COLLEGE OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATICS - DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Dept of Bioinformatics & Genomics  |  Dept of Computer Science  |  Dept of Software and Information Systems

Computer Science is the cornerstone of modern information technology. It has revolutionized how we learn, communicate, entertain, conduct business, perform research, and practice medicine. This information revolution is just beginning and is providing computer scientists with nearly limitless opportunities to make satisfying and enriching contributions to society. We can think of the work of computer scientists as falling into three categories:

1.) They design and implement software. Computer scientists take on challenging programming jobs. They also supervise other programmers, keeping them aware of new approaches.

2.) They devise new ways to use computers. Progress in the CS areas of networking, database, and human-computer-interface enabled the development of the World Wide Web. Now, researchers are working to make robots to be practical aides that demonstrate intelligence, are using databases to create new knowledge, and are using computers to help decipher the secrets of our DNA.

3.) They develop effective ways to solve computing problems. For example, computer scientists develop the best possible ways to store information in databases, send data over networks, and display complex images. Their theoretical background allows them to determine the best performance possible, and their study of algorithms helps them develop new approaches that provide better performance. Computer science spans the range from theory to programming. While other disciplines can produce graduates better prepared for specific jobs, computer science offers a comprehensive foundation that permits graduates to adapt to new technologies and new ideas.

The Department of Computer Science offers programs leading to four degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. in Information Technology. (See the UNC Charlotte Graduate Catalog for information on the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees). Students are prepared for their profession through a comprehensive program of courses and research opportunities in Departmental state-of-the-art computing labs.

BACHELOR OF ARTS: COMPUTER SCIENCE

The Computer Science Concentration consists of 39-42 hours in computer science, 3-9 additional hours of ITCS/ITIS at 3000 or above, and 12 hours in mathematics and statistics. Courses included are: ITCS 1212, 1212L, 1215, 2175, 2214, 2215, 3146, 3160, 3688; 12 hours in one of the CS focus areas listed below; 3-6 hours of ITCS 4155, 4232, 4650, 4651, 4990, or 4991 for capstone experience; MATH 1120, 2164 STAT 1220, 2223; or MATH 1241, 1242, 2164, STAT 2122. PHIL 1105, ITIS 2211, and ENGL 2116 are also required.

A component of 21-24 semester hours of approved non-computer science courses forming an integrated program of secondary focus must be included. A three-hour bridge course is included in the 21-24 hours. This course bridges between CS and the secondary focus discipline, which can be an ITCS course or a course in the other discipline. The secondary focus in business consists of ACCT 2121, 2122, ECON 2101, 2102, INFO 3231, 3234, 3236/3240 plus ITCS/INFO 2231 as a required bridge course. The secondary focus in cognitive science consists of PSYC 3115, 3116, PHIL 3245, ITIS 3130; and any two from ITIS 3131, ENGL 4161, 4167, 4263, PHIL 3235, 3265, PSYC 3122, 3313, 4316 with ITCS 3216 as a required bridge course. In general, a secondary focus consists of 9 hours at the 3000-level or above, plus an additional 12 hours of approved non-ITCS courses, forming an integrated program in a complementary (or applied) area to computer science, possibly forming a minor in that discipline area.

BACHELOR OF ARTS: COMPUTER SCIENCE, FINANCIAL SERVICES INFORMATICS CONCENTRATION

The Financial Services Informatics Concentration consists of 27 hours in financial services courses that include ACCT 2121, ACCT 2122, ECON 2101, ECON 2102, FINN 3120, FINN 3221, FINN 3226, ITCS/ITIS 1301, and ITCS/ITIS 3301; 36 hours of courses in informatics. These include ITCS 1212, ITCS 1212L, ITCS 1215, ITCS/ITIS 2301, ITCS 3155, ITCS 3160, and ITCS 3688; ITIS 1210, ITIS 2300, ITIS 3130, ITIS 3200, ITIS 3300, and ITIS 4220. There is a 6 hour component in Financial Services Informatics Industry Foundations Capstone I and II. There are nine hours of mathematics and statistics courses, including MATH 1120, STAT 1220, and STAT 2223. A 6 hour block is dedicated to PHIL 1105 and ITIS 2211. Finally, there is a requirement for 6 hours of COMM 2105 and ENGL 2116.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE: COMPUTER SCIENCE

The Computer Science Concentration consists of 45-48 hours of computer science, 6-9 additional hours of ITCS/ITIS at 3000 or above, and 12 hours in mathematics and statistics.

Courses included are: ITCS 1212, 1212L, 1215, 2175, 2214, 2215, 3146, 3160, 3181, 3688, 4102, 12 hours in one of the CS focus areas listed below, 3-6 hours of ITCS 4155, 4232, 4650, 4651, 4990, or 4991 for capstone experience; MATH 1241, 1242, 2164, STAT 2122. PHIL 1105, ITIS 2211, and ENGL 2116 are also required.

