Dec 10, 2024  
2011-2012 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2011-2012 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Computer Science, B.A. Major in


The B.A. major in computer science program has two tracks: general (I) and individual (II).

The general track follows the traditional computer science curriculum. The individual track allows for a partially individualized program of study in which a student would take, with the same computer science faculty member, 9 s.h. of independent study/senior design courses designed to accommodate the interests of both student and faculty member. Apart from the difference in the 9 s.h. of individualized study, the two tracks are identical. Note that there is a single B.A. degree program; no separate designation for the individual track will appear on the student’s transcript.

Program Objectives
Graduates of  the B.A. in computer science program will:

  1. advance in graduate studies or be successful practitioners in applied or theoretical fields;
  2. apply communication and organizational skills in the context of ethical issues affecting the discipline or society;
  3. think critically and creatively to solve local or global problems and become lifelong learners and contributors to society;
  4. apply knowledge and skills to solve problems effectively and efficiently and to advance computer science in applied areas.

 

General Track (I) Program Requirements


Candidates for graduation must complete computer science requirements, mathematics and natural science requirements, and the general B.A. degree requirements. A grade of C- or better is required in all courses required for the major. An overall average of C or better is required in CSC 14 , 15 , 16 , and 24  for continuation in the major. In addition, a student may not take any of these four courses more than twice.

General Track (I) Computer Science Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 39


39 semester hours (27 semester hours in required courses and 12 semester hours in computer science electives). The required computer science courses include CSC 14 , 15 , 16  17 , 24 , 110 , 112 , 120  or 161  and 163 . The 12 s.h. in computer science electives must be in courses numbered higher than 100. Freshmen are encouraged to take the first-year seminars,  CSC 14F  and 14S , when offered.

Individual Track (II) Program Requirements


Candidates for graduation must complete computer science requirements, mathematics and natural science requirements, and the general B.A. degree requirements. A grade of C- or better is required in all courses required for the major. An overall average of C or better is required in CSC 14 , 15  and 16 , for continuation in the major. In addition, a student may not take any of these four courses more than twice.

Individual Track (II) Computer Science Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 39


39 semester hours (30 semester hours in required courses and 9 semester hours in computer science electives). The required computer science courses include CSC 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 110 , 112 , 143 A-Z  (3 s.h.), 144 A-Z  (3 s.h.), 163 , and senior design research sequence 197A and 197B (each 1 s.h.), and senior seminar sequence 198F and 198S (each 0.5 s.h.). The 9 semester hours in computer science electives must be in courses numbered higher than 100. Freshmen are encouraged to take the first-year seminars, CSC 14F  and 14S , when offered.

CSC 143 A-Z  and 144 A-Z , 197A  and 197B  allow students to find a mentor and build a lasting relationship with a faculty member. Students will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a Hofstra professor and explore advanced and exciting computing areas that are not covered in traditional courses, or to tailor their B.A. computing degree to their individual interdisciplinary interests and relate them to computing. The individualized program must be coordinated and approved by the B.A. program director.
 

Mathematics Requirement for Both Tracks


Natural Science Requirements For Both Tracks - Total Semester Hours: 12


12 semester hours, to include one two-semester sequence of science with laboratories (PHYS 1A  & 1B  and PHYS 2A 2B , or PHYS 11A  & 11B  and PHYS 12A  & 12B , or CHEM 3A  & 3B  and 4A 4B , or BIO 11  and 12 ), and at least one 3-semester-hour science course.

Oral Communication For Both Tracks


All candidates for both tracks for the BA major in Computer Science are required to take, in partial fulfillment of the humanities distribution requirement and in fulfillment of the departmental oral communication requirement, either SPCM 1  or 7 .

For both tracks, see also:


 B.A. requirements in HCLAS.