Computer Science Course Requirements
The University requires all baccalaureate degree students to satisfy a
common core of course work known as the General Education Requirements.
Course work in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is also an
integral part of the engineering program. Courses must be taken and
distributed to cover the Four Content Areas and the Five Competencies
listed below. Please see the University of Connecticut General Catalog
for more detailed information.
Note that students must earn at least a 2.0 grade point average for all calculable course work to receive a degree.
General Education Requirements
There are four Content Areas:
- Arts and Humanities. Six credits.
- Social Sciences. Six credits.
- Science and Technology. Six to seven credits.
- Diversity and Multiculturalism. Six credits.
The courses in Content Areas One, Two, and Three must be taken in six different academic units. Content Area courses may be counted toward the major.
Normally, the six credits required as a minimum for each Content Area will be met by two three-credit courses. However, in Content Area One, one-credit performance courses may be included. Students may use no more than three credits of such courses to meet the requirement.
In Content Area Four, at least three credits shall address issues of diversity and/or multiculturalism outside of the United States (International courses).
One, and only one, Content Area Four course may also serve as a Content Area One, Content Area Two, or Content Area Three requirement.
CONTENT AREA 1
Arts and Humanities: Arts and Humanities courses provide a broad vision of artistic and humanist themes. These courses enable students themselves to study and understand the artistic, cultural and historical processes of humanity. They encourage students to explore their own traditions and their places within the larger world so that they, as informed citizens, may participate more fully in the rich diversity of human languages and cultures. All CS majors are required to take PHIL 104, as one of the two courses to satisfy this content area. Link to courses that satisfy the Content Area 1 requirement.CONTENT AREA 2
Social Sciences: The social sciences examine how individuals, groups, institutions, and societies behave and influence one another and the natural environment. Courses in this group enable students to analyze and understand interactions of the numerous social factors that influence behavior at the individual, cultural, societal, national, or international level. They use the methods and theories of social science inquiry to develop critical thought about current social issues and problems. Link to courses that satisfy the Content Area 2 requirement.CONTENT AREA 3
Science and Technology: These courses acquaint students with scientific thought, observation, experimentation, and formal hypothesis testing, and enable students to consider the impact that developments in science and technology have on the nature and quality of life. Knowledge of the basic vocabulary of science and technology is a prerequisite for informed assessments of the physical universe and of technological developments. CS majors will satisfy this requirement by taking the science courses required by the degree. Link to courses that satisfy the Content Area 3 requirement.CONTENT AREA 4
Diversity and Multiculturalism: In this interconnected global community, individuals of any profession need to be able to understand, appreciate, and function in cultures other than their own. Diversity and multiculturalism in the university curriculum contribute to this essential aspect of education by bringing to the fore the historical truths about different cultural perspectives, especially those of groups that traditionally have been under-represented. These groups might be characterized by such features as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identities, political systems, or religious traditions, or by persons with disabilities. By studying the ideas, history, values, and creative expressions of diverse groups, students gain appreciation for differences as well as commonalities among people. Link to courses that satisfy the Content Area 4 requirement.Competencies
University of Connecticut undergraduates need to demonstrate competency in five fundamental areas - computer technology, information literacy, quantitative skills, second language proficiency and writing. The development of these competencies involves two parts: one establishing entry-level expectations and the second establishing graduation expectations. The entry-level expectations apply to all incoming students. The exit expectations may vary for different major fields of study.Computer Technology Competency
Entering students are expected to have the basic computer technology skills required to begin university study. Students should take online assessments of knowledge and competency and utilize available workshops/online tutorials to make up any gaps. Each major has established expectations for the computer technology competencies of its graduates and built the development of these into the major curriculum. CS majors satisfy this requirement by completing the required CS coursework in the majorInformation Literacy Competency
Information literacy involves a general understanding of how information is created, disseminated and organized, and an ability to access, evaluate, synthesize and incorporate information into written, oral, or media presentations. Basic information literacy is taught to all freshmen as an integral part of ENGL 110/111, in collaboration with the staff of the University Libraries. Each major program has considered the information literacy competencies required of its graduates and built those expectations into the upper-level research and writing requirements in the major. In addition to the basic competency achieved in ENGL 110/111 or equivalent, all Engineering students will receive instructions in ENGR 100 or equivalent on how to conduct effective information searches, both in the library and on the web. As the student progresses, successive courses will require an increased level of Information Literacy competency. An advanced level of Information Literacy will be achieved at the completion of the programs major design experience course, CSE 293W.Quantitative (Q) Competency
All students must pass two Q courses, which may also satisfy Content Area requirements. One Q course must be from Mathematics or Statistics. CS majors satisfy this requirement with the mathematics courses required for the major.Second Language Competency
A student meets the minimum requirement if admitted to the University with three years of a single foreign language in high school, or the equivalent. When the years of study have been split between high school and earlier grades, the requirement is met if the student has successfully completed the third-year high school level course. With anything less than that, the student must pass the second semester course in the first year sequence of college level study in a single language.Writing (W) Competency
