2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Requirements for a Major in Computer Science
Students who wish to major in computer science must complete the following.
1. Degree Requirements
Students must complete the general university degree requirements as identified in the General Academic Regulations section of the catalog.
2. Admission
Admission to major standing in computer science is competitive and requires an application for admittance into the major. See the computer science program description for more information regarding admission to the major.
3. Computer Science Major
Computer science majors must complete the following CIS courses with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Required Computer Science Courses
- CIS 162 - Computer Science I (4 credits)
- CIS 163 - Computer Science II (4 credits)
- CIS 241 - System-level Programming and Utilities (3 credits)
- CIS 263 - Data Structures and Algorithms (3 credits)
- CIS 290 - Professional Responsibilities and Practices (3 credits)
- CIS 343 - Structure of Programming Languages (3 credits)
- CIS 350 - Introduction to Software Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 351 - Computer Organization (3 credits)
- CIS 353 - Database (3 credits)
- CIS 452 - Operating Systems Concepts (3 credits)
- CIS 457 - Data Communications (3 credits)
- CIS 467 - Computer Science Project (3 credits) (Capstone course)
- CIS 490 - Internship (2 to 5 credits)
Elective Computer Science Courses
Computer science majors must select four electives from the following:
- CIS 335 - Data Mining (3 credits)
- CIS 357 - Mobile Application Development (3 credits)
- CIS 360 - Information Management and Science (3 credits)
- CIS 365 - Applied Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
- CIS 367 - Computer Graphics (3 credits)
- CIS 368 - Usability Design and Evaluation (3 credits)
- CIS 371 - Web Application Programming (3 credits)
- CIS 373 - Pervasive Computing (3 credits)
- CIS 375 - Wireless Networks and Security (3 credits)
- CIS 376 - Game Programming Techniques and Algorithms (3 credits)
- CIS 378 - Applied Machine Learning (3 credits)
- CIS 380 - Special Topics in Computer Information Systems (1 to 4 credits)
- CIS 418 - Secure Software Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 430 - Computer and Cyber Forensics (3 credits)
- CIS 443 - Software Development Tools (3 credits)
- CIS 451 - Computer Architecture (3 credits)
- CIS 453 - Ethical Hacking (3 credits)
- CIS 455 - Applied Cryptography (3 credits)
- CIS 458 - System Security (3 credits)
- CIS 461 - Compiler Design and Construction (3 credits)
- CIS 465 - Automata and Theory of Computation (3 credits)
- CIS 480 - Special Topics in Computer Information Systems (1 to 4 credits)
4. Cognate Courses
Computer science majors must complete the following cognate courses:
- COM 201 - Speech (3 credits)
- MTH 201 - Calculus I (4 credits)
- MTH 225 - Discrete Structures: Computer Science (3 credits)
- MTH 325 - Discrete Structures: Computer Science 2 (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits) OR STA 312 - Probability and Statistics (3 credits)
- WRT 350 - Business Communication (3 credits)
Select one math elective:
- MTH 202 - Calculus II (4 credits)
- MTH 204 - Linear Algebra I (3 credits)
- MTH 465 - Automata and Theory of Computation (3 credits)
- STA 216 - Intermediate Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- STA 418 - Statistical Computing and Graphics with R (3 credits)
Select two science electives:
- BIO 120 - General Biology I (4 credits)
- BIO 121 - General Biology II (4 credits)
- BMS 202 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
- CHM 115 - Principles of Chemistry I (4 credits)
- CHM 116 - Principles of Chemistry II (5 credits)
- GEO 111 - Exploring the Earth (4 credits)
- PHY 220 - General Physics I (5 credits)
- PHY 221 - General Physics II (5 credits)
- PHY 230 - Principles of Physics I (5 credits)
- PHY 231 - Principles of Physics II (5 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework
This suggested order of coursework assumes that students will complete the CS foundation and general education courses with the help of their advisor and apply for admission at the end of the winter semester of their first year. The following course sequence also assumes a strong mathematics background for the entering student. If mathematics deficiencies exist, completing the mathematics prerequisites should be the student's top priority.
Recommended course of study plans may be found on the PCEC Advising website: gvsu.edu/pcec/advising/program-plans-computer-science-cs-67.htm.
Year One
- CIS 162 - Computer Science I (4 credits)
- MTH 124 - Precalculus: Functions and Models (5 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- CIS 163 - Computer Science II (4 credits)
- COM 201 - Speech (3 credits)
- MTH 225 - Discrete Structures: Computer Science (3 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
- Appropriate general education coursework
Year Two
- CIS 241 - System-level Programming and Utilities (3 credits)
- CIS 290 - Professional Responsibilities and Practices (3 credits)
- MTH 201 - Calculus I (4 credits)
- MTH 325 - Discrete Structures: Computer Science 2 (3 credits)
- CIS 263 - Data Structures and Algorithms (3 credits)
- CIS 351 - Computer Organization (3 credits)
- Math elective
- Appropriate general education coursework
Year Three
- CIS 350 - Introduction to Software Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 353 - Database (3 credits)
- CIS 457 - Data Communications (3 credits)
- CIS 343 - Structure of Programming Languages (3 credits)
- Computer science elective
- Science electives
- Appropriate general education coursework
Year Four
- CIS 452 - Operating Systems Concepts (3 credits)
- WRT 350 - Business Communication (3 credits)
- CIS 467 - Computer Science Project (3 credits)
- CIS 490 - Internship (2 to 5 credits)
- Computer science electives
- Appropriate general education coursework