Computer Science

Major: Computer Science
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 186.5
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 11.0701
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-3021; 15-1111; 15-1131; 15-1132; 11-1199

About the Program

The College of Computing & Informatics' Bachelor of Science/Arts in Computer Science offers extensive exposure and hands-on practice in the core areas of the field, including programming paradigms and languages, algorithms, systems, networking, and software engineering. Students also focus their upper-level studies with specializations in areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, security, graphics and vision, and game programming/development. The program's flexibility allows students to easily sample from areas in which they would like to apply their computing knowledge. This hands-on curriculum combined with co-op provides real-world experience that culminates in a full-year team capstone project involving in-depth study and application of computing and informatics.

The programs of study in computer science are designed with the versatility to prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing profession and to allow strong preparation for graduate education in the field. In addition to the courses in the major, the programs emphasize foundation courses in the sciences and in applied mathematics. The programs also provide sufficient flexibility with electives to permit a student to pursue a minor in a technical or non-technical field. Computer Science graduates are in demand in any discipline where computing expertise is needed, from the computing industry to science and technical applications to the arts.

Students should contact their advisor at the College of Computing & Informatics for a current list of computer science concentration and elective courses.

Concentrations

  • Algorithms and Theory
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Computer Graphics, Vision, and Interaction
  • Computer Security and Privacy
  • Computer Systems & Architecture
  • Game Programming and Development
  • Programming Languages and Systems
  • Software Engineering

Additional Information

For more information about this program, please visit the BS/BA in Computer Science webpage on the College of Computing & Informatics website.

Degree Requirements 

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science program emphasizes foundation courses in the sciences and in applied mathematics, leading to careers involving applications in science and engineering.

Computer Science Requirements
CS 164Introduction to Computer Science3.0
CS 171Computer Programming I3.0
or CS 175 Advanced Computer Programming I
CS 172Computer Programming II3.0
or CS 176 Advanced Computer Programming II
CS 260Data Structures3.0
CS 265Advanced Programming Tools and Techniques3.0
CS 270Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science3.0
CS 277Algorithms and Analysis3.0
CS 281Systems Architecture4.0
CS 283Systems Programming3.0
CS 360Programming Language Concepts3.0
SE 181Introduction to Software Engineering and Development3.0
SE 310Software Architecture I3.0
Computer Science concentration courses (see below)18.0
Computer Science electives (see below)6.0
Computing & Informatics Requirements
CI 101Computing and Informatics Design I2.0
CI 102Computing and Informatics Design II2.0
CI 103Computing and Informatics Design III2.0
CI 491 [WI] Senior Project I3.0
CI 492 [WI] Senior Project II3.0
CI 493 [WI] Senior Project III3.0
Mathematics Requirements
MATH 121Calculus I4.0
MATH 122Calculus II4.0
MATH 123Calculus III4.0
MATH 200Multivariate Calculus4.0
MATH 201Linear Algebra4.0
MATH 221Discrete Mathematics3.0
MATH 311Probability and Statistics I4.0
Science Requirements19.0
Select one of the following lab science sequences:
Cells and Biomolecules
and Cells and Biomolecules Lab
and Genetics and Evolution
and Genetics and Evolution Lab
and Physiology and Ecology
and Anatomy and Ecology Lab
Or
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry III
Or
Fundamentals of Physics I
and Fundamentals of Physics II
and Fundamentals of Physics III
Additional science electives to have total 19 credits (see below)
Arts & Humanities Requirements
COM 230Techniques of Speaking3.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
PHIL 311Ethics and Information Technology3.0
Writing & Communication electives (see below)6.0
Arts & Humanities, Business, or Social Studies electives (see below) *18.0
University Requirements
UNIV CI101The Drexel Experience2.0
or CI 120 CCI Transfer Student Seminar
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development **1.0
Free electives21.5
Total Credits186.5
*

At least 3.0 credit must be taken from a Business category course (see below) and at least 3.0 credits must be from a Social Studies category course (see below) 

**

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Program Electives

Independent study courses and special topics courses must be approved by the department prior to enrollment to satisfy a program elective requirement.