All students must take either ENGL 110 or 111. Students passing ENGL 250 are considered to have met the ENGL 110 or 111 requirement. Additionally, all students must take two writing-intensive (W) courses, which may also satisfy Content Area requirements. One of these must be at the 200-level and associated with the student's major. Approved courses for each major are listed in their sections of this catalog. (Note: ENGL 110 or 111 is a prerequisite to all writing-intensive courses. CS majors must complete the two required writing (W) courses, CSE 210W and CSE 293W.School of Engineering Requirements
All Computer Science students are required to complete the following School of Engineering Requirements:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 123C | Introduction to Computing | 2 credits |
| ENGR 100 | Orientation to Engineering I | 1 credit |
| MATH 115Q or (MATH 112Q and MATH 113Q) or MATH 120Q |
Calculus I or Honors Calculus I |
4 credits |
| MATH 116Q or MATH 121Q | Calculus II - Honors Calculus II | 4 credits |
| PHIL 104 | Ethics | 3 credits |
Computer Science majors are required to complete the
following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 133 | Object Oriented Design and Programming | 3 credits |
| CSE 134 | Data Structures and Introduction to Algorithms | 3 credits |
| CSE 201 or CSE 220 |
Computer Architecture or Introduction to Computer Architecture |
3 credits |
| CSE 230 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3 credits |
| CSE 237 | Theory of Computation | 3 credits |
| CSE 254 or MATH 214 |
Introduction to Discrete Systems | 3 credits |
| CSE 258 | Operating Systems | 3 credits |
| CSE 259 | Algorithms & Complexity | 3 credits |
| CSE 260 or CSE 278 |
Contemporary Issues in Computer Science and Engineering or Social, Ethical and Professional Issues in Computer Science and Engineering | 3 credits |
| CSE 293W | Computer Science and Engineering Design Project | 3 credits |
| MATH 227Q | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 credits |
In addition a Senior Design Lab, a course in
probability/statistics, an additional calculus course in either a
multidimensional calculus or differential equations, a course in
programming language theory, three Computer Science Requirement
courses, three Related Area courses, any additional computer science
coursework to bring the total computer science coursework to a minimum
of 40 degrees without including CSE 254 sufficient additional elective
course work to bring the total number of credits for the degree to a
minimum of 120 credits.
It is recommended that students think about their choices as a whole,
and consider using them deliberately to either gain breadth in their
educational program or to focus on an area of particular interest.
Students should consult their faculty advisor to plan a course of study
which will best meet their individual educational goals.
Design Laboratory Requirement
All students must complete one of the following courses in addition to
CSE 293 listed above:
- CSE 262-Software Engineering Lab
- CSE 263-Networking and Distributed Systems Lab
- CSE 265-Independent Study Lab
- CSE 268-Microprocessor Lab
- CSE 269-Computer Science Design Lab
Mathematics Requirement
Every Computer Science major must take one of the following courses.
This course work may be also be applied towards a minor in Mathematics.
| Course | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 210Q or MATH 220Q |
Multivariable Calculus or Honors Multivariable Calculus |
4 credits |
| MATH 211Q or MATH 221Q |
Elementary Differential Equations or Honors Differential Equations |
4 credits |
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Probability/Statistics Requirement
Every Computer Science and Engineering major must take one of the
following courses. This course work may also be applied towards a minor.
| Course | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 220Q | Statistical Methods (Calculus Level) | 3 credits |
| STAT 230Q | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | 3 credits |
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Science Requirement
Every Computer Science major must take one full year sequence from the
following courses and one additional science course from either the
other discipline if chosen from the first table or from the second
table.
| Course | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 127Q-128Q | General Chemistry | 8 credits |
| CHEM 129Q-130Q | Honors General Chemistry | 8 credits |
| CHEM 137Q-138Q | Enhanced General Chemistry | 8 credits |
| PHYS 131Q-132Q | General Physics with Calculus | 8 credits |
| PHYS 141Q-142Q | Fundamentals of Physics | 8 credits |
| PHYS 151Q-152Q | Physics for Engineers | 8 credits |
| Course | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 107 | Principles of Biology I | 4 credits |
| BIOL 108 | Principles of Biology II | 4 credits |
| BIOL 110 | Introduction to Botany | 4 credits |
| GEOL 105 | Earth and Life through Time with Laboratory | 4 credits |
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Programming Languages Requirement
All students must complete one of the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSE233 | Programming Languages | 3 credits |
| CSE244 | Principles of Programming Language translation | 3 credits |
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Professional Requirements
Every Computer Science major must take three of the following courses.
| Course | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 228 | Parallel Systems | 3 credits |
| CSE 255 | Principles of Data Bases | 3 credits |
| CSE 257 | Numerical Methods in Scientific Computation | 3 credits |
| CSE 275 | Computer Graphics | 3 credits |
| CSE 277 | Bioinformatics | 3 credits |
| CSE 281 | Computer Security | 3 credits |
| CSE 282 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 credits |
| CSE 298 | Special topics in CSE (with permission) | 3 credits |
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Minimum Computer Science Coursework Requirement
The minimum number of credits of Computer Science course
work, not including CSE 254, and including only one credit of CSE 278
if taken, is 40 credits. Any additional CSE courses beyond CSE 101C,
which can not be counted for credit in the CSE program, may be used to
satisfy this requirement.
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Related Area Requirement
A minimum of three 3-credit courses at the 200-level in a single
related area forming a cohesive body of knowledge outside of Computer
Science must be taken by all Computer Science majors. While it is not a
requirement that all three courses be in the same academic department,
they must be related in some way. Three courses from the same minor
requirements work for this requirement. The coursework used to satisfy
the related area course requirement may also be used in a
minor.
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All Engineering students in the first semester of their
Junior year, or for transfer students in their second semester at
UConn, whichever is later, must prepare a written Plan of Study form.
The Plan of Study form documents the program he/she intends to follow
to satisfy the degree requirements.
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