The required course work in computer science provides the student with an understanding of the basic areas of computer science: structure of programming languages, operating systems, software engineering, algorithms and data structures, computer architecture, and the theory of computer science. Electives allow students to study additional topics such as database, high performance computing, networks, and artificial intelligence. A capstone experience allows students to use their accumulated knowledge of the field either through field experience, independent study, or as an undergraduate researcher in one of our laboratories.

Minimum hours needed for graduation: 120 degree hours. Required GPA: 2.00. Required Major GPA: 2.00. At least 18 hours of computer science courses numbered 300 or above must be taken at Orono. All students must satisfy the general education requirements of both the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University. A University of Maine student who wishes to take a course elsewhere for the degree must have the course approved in advance by the department and the college.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is our traditional computer science undergraduate degree. It prepares students to work in the computer industry or to study computer science in graduate school. The B. S. degree is also appropriate for students who wish to contribute a strong computer science background to an interdisciplinary team, such as one in bioinformatics. The B.S. degree is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC) of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA).

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is an application-oriented undergraduate degree with fewer requirements in mathematics and science. The department-approved track or minor prepares the student for work as a computer professional with additional training in the application area of the minor. The minor/track also helps prepare students for graduate study in the application area.

All students must satisfy the University requirements for graduation. All courses required by the Computer Science Department, except COS 495, must be taken for a grade; courses taken PASS/FAIL will not count.

Required Computer Science Courses --- 53 hours

• *COS 140 Foundations of Computer Science (3 cr.)
• *COS 125 Introduction to Problem Solving using Computer Programming (3 cr.)
• *COS 225 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Design (4 cr.)
• COS 226 Introduction to Data Structures (3 cr.)
• COS 250 Discrete Structures (3 cr.)
• COS 301 Programming Languages (3 cr.)
• COS 335 Computer Organization and Architecture (4 cr.)
• COS 350 Data Structures and Algorithms (3 cr.)
• COS 420 Introduction to Software Engineering (3 cr.)
• COS 431 Operating Systems (3 cr.)
• COS 490 Computers and Society (3 cr.)
• COS 495 or COS 499 Field Experience or Senior Project (3 cr. required for Capstone course)
• Fifteen additional credits from COS 398, COS 4XX and COS 5XX

Mathematics Courses -- 16 hours

• * MAT 126 Calculus I (4 cr.)
• * MAT 127 Calculus II (4 cr.)
• MAT 228 Calculus III (4 cr.)
• MAT 434 Introduction to Statistics (4 cr.)

Capstone Experience Requirement

To meet the capstone requirement for the B.S. students must use their accumulated knowledge of the field in addressing a particular problem. Students may meet the capstone requirement through field experience (described with the B.A. degree below) or an independent study, including an independent study as an undergraduate research assistant in one of our laboratories.

Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

A total of 30 hours must be chosen from the areas of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. These electives must be taken from the departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences listed below. Courses used to meet the general education requirements in the area of Human Values and Social Context may also be counted toward this requirement, provided the courses are from the departments listed below. ENG 317 and CMJ 103 also count toward this requirement. Students must take at least six hours in each of the areas (Social Science; Arts and Humanities). They also must take six upper-level credits, where an upper-level course is a course with a prerequisite.

Arts and Humanities: Art, English, French, German, History, International Affairs-Foreign Languages, International Affairs-History, Latin, Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy, Romance Languages, Spanish, Theatre.

Social Sciences: Anthropology, International Affairs-Anthropology, Communication, Economics, International Affairs-Economics, International Affairs-Political Science, Journalism, Mass Communication, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology.

Science Requirement

Students must take a minimum of 14 credit hours of science. This must include a two-semester sequence of a laboratory science (e.g., PHY 121 and PHY 122), for a total of 8 hours, and an additional 6 hours of science courses. Courses fulfilling this requirement may be from any of the following areas:

• Astronomy (AST; except AST 114)
• Biological Sciences (BIO) Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology (BMB; BMB 207 and above)
• Chemistry (CHY; CHY 121 and above)
• Earth Sciences (ERS; ERS 101 and above)
• Forest Ecosystem Science (FES)
• Marine Science (SMS; SMS 110 and above)
• Physics (PHY; PHY 121 and above)
• Wildlife Ecology (WLE; WLE 200 and above)

Other required courses --- 9 hours

• *ENG 101 College Composition (3 cr.)
• *ENG 317 Business and Technical Writing (3 cr.)
• CMJ 103 Fundamentals of Public Communication (3 cr.)