Computer Science Concentrations

Students must complete two of the following Computer Science concentrations for a total of 18.0 credits. The concentrations may overlap by one course. Students should check with the College for any additional Special Topics courses being offered that may be appropriate for one of the concentrations. The student may propose a Student Defined Concentration with departmental approval.

The selected concentrations require 3 courses with a minumum of 9 credits and at least one Core Course (*).
Algorithms and Theory
Applied Symbolic Computation
Algorithmic Number Theory and Cryptography
Theory of Computation *
Compiler Implementation
Data Structures and Algorithms I *
Data Structures and Algorithms II
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
Introduction to Optimization Theory
Cryptography
Computer Systems & Architecture
Computing in the Small
Processor Architecture & Analysis
Concurrent Programming
Operating Systems *
Software Defined Radio Laboratory
Compiler Implementation
Database Systems *
Computer Networks: Theory, Applications and Programming *
Network Security
High Performance Computing
Advanced Network Security
Design with Embedded Processors
Modern Processor Design
Introduction to Parallel Computer Architecture
High Performance Computing
Cloud Computing and Big Data
Programming Languages and Systems
Concurrent Programming *
Operating Systems
Software Security
Software Defined Radio Laboratory
Theory of Computation *
Compiler Implementation
Database Systems
Introduction to Parallel Computer Architecture
Computer Graphics, Vision, and Interaction
Computing in the Small
Graphical User Interfaces
Serious Game Development
Experimental Game Development
Computer Game Design and Development
Web Development *
Game AI Development
Computer Graphics
Advanced Rendering Techniques
Interactive Computer Graphics *
Computational Photography
Game Development: Workshop I
Game Development: Workshop II
Human-Centered Design Process & Methods
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence *
Machine Learning
Evolutionary Computing
Game AI Development
Advanced Artificial Intelligence
Topics in Artificial Intelligence
Recommender Systems
Applied Deep Learning
Computer Security and Privacy
Applied Symbolic Computation
Algorithmic Number Theory and Cryptography
Software Security *
Privacy and Trust
Network Security *
Advanced Network Security
Cryptography
Software Engineering
Graphical User Interfaces
Web Development
Software Project Management
Software Architecture II *
Software Verification and Validation *
Software Evolution
Open Source Software Engineering
Game Programming and Development
Serious Game Development
Experimental Game Development
Computer Game Design and Development *
Game AI Development
Game Development: Workshop I
Game Development: Workshop II
*

Core Course

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study 

5-Year, 3 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CI 1012.0CI 1022.0CI 1032.0VACATION
CS 1643.0CIVC 1011.0CS 172 or 1763.0 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0COOP 101*1.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
MATH 1214.0CS 171 or 1753.0MATH 1234.0 
UNIV CI1011.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0UNIV CI1011.0 
Science Lab4.5MATH 1224.0Arts/Humanities elective3.0 
 Science Lab4.5  
 17.5 18.5 16 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CS 2653.0CS 2603.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CS 2703.0MATH 2004.0  
MATH 2014.0MATH 2213.0  
SE 1813.0Free Elective3.0  
Science Lab4.5Science Elective3.0  
 17.5 16 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COM 2303.0CS 2833.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CS 2773.0CS 3603.0  
CS 2814.0Free Elective3.0  
SE 3103.0Science Elective3.0  
Free Elective3.0Writing & Communication Elective3.0  
 16 15 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
MATH 3114.0Social Studies elective3.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
PHIL 3113.0Business Elective4.0  
Arts & Humanities Elective3.0Computer Science Elective3.0  
Computer Science Electives6.0Free Elective3.0  
 Science Elective3.0  
 16 16 0 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CI 4913.0CI 4923.0CI 4933.0 
Arts & Humanities Elective3.0Arts & Humanities Elective3.0Computer Science Elective3.0 
Computer Science Electives6.0Computer Science Electives6.0Free Elective3.0 
Free Elective2.0 Writing & Communication Elective3.0 
 14 12 12 
Total Credits 186.5
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4 year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