A component of 15 semester hours of approved non-computer science courses forming an integrated program of outside concentration must be included. The business outside concentration consists of a prescribed set of courses from the College of Business and one 3000-level course from a restricted set of choices. The mathematics outside concentration consists of 9 semester hours of approved mathematics courses at the 3000 level or above (6 hours of additional electives must be selected in this case). In general, an outside concentration consists of 6 hours at the 3000-level or above, plus an additional 9 hours of approved non-ITCS courses, forming an integrated program of secondary strength.

FOCUS AREAS

Computing Systems
ITCS 3110 Compiler Construction
ITCS 3112 Design & Implementation of Object-Oriented Systems
ITCS 3143 Operating Systems
ITCS 3155 Software Engineering
ITCS 3166 Introduction to Computer Networks
ITCS 4141 Computer Organization and Architecture

Game Design and Development
ITCS 4120 Introduction to Computer Graphics
ITCS 4230 Intro to Game Design & Development
ITCS 4231 Advanced Game Design and Development
ITCS 4235 Game Engine Construction
ITCS 4236 Artificial Intelligence for Computer Games
ITCS 4237 Audio Processing for Entertainment Computing

Graphics and Visualization
ITCS 3134 Digital Image Processing
ITCS 4120 Introduction to Computer Graphics
ITCS 4121 Information Visualization
ITCS 4122 Visual Analytics
ITCS 4123 Visualization & Visual Communication

Intelligent Systems
ITCS 3134 Digital Image Processing
ITCS 3152 Symbolic Programming
ITCS 3153 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
ITCS 4151 Intelligent Robotics
ITCS 4152 Computer Vision

Networking and Distributed Systems
ITCS 3166 Introduction to Computer Networks
ITCS 4141 Computer Organization & Architecture
ITCS 4145 Parallel Computing
ITCS 4146 Grid Computing
ITIS 3200 Intro to Information Security & Privacy

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE: COMPUTER SCIENCE, COMPUTER ENGINEERING CONCENTRATION

The Computer Engineering Concentration consists of 42-45 hours of computer science, 6 hours of technical electives at 3000 or above, 15 hours of mathematics and statistics, 11 hours of electrical and computer engineering. These include: ITCS 1212, 1212L, 1215, 2175, 2214, 2215, 3146, 3181, 3183, 3688, 4102, 4141, 4145; an additional ITCS 3xxx/4xxx approved by the advisor; 3-6 hours of ITCS 4155, 4681, 4682, 4990, or 4991 for capstone experience; MATH 1241, 1242, 2164, 2171, STAT 2122; ECGR 2111, 2112, 2155, 2156, 3131. PHIL 1105, ITIS 2211, and ENGL 2116 are also required.

Students must also complete PHYS 2101, 2101L, 2102, 2102L, and 3141, CHEM 1251 and 1251L and ECON 2101.

MINOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Requirements for the minor in Computer Science include completion of 24 hours of computer science: ITCS 1212, 1212L, 1215, 2175, 2214, 2215, 3146, 3160, and 3688.

MINOR IN INFORMATION SCIENCE

Requirements for the minor in Information Science include completion of 24 hours of computer science: ITCS 1212, 1212L, 1215, 2175, 2214, 3112, 3146, 3155, and 3160.

CERTIFICATE IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

The Department of Computer Science offers a certificate in Computer Programming to non-Computer Science majors. A certificate will be awarded by the Department of Computer Science to post-baccalaureate students (students having earned a bachelor's degree in any field, with one semester of calculus, who have enrolled with the graduate school as a post-baccalaureate student) who have completed the course requirements listed below:

• ITCS 1212 Introduction to Computing I
• ITCS 1212L Programming Lab I
• ITCS 1215 Introduction to Computing II
• ITCS 2175 Logic and Algorithms
• ITCS 2214 Data Structures
• ITCS 2215 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• ITCS 3112 Design and Implementation of Object-Oriented Systems
• ITCS 3155 Software Engineering
• ITCS 3160 Database Design and Implementation OR ITCS 4145 Parallel Computing

CERTIFICATE IN COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

The Department of Computer Science offers a certificate in Computer Architecture to non-Computer Science majors. A certificate will be awarded by the Department of Computer Science to post-baccalaureate students (students having earned a bachelor's degree in any field, with one semester of calculus, who have enrolled with the graduate school as a post-baccalaureate student), who have completed the course requirements listed below:

• ITCS 1212 Introduction to Computing I
• ITCS 1212L Programming Lab I
• ITCS 1215 Introduction to Computing II
• ITCS 2214 Data Structures
• ITCS 3146 Operating Systems & Networks
• ITCS 3181 Logic & Computer Systems
• ITCS 3183 Hardware Systems Design
• ITCS 4145 Parallel Computing
• ITCS 4181 Microcomputer Interfacing

CERTIFICATE IN GAME DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT (GDD)

The Game Design and Development certificate provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to reach a demonstrated level of competence in game design and development. Course-work towards the certificate in GDD can be used for credit towards the Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. However, its primary purpose is to provide a well-defined target for students who want to advance their knowledge of modern game design and development techniques and work with a variety of professionals, from artists to writers, to being the vision for an interactive game or media product to life. The certificate may be pursued concurrently with any of the undergraduate degree programs at UNC Charlotte.

