Computer Science
Computer Science, B.S.
George Mason's computer science program is accredited by the Computer Science
Accreditation Board.
For the B.S. degree, students must complete 120 credits, including the general
education requirements and all of the following:
1. Computer science core: CS 105, 112, 211, 265, 310, 330, 365,
421, and 483. Total credits: 26. Students should take CS 105 during their second
semester.
2. Senior computer science: Any four of the following: CS 440,
450, 451, 455, 471, 475, 480, 482, 490, and 491. Total credits: 12.
3. Mathematics: MATH 113, 114, 125, 203, 213; OR 481; STAT 344;
and ECE 301. Total credits: 26. (Students will not receive any credit for MATH
105 or MATH 108.)
4. Computer science-related courses: 6 credits chosen from STAT
354; OR 335, 441, 442; ECE 280, 431, 442, 447, 450, 511; SWE 432; SYST 371, 470;
PHIL 371, 376; and any MATH or CS course numbered above 300 (except MATH 351).
Students may need to choose electives to satisfy the prerequisites of these courses.
In particular, those planning to take MATH 352 may replace STAT 344 with MATH
351.
5. Natural sciences: 12 credits in natural science courses intended
for scientists and engineers. Two of the courses for this requirement must have
laboratory components and must constitute a sequence. A list of relevant courses
can be obtained from the department office.
6. COMM 100 or 104: Computer science students in either course
must make a technical presentation. The course fulfills the general education
requirement in oral communication for IT&E students.
Students should consult the sample schedule below and ensure that course prerequisites
are satisfied. Students should obtain computer-generated audits periodically to
ensure that degree requirements are met.
Sample Schedule
The following table presents a sample schedule that an undergraduate computer
science major would follow to obtain a bachelor's degree.
| First Semester |
|
| MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I |
4 |
| CS 112 Computer Science I |
4 |
| ENGL 101 Composition |
3 |
| HIST 100 History of Western Civilization* |
3 |
TOTAL
|
14 |
| Second Semester |
|
| CS 211 Computer Science II |
3 |
| MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II |
4 |
| General education course* |
3 |
| Literature general education course |
3 |
TOTAL
|
13 |
| Third Semester |
|
| CS 265 Assembly Language Programming |
3 |
| MATH 213 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III |
3 |
| HIST 120 U.S. History general education* |
3 |
| Social and behavioral science general education* |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| CS 105 Computer Ethics and Society |
1 |
TOTAL
|
16 |
| Fourth Semester |
|
| CS 310 Computer Science III |
3 |
| MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I |
3 |
| ENGL 302 Advanced Composition |
3 |
| Natural science course |
4 |
| COMM 100 Oral Communication or 104 Presenting with
Technology |
3 |
TOTAL
|
16 |
| Fifth Semester |
|
| CS 330 Formal Methods and Models |
3 |
| CS 421 Introduction to Software Engineering |
3 |
| ECE 301 Digital Electronics |
3 |
| MATH 203 Matrix Algebra |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
TOTAL
|
15 |
| Sixth Semester |
|
| CS 365 Computer Systems Architecture |
3 |
| Senior computer science course |
3 |
| STAT 344 Probability and Statistics for Engineers
and Scientists I |
3 |
| Computer science-related elective |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
TOTAL
|
15 |
| Seventh Semester |
|
| Senior computer science course |
3 |
| CS 483 Data Structures and Analysis of Algorithms |
3 |
| OR 481 Numerical Methods in Engineering |
3 |
| Computer science-related elective |
3 |
| Natural science with lab |
4 |
TOTAL
|
16 |
| Eighth Semester |
|
| Senior computer science courses (2) |
6 |
| Natural science with lab |
4 |
| Global understanding general education |
3 |
| Synthesis general education |
3 |
| TOTAL |
16 |
* These 12 credits must satisfy the general education component of the IT&E
degree requirements. See the third item in the list of bachelor of science degree
requirements at the front of this chapter.
Change of Major
Students requesting a change of major to computer science must have a GPA of
at least 2.750 and have successfully completed two of these courses: CS 112, 211;
MATH 113, 114, or 125.
Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination
Some students may receive credit for IT 103, CS 112, CS 211, or CS 265 by passing
departmentally administered examinations. In addition, a score of 3 on the Advanced
Placement (AP) Computer Science examination qualifies the student for credit in
CS 112. An AP score of 4, together with demonstrated competence in the programming
language used in CS 211, qualifies the student for credit in CS 211. A score of
4 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) program computer science examination
qualifies the student for credit in CS 112, and a score of 5 or more qualifies
the student for credit in CS 211.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
Computer science majors complete the writing-intensive requirement through
a planned sequence of projects and reports integral to the following computer
science courses: CS 105, 211, 332, 421, 471, 480, and 490. In all these courses,
faculty members provide feedback on students' expository writing.
Grades
A student must earn a C or better in any course intended to satisfy a prerequisite
for a computer science course. Computer science majors may not use more than one
course with a grade of D toward the departmental requirements.
Cooperative Education
A computer science major may participate in the George Mason cooperative education
program or in a work-study program in the Washington, D.C.-Northern Virginia area.
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