The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science qualifies students for employment with both industry and government agencies. This includes any organization that uses computer-based technologies or develops and deploys these technologies and their software.
Each student receives a core in Computer Science coursework. In addition, each concentration provides additional coursework in a domain that allows the graduate to effectively apply computer technology to solve significant problems and challenges in that domain. These courses may be within or outside the Department.
Currently, there are four concentrations in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program:
- Digital and Interactive Design: developed by the faculty of Digital Arts and Computer Science. The program is designed to prepare students to work on the technical side of computer interactive mobile graphics/visual effects in a variety of digital media fields.
- Information Systems: This degree focuses on business systems, including networks, databases, and approved business courses.
- Cyber Security and Networking: Developed in cooperation with the Cyber Information Technology Division at BPCC. Coursework focuses on network and information security and approved Criminal Justice courses.
- Software Development: An ABET accredited degree focused on the design, implementation and delivery of software solutions. Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
Program Educational Objectives: ABET describes program objectives as: “broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years after graduation.”
The Department of Computer Science updated the following program objectives in cooperation with our CS Advisory Committee in 2018, and from a 2019 survey and 2019-2020 ABET criteria updates.
Objective 1: LSUS graduates will remain current in their chosen careers through lifelong learning.
Objective 2: LSUS graduates will successfully use and apply new technologies.
Objective 3: LSUS graduates will successfully advance in their careers through increasing levels of responsibility and technical complexity.
Objective 4: LSUS graduates will be capable of communicating effectively with technical and non-technical groups/individuals.
Student Outcomes: ABET describes student outcomes as “what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These relate to the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through the program.”
The Department of Computer Science set the following student outcomes for the ABET-accredited BS in Computer Science (Software Development):
- Graduates of the program will be able to analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- Graduates of the program will be able to design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
- Graduates of the program will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- Graduates of the program will be able to recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- Graduates of the program will function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline
All concentrations in the BS in Computer Science will also develop the following student outcome:
- Graduates will be able to apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.
An ABET accredited degree program, the Software Development concentration prepares students for work in any organization that employs individuals to design, implement, and maintain software solutions. Individuals typically begin their career as a programmer, progressing to systems analysis and design after a few years. Some students continue their education through graduate work in Computer Science to prepare for a career in research or teaching. An internship or part-time work is recommended in order to begin establishing professional relationships and the development of job-related skills. This concentration meets the coursework prerequisites for entering the Computer Science or Biomedical Informatics concentration in the MS in Computer Systems Technology (MSCST). A student in Software Development must have a grade of C or better in each of the core computer science courses before the subsequent core course is taken, including CSC 120 , CSC 135 , CSC 145 , CSC 242 , CSC 285 , CSC 315 , CSC 345 , CSC 346 , CSC 382 , CSC 420 , CSC 460 , CSC 480 , CSC 481 , CSC 485 , and elective CSC courses.
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