4-Year, 1 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CI 1012.0CI 1022.0CI 1032.0 
CS 1643.0CIVC 1011.0CS 172 or 1763.0 
MATH 1214.0CS 171 or 1753.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0MATH 1234.0 
UNIV CI1011.0MATH 1224.0UNIV CI1011.0 
Science Lab4.5Science Lab4.5Arts/Humanities3.0 
 17.5 17.5 16 
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CS 2653.0CS 2603.0COM 2303.0CS 2833.0
CS 2703.0COOP 101*1.0CS 2773.0CS 3603.0
MATH 2014.0MATH 2004.0CS 2814.0Science Elective3.0
SE 1813.0MATH 2213.0SE 3103.0Writing & Communication Elective3.0
Science Lab4.5Science Elective3.0Free Elective3.0Free Elective3.0
 Free Elective2.0  
 17.5 16 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
MATH 3114.0Business Elective4.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
PHIL 3113.0Computer Science Elective6.0  
Computer Science Electives6.0Science Elective3.0  
Arts & Humanities Elective3.0Free Elective3.0  
 16 16 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CI 4913.0CI 4923.0CI 4933.0 
Arts & Humanities Elective3.0Arts & Humanities Elective3.0Computer Science Elective3.0 
Computer Science Electives6.0Computer Science Electives6.0Writing & Communications Elective3.0 
Free Elective3.0 Free Elective3.0 
 15 12 12 
Total Credits 186.5
*

Co-op cycles may vary.  Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer only) based on their co-op program (5-year or 4-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Co-Op Options

Two co-op options are available for this program:

  • five-year/three co-op
  • four-year/one co-op

Career Opportunities

The demand for computing skills is tremendous and growing with highly paid jobs. Most professionals in the field focus on the design and development of software and software-based applications. Typical jobs include software engineer, programmer, web designer, multimedia or software developer, systems analyst or consultant, manager of technical staff, client-server architect, network designer, and database specialist. Most positions require at least a bachelor’s degree. Relevant work experience, such as that provided by co-operative education, is also very important, as cited by the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Job titles of recent computer science graduates include:

  • Web Developer
  • Software Systems Engineer
  • Software Developer
  • Network Engineer
  • Application Analyst

Additional Information

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

3675 Market Street

In March 2019, the College of Computing & Informatics relocated to 3675 Market. For the first time in the College's history, all CCI faculty, students and professional staff are housed under one roof. Occupying two floors in the brand new uCity Square building, CCI's new home offers state-of-the-art technology in our classrooms, labs, meeting areas and collaboration spaces. 3675 Market offers Class A laboratory, office, coworking, and convening spaces. In fall 2019, the College opened a third floor which will include additional offices, classrooms, innovative research labs, and a maker space. Located at the intersection of Market Street and 37th Street, 3675 Market will act as a physical nexus, bridging academic campuses and medical centers to the east and south, the commercial corridors along Market Street and Chestnut Street, and the residential communities to the north and west.

The uCity Square building offers:

  • Speculative lab/office space
  • World-class facilities operated by CIC
  • Café/restaurant on-site
  • Quorum, a two-story, 15K SF convening space and conference center
  • Adjacent to future public square
  • Access to Science Center’s nationally renowned business acceleration and technology commercialization programs

Drexel University Libraries

Drexel University Libraries is a learning enterprise, advancing the University’s academic mission through serving as educators, supporting education and research, collaborating with researchers, and fostering intentional learning outside of the classroom. Drexel University Libraries engages with Drexel communities through three physical locations, including W. W. Hagerty Library,  Queen Lane Library, and the Library Learning Terrace, as well as a vibrant online presence which sees, on average, over 8,000 visits per day. In the W.W. Hagerty Library location, College of Computing & Informatics students have access to private study rooms and nearly half a million books, periodicals, DVDs, videos and University Archives. All fields of inquiry are covered, including: library and information science, computer science, software engineering, health informatics, information systems, and computing technology. Resources are available online at library.drexel.edu or in-person at W. W. Hagerty Library.

