Athens State Graduates

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

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Computer Science (CS)

The B.S. in Computer Science degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.

The degree in Computer Science provides students with a strong foundation in programming, problem analysis, problem solving, and software engineering, significantly supplemented with practical experience using hardware and software resources available in contemporary computer laboratories maintained by the Department. In addition to the Computer Science Professional Courses core curriculum, students must complete a concentration in Software and Systems, Cybersecurity, or Intelligent Systems.

The Software and Systems concentration is designed to prepare students for business and industry or graduate school. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare students to demonstrate competency in theory, systems, applications, and ethics.

The curriculum for the Cybersecurity concentration provides students with the knowledge of technologies and methods to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and the computing devices that store information. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare students to be able to demonstrate understanding of information assurance issues, and have the skills to solve problems related to computer programming, computer networking, and information security.

The concentration in Intelligent Systems is designed to prepare students to solve real-world problems with contemporary tools and technologies in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. The goal of this curriculum is to provide students an adequate understanding of technological, business, and ethical issues of intelligent systems and have the skills to apply these methods to solve real-world problems.

The Computer Science Program adheres to the following requirements related to course substitutions for both Computer Science options:

  • Introduction to Information Systems and BASIC Programming courses will not satisfy the Computer Science professional elective requirement.
  • “System Analysis and Design” courses cannot be substituted for CS 451 or CS 452.
  • “Work-based” credit cannot be substituted for CS 451 or CS 452 or ITE courses.
  • Computer certification examinations will not substitute for any required or elective coursework.

Computer Science Program Student Outcomes:

Upon completion, Computer Science program graduates will demonstrate the following:

  1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
  2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  4. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
  5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
  6. Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

Computer Science Program Objectives: 2 - 3 years after graduation

The Bachelor of Science with a major in Computer Science produces graduates who:

PO1. Are academically prepared to continue to graduate study or advance in their workplace,

PO2. Are skilled, competent, and capable of contributing to the workforce in their specialty,

PO3. Use the background they have acquired from their study of a wide range of areas in computer science as a basis for continued self-motivated growth of their professional skills and knowledge,

PO4. Model high ethical standards within the community and profession,

PO5. Use teamwork skills effectively in the development of computer software systems