 credits of writing, for the mathematics section, for the computer science core, and the 18 credits of upper-division technical electives. The computer science core must be completed with a B- (2.667) average.

Upper Division Technical Electives


The B.S. degree in computer science requires at least 123 credits, including satisfactory completion of the general education and mathematics sections; computer science core requirements; and 18 credits, with grades of C- or better, in upper division technical electives chosen from the following listing. At least 9 credits of the upper division technical electives must be in computer science.

Representative Program of Study


Third Year, Spring Semester (16)


Fourth Year, Fall Semester (15)


Fourth Year, Spring Semester (15)


  • Upper-division course (3)
  • Upper-division course (3)
  • Free elective (3)
  • Free elective (3)
  • A/SS/H electives (3)

Note:


*Students wishing to preserve the option of transferring to an engineering major at the end of the first semester should take CHE 106 /CHE 107  in place of A/SS/H elective.

Intra-University Transfer


Students who wish to transfer into any program within the College of Engineering and Computer Science from another school or college within the University should have a strong record of achievement and demonstrated success in key technical courses. Specifically, it is critical for the applicant to have proven their ability to excel in college-level calculus (by completing at least one of MAT 295 , MAT 296 , or MAT 397  with a grade of B- or better) and science (by completing at least one set of PHY 211 /PHY 221  or CHE 106 /CHE 107  with a grade of B- or better). Students who wish to major in computer science must also complete CIS 252  with a grade of at least a B.