Print this page. About the Program
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers baccalaureate degrees with majors in computer science, computer engineering, and computer information systems. These degrees will provide you with the knowledge and skills to work as a practitioner in all aspects of the computing and information processing industries. The computer science major allows you to focus primarily on the software aspects of computing and applications in the humanities and sciences, the major in computer engineering includes courses in electronics and computer hardware as well as software, and the major in computer information systems is designed for students who are primarily interested in business and data processing applications. If you expect to pursue graduate study in either computer science or engineering, you are advised to pursue the computer science or computer engineering programs.
Career Opportunities
A strong academic background in computer science can lead to a variety of career opportunities, including:
• software engineers, software consultants
• computer programmers, including scientific and systems software programmers
• database specialists and managers, systems analysts
• documentation and information specialists
• computer specialists in federal, state, and local agencies
The University Career Center is available to assist you in choosing a career direction and in increasing your marketability upon graduation. For additional information, call the center at 803-777-7280.
Admission/Progression Requirements
To be admitted into the College of Engineering and Computing, you must meet all University admissions standards and College of Engineering and Computing requirements. University requirements for freshmen include a completed application, nonrefundable application fee, high-school record complete up to the time of application (including record of at least 20 academic units of study earned as required by the University), and entrance examination scores (either SAT or ACT). Details for all applicant categories can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin. All required computer science courses and courses taken as major electives are major courses and may not be counted toward a minor or application area. All other required courses and electives may be used for a minor or application area as appropriate. Introduction to Computer Concepts and General Applications Programming are not major courses and are not used in computing the major grade point average.
Programs of Study
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (120 hours)
This program requires nine hours of English, three hours of speech, 18 hours of liberal arts courses, 18 hours of mathematics courses, three hours of statistics, eight hours of physics, four hours of laboratory science, and 39 hours of computer science courses ranging from Algorithmic Design I to the Capstone Software Engineering Project. Your studies will be rounded out by nine hours of major computer science electives, including Computer Systems Engineering or computer science courses numbered above 500. You must also complete nine hours of computer science electives in your application area. Your liberal arts courses must include at least one history course, one fine arts course, and one social science course, and you must also demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language that would be equivalent to the minimum-passing grade on the exit examination in the foreign language course (122). Up to six hours of foreign language courses may count toward your liberal arts requirement. Your laboratory science course must be selected from a specific list of biology, chemistry, geology, and marine science courses.
The Bachelor of Science: Major in Computer Information Systems (120 hours)
This program requires nine hours of English, three hours of speech, 18 hours of liberal arts, 11 hours of mathematics, three hours of statistics, eight hours of laboratory sciences, and 40 hours of computer science courses ranging from Algorithmic Design I to Information Security Principles. Your studies will be rounded out by three hours of your major elective, which must be a computer science course numbered above the 500 level, and five hours of free electives. Your liberal arts courses must include at least one history course, one fine arts course, and one social science course. You must also demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language that would be equivalent to the minimum passing grade on the exit examination in the foreign language course (122). Up to six hours of foreign language courses may count toward the liberal arts requirement.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering: Major in Computer Engineering (123 hours)
This program requires nine hours of English, three hours of speech, nine hours of liberal arts, 17 hours of mathematics, three hours of mathematics electives, and courses in statistics, chemistry, physics, and 46 hours of computer science courses ranging from Algorithmic Design I to the Capstone Software Engineering Project are are also required. Your studies will be rounded out by 12 hours of specific electrical engineering courses and nine hours of major electives. Your liberal arts courses must include at least one history course, one fine arts course, and one social science course, while your math elective can be satisfied with specific math or computer science requirements. Other courses in linear algebra or numerical analysis may be substituted with permission of the department, which maintains a list of approved major electives for the computer engineering degree.
Of Special Interest
Computer science majors can participate in research projects in areas such as simulation, networking, multimedia, artificial intelligence, and computer graphics. Students also have opportunities for employment as lab monitors and system support assistants.The Department of Computer Science and Engineering provides a comprehensive education. Computer science majors receive practical, hands-on training in software design and development, distributed systems, information systems, and programming using our state-of-the-art computing facilities and workstations. We also serve various departments within the University through course offerings that provide basic computing skills necessary to the pursuit of other disciplines.The department has many distinguished faculty members. They will advise you on an appropriate program of study, relevant extracurricular activities, and career planning.