Why You Might Want to Major in CS
There are many ways in which you can benefit from a computer
science degree, including:
· Computer science can help with problem-solving skills.
· You can gain skills which allow you to create innovative technologies that can have a positive impact on the world.
· The skills will allow you to pursue many different possible careers
· There will most likely be computer-related jobs available for you, which you can have because of skills and concepts learned from CS.
Source: “Top 10 Reasons to Major in Computing,” Association for Computing Machinery, 2006. Web. http://computingcareers.acm.org/?page_id=4. Accessed October 13, 2014.
What You Will Learn in CS Courses
These are some of the things you will learn in computer science courses:
·
How to write programs in several different
programming languages and using several different programming environments.
·
How computers, computer parts, and programming
languages are designed and how they work.· How to develop software that meets the expectations of customers who might use it.
CS Courses Offered at WSU Vancouver
There are many CS courses for undergraduates, and you will
take many of them if you want to earn a BS (Bachelor of Science) degree.
CS courses required to earn a BS:
·
CS 121: Program Design/Development
·
CS 122: Data Structures· CS 216: Discrete Structures/Math
· CS 223: Advanced Data Structures
· CS 224: Programming Tools
· CS 260: Computer Organization
· CS 261: C and Assembly Language Programming
· CS 317: Automata and Formal Languages
· CS 320: Fundamentals of Software Engineering
· CS 351: Intro to Database Systems
· CS 355: Programming Language Design
· CS 360: Systems Programming
· CS 402: Social and Professional Issues in Computer Science
· CS 420 and 421: Software Engineering in Practice
· CS 450: Design and Analysis of Algorithms
· CS 460: Operating Systems
Optional courses you can take:
·
CS 330: Numerical Computing
·
CS 425: Digital Forensics· CS 427: Computer Security
· CS 440: Artificial Intelligence
· CS 442: Computer Graphics
· CS 443: Human-Computer Interaction
· CS 447: Computer Game Design
· CS 452: Compiler Design
· CS 453: Web Data Management
· CS 455: Intro to Computer Networks
· CS 458: Mobile Application Development
· CS 466: Embedded Systems
· CS 483: Topics in Computer Science
· CS 499: Special Problems
Source: “Undergraduate Computer Science Course Descriptions,”
Washington State University Vancouver, School of Engineering and Computer
Science. Web. http://ecs.vancouver.wsu.edu/computer-science/undergraduate-computer-science-course-descriptions.
Accessed October 13, 2014.
Requirements for Earning a CS Degree
You will need to complete the following courses (or
equivalent courses) in order to obtain a BS in computer science:
· The CS courses listed above
· Calculus I through III (Math 171, 172, and 273
· Linear Algebra (Math 220)
· Two semesters of physics (201 and 202)
· Roots of Contemporary Issues (History 105)
· Intro to writing (English 101)
· Micro- or macro-economics (Econs 101 or 102hysics 201
· A biology course (with lab) CS 261hysics 202S 320
· Technical Writing (English 402)
· Statistics 360
· A humanities course
· A diversity course
· A creative/professional arts course
· Some option courses (usually chosen from the optional CS courses listed above, but some can be from math or engineering)
Source: “Bachelor of Science, Computer Science Requirements (Vancouver Only),” Washington State University Vancouver Catalog. Web. http://www.catalog.wsu.edu/Vancouver/Academics/DegreeProgram/1628. Accessed October 14, 2014.
What You Can Do to Prepare for CS Courses
· Learn the basics of how computers work (such as the different components).
· Learn how to write simple programs in a programming language, and how to use a programming environment.
· Learn some mathematical and theoretical concepts, such as sets and logic, which are used throughout computer science.
