Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Program Overview

The University of Central Florida's Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program emphasizes mathematical and theoretical foundations, preparing students for careers in various fields. With high-tech labs and internationally recognized faculty, the program provides hands-on learning and problem-solving skills. Graduates have ample career opportunities with a projected growth rate of 12% and an average annual salary of $103,000. The program also offers an Accelerated BS/MS Program for high-achieving students.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BS) program at the University of Central Florida (UCF) emphasizes the mathematical and theoretical foundations of computing, rather than specific technologies. It aims to provide students with a strong foundation to pursue careers in various fields, including robotics, computer gaming, virtual reality, computer vision, media convergence, digital, evolutionary computing, computer architecture, and more. The program is housed in the L3Harris Engineering Center, which offers classrooms and high-tech labs for cutting-edge research. Students learn from faculty with internationally recognized expertise in fundamental and application areas of computer science.

Outline:

Program Structure:

• The program is a four-year Bachelor's degree.
• Students must pass the Computer Science Foundation Exam to advance to upper-level coursework.
• The program includes core requirements at both the basic and advanced levels.
• Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

Course Schedule:

• Freshman Year:
• Fall: ENC 1101, SPC 1603C, COP 3223C, MAC 2311C
• Spring: ENC 1102, COT 3100C, COP 3502C, CDA 3103C
• Summer: MAC 2312, COP 3330, COT 3960 (Foundation Exam)
• Sophomore Year:
• Fall: COP 3402, COP 3503C, PHY 2048C, GEP
• Spring: COP 4331C, PHY 2049C, CIS 3360, ENC 3241 or ENC 3250
• Summer: STA 2023, GEP
• Junior Year:
• Fall: BSC 2010C, GEP, Area Course, Math/Stat Restricted Elective
• Spring: CHM 2045C, Math/Stat Restricted Elective, Area Course, Area Course
• Summer: Free Elective, GEP
• Senior Year:
• Fall: Area Course, Area Course, COP 4934, COT 4210
• Spring: Area Course, COP 4935, Area Course, Free Elective

Individual Modules:

• Core Requirements:
• Basic Level:
• STA2023 - Statistical Methods I
• COP3330 - Object Oriented Programming
• COP3502C - Computer Science I
• COP3503C - Computer Science II
• CDA3103C - Computer Logic and Organization
• COT3100C - Introduction to Discrete Structures
• CIS3360 - Security in Computing
• COP3402 - Systems Software
• COT4210 - Discrete Structures II
• COP4331C - Processes for Object-Oriented Software Development
• COT3960 - Foundation Exam
• ENC3241 - Writing for the Technical Professional or ENC3250 - Professional Writing
• Advanced Level:
• Any 4000-5000 level Computer Science (CS) course that is not a required undergraduate course (restricted elective)
• One of the following Information Technology courses may count as a CS Restricted Elective: CAP 4102, CIS 4004, CIS 4524, CNT 4603, CNT 4703, and CNT 4714
• Up to 3 hours of independent study or research allowed
• No internship or cooperative education credits allowed
• Area Courses:
• Systems Area:
• CDA 5106 - Advanced Computer Architecture
• COP 4520 - Concepts of Parallel and Distributed Processing
• COP 4600 - Operating Systems
• COP 4710 - Database Systems
• COP 5611 - Operating Systems Design Principles
• COP 5711 - Parallel and Distributed Database Systems
• EEL 4768 - Computer Architecture
• AI and Machine Learning Area:
• CAP 4053 - AI for Game Programming
• CAP 4453 - Robot Vision
• CAP 4611 - Algorithms for Machine Learning
• CAP 4630 - Artificial Intelligence
• CAP 5415 - Computer Vision
• CAP 5512 - Evolutionary Computation
• CAP 5610 - Machine Learning
• CAP 5636 - Advanced Artificial Intelligence
• Graphics, Games, and HCI Area:
• CAP 4053 - AI for Game Programming
• CAP 4720 - Computer Graphics
• CNT 5008 - Computer Communication Networks Architecture
• Algorithms and Complexity Area:
• CAP 5510 - Bioinformatics
• CAP 5512 - Evolutionary Computation
• COP 5021 - Program Analysis
• COP 5537 - Network Optimization
• COT 