The certificate will be awarded upon completion of five to six undergraduate level courses (15-18 credits) in the area of game design and development. Up to a maximum of six transfer credits may be applied to the certificate. Course substitutions may be made at the discretion of the GDD Certificate Coordinators. The Certificate requires all courses taken for the certificate to be passed at the C level or above, and a GPA in all certificate courses of 2.5 or above.

To obtain the certificate, a student needs to:

1) Take the following four compulsory courses:
• ITCS 4230 Intro to Game Design & Development
• ITCS 4231 Advanced Game Design & Development
• ITCS 4232 Game Design & Development Studio
• ITCS 4120 Intro to Computer Graphics

2) Take one two-course sequence from:
Artificial Intelligence (18 credits total)
• ITCS 3153 Intro to Artificial Intelligence
• ITCS 4236 A.I. for Computer Games

Computation (18 credits total)
• ITCS 4237 Audio Processing for Entertainment Computing
• A computation-related course approved by the Certificate Coordinators

Graphics (15 credits total)
• ITCS 4120 Introduction to Computer Graphics (This is a compulsory course)
• ITCS 4235 Game Engine Construction

Networking (18 credits total)
• ITCS 3166 Introduction to Computer Networks and
• A game-networking related course approved by the Certificate Coordinators

Other (15-18 credits total)
• A sequence of two related courses (generally from ITCS/ITIS at the 3000 level or above) approved by the GDD Certificate Coordinators.

Admission Requirements. To be admitted into the Undergraduate Certificate in Game Design and Development, students must meet the general University requirements for admission into Undergraduate Certificate Programs. These University-level requirements include:

1) An undergraduate degree or admission to an undergraduate degree program at UNC Charlotte.
2) An application submitted to the Registrar if applicant already holds an undergraduate degree, or to the department offering the program if applicant does not hold an undergraduate degree.
3) Official transcripts for previous degree(s) and course work
4) A Declaration of Program form (Change of Major/Minor form) listing the certificate program.

In addition, the program expects a current working knowledge of two higher-level languages, including at least one procedural language; and a familiarity with computer applications. The following minimal background in mathematics is also required: two semesters of calculus and one semester of discrete structures. Individuals who have worked at a high professional level in the computer industry may be able to substitute work experience for specific subject area admission requirements.

Students who anticipate applying Certificate courses toward an undergraduate degree program should seek advice from that program prior to enrolling. Admission to an undergraduate degree program does not ensure admission into a discipline-related certificate program.

SUGGESTED CURRICULUM: B.A. DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE 

Total Hours = 120

* A mathematics option consisting of MATH 1241, 1242, and 2164, and STAT 2122 may be selected as an alternate to the math courses listed.

SUGGESTED CURRICULUM:  B.S. DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Total Hours = 120

SUGGESTED CURRICULUM: B.S. DEGREE, COMPUTER ENGINEERING CONCENTRATION

 Total Hours = 120

EARLY-ENTRY PROGRAM: Master of Science in Computer Science

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may be accepted into the Master of Science in Computer Science and begin work toward a graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree. The criteria for admission are the following:

1) A student may be accepted into the Early-Entry Program at any time after completion of 75 semester hours of undergraduate work applicable to the appropriate degree although it is expected that close to 90 hours will have been earned by the time the first graduate course is taken.
2) The application process and all required documentation (e.g., test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation) are the same for early entry students as for other applicants to the program. Admission must be recommended by the Department of Computer Science and approved by the Graduate School. The admission status will be “provisional” pending the award of the undergraduate degree.
3) To be accepted into this program an undergraduate student must have at least a 3.2 overall GPA and a minimum 3.3 GPA in the department of Computer Science.
4) If an Early-Entry student has not met the normal graduate admission requirements of a 2.75 overall undergraduate GPA and a 3.0 junior senior GPA at the end of his/her baccalaureate degree, she/he will be dismissed from the graduate program.
5) Students accepted into an Early-Entry Program will be subject to the same policies that pertain to other matriculated graduate students. Generally, it will be assumed that early entry students will finish their baccalaureate degrees before they complete 15 hours of graduate work.
6) This Early-Entry Program is also accelerated in which up to 12 hours earned at the graduate level may be substituted for required undergraduate hours. In other words, up to 12 hours of graduate work may be "double counted" toward both the baccalaureate and graduate degrees.

Approved Course Substitutions for Early/Accelerated Entry into Computer Science MS program

Page Maintained By:  Academic Affairs