The Libraries also make available laptop and desktop PC and Mac computers, printers and scanners, spaces for quiet work or group projects and designated 24/7 spaces. Librarians and library staff—including a liaison librarian for computing and informatics—are available for individual research consultations and to answer questions about materials or services.

CCI Commons

Located on the 10th floor of 3675 Market Street, the CCI Commons is an open lab and collaborative work environment for students. It features desktop computers, a wireless/laptop area, free black and white printing, and more collaborative space for its students. Students have access to 3675 Market's fully equipped conference room with 42” displays and videoconferencing capabilities. The CCI Commons provides technical support to students, faculty, and professional staff. In addition, the staff provides audio-visual support for all presentation classrooms within 3675 Market. Use of the CCI Commons is reserved for all students taking CCI courses.

The computers for general use are Microsoft Windows and Macintosh OSX machines with appropriate applications which include the Microsoft Office suite, various database management systems, modeling tools, and statistical analysis software. Library related resources may be accessed at the CCI Commons and through the W.W. Hagerty Library. The College is a member of the Rational SEED Program which provides cutting-edge software development and project management software for usage in the CCI Commons and CCI classrooms. The College is also a member of the Microsoft Academic Alliance known also as “DreamSpark” that allows students free access to a wide array of Microsoft software titles and operating systems.

The CCI Commons, student labs, and classrooms have access to networked databases, print and file resources within the College, and the Internet via the University’s network. Email accounts, Internet and BannerWeb access are available through the Office of Information Resources and Technology.

CCI Learning Center

The CCI Learning Center (CLC), located in 3675 Market Street's CCI Commons student computer lab, provides consulting and other learning resources for students taking computer science classes. The CLC is staffed by graduate and undergraduate computer science students from the College of Computing & Informatics.

The CLC and CCI Commons serve as a central hub for small group work, student meetings, and TA assistance. 

Research Laboratories

The College houses multiple research labs, led by CCI faculty, in 3675 Market Street including: the Drexel Health and Risk Communication Lab, Interactive Systems for Healthcare, Socio-Technical Studies Group, Intelligent Information & Knowledge Computing Research Lab, Evidence-based Decision Making Lab, Applied Symbolic Computation Laboratory (ASYM), High Performance Computing Laboratory (SPIRAL), Drexel Research on Play (RePlay) Laboratory, Software Engineering Research Group (SERG), Social Computing Research Group, Vision and Cognition Laboratory (VisCog) and the Vision and Graphics Laboratory. For more information on these laboratories, please visit the College’s research web page.

Evaluations

The College of Computing & Informatics works continually to improve its degree programs. As part of this effort, the Computer Science degree is evaluated relative to the following Objectives and Outcomes.

Computer Science Program Educational Objectives

Drexel Computer Science alumni will:

  • Be valued employees in a wide variety of occupations in industry, government and academia, in particular as computer scientists and software engineers
  • Succeed in graduate and professional studies, such as engineering, science, law, medicine, and business
  • Pursue life-long learning and professional development to remain current in an ever-changing technological world
  • Provide leadership in their profession, in their communities, and society
  • Function as responsible members of society with an awareness of the social and ethical ramifications of their work

Computer Science Student Outcomes (for Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts)

The Drexel Computer Science program enables students to attain by the time of graduation:

  • An ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the discipline
  • An ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution
  • An ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs
  • An ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal
  • An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities
  • An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  • An ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society
  • Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in continuing professional development
  • An ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice
  • An ability to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the tradeoffs involved in design choices
  • An ability to apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity
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