This schedule illustrates one way of meeting the degree requirements within four years. This is only one model. Sufficient hours must be included to reach the University degree minimum of 120. All Department, College and University requirements must be met.

All students must satisfy the University requirements for graduation. All required courses required by the Computer Science Department, except COS 495, must be taken for a grade; courses taken PASS/FAIL will not count.

Computer Science Courses – 47 hours

• *COS 125 Introduction to Problem Solving Using Computer Programming (3 cr.)
• *COS 140 Foundations of Computer Science (3 cr.)
• *COS 225 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Design (4 cr.)
• COS 226 Introduction to Data Structures (3 cr.)
• COS 250 Discrete Structures (3 cr.)
• COS 301 Programming Languages (3 cr.)
• COS 335 Computer Organization and Architecture (4 cr.)
• COS 350 Data Structures and Algorithms (3 cr.)
• COS 420 Introduction to Software Engineering (3 cr.)
• COS 431 Operating Systems (3 cr.)
• COS 490 Computers and Society (3 cr.)
• COS 495 or COS 499 Field Experience or Senior Project (3 cr. required for Capstone course)
• Nine additional credits from COS 398, COS 4XX and COS 5XX (9 cr.)

Minor Requirement

Students must complete course work in a department approved minor/track (see department for complete list). The courses submitted to meet the requirements for the minor/track must include at least 18 hours of courses outside of computer science. Students should select an approved minor/track at the time they declare the major. Ideally, they should have begun as first-year students to take courses related to the minor/track.

Other Required Courses

• ECO 120 Principles of Microeconomics
• ECO 121 Principles of Macroeconomics
• CMJ 103 Fundamentals of Public Communication
• MAT 215 Intro. to Statistics for Business and Economics
• *MAT 126 Calculus I
• *MAT 127 Calculus II OR *MAT 115 Applied Mathematics for Business and Economics
• *ENG 101 College Composition
• *ENG 317 Business & Technical Writing (Gen. Ed. Writing Intensive)

FIELD EXPERIENCE OPTION (Capstone Experience Requirement)

To provide students with an introduction to the professional environment of computer science, selected qualified students may elect a field experience following completion of the junior lever course work. Students are placed in computing environments that utilize both their computer science education and course work in their concentration. Students are normally paid while on field experience and receive academic credit after completion of a written report and oral presentation to interested faculty, staff and students. Applicants will be screened by a committee within the department and students will be chosen for field experiences that match their credentials with employer requirements. Students who successfully complete field experience will have the location of their field experience noted on their transcript. Completion of 3 credits of COS 495 satisfies the General Education Capstone Experience requirement.

Students interested in field experience normally apply for consideration during the spring semester of their junior year. Before final acceptance in COS 495 and placement, a student normally must complete COS 301, COS 335, COS 420, COS 431, and preferably COS 350, with at least a grade of 'C' in each of these courses, and permission.

Students may elect an extended field experience that usually goes from January through August or June through December. A student would typically register for COS 495, 2 credits during the summer and 1 credit for spring or fall. This usually requires postponing graduating by one semester. Students not selecting Field Experience must select COS 499 Senior Project.

This schedule illustrates one way of meeting the degree requirements within four years. This is only one model. Sufficient hours must be included to reach the University degree minimum of 120. All Department, College and University requirements must be met. Students should use electives to complete their minor/track, to meet University general education requirements, and to meet the distribution requirements for the B.A. degree. A single course may meet more than one of these requirements.

Students should use electives to complete their minor/track, meet the University general education requirements, and meet the distribution requirements for the B.A. degree. These requirements are overlapping and a single course may meet more than one requirement. Total minimum credits for graduation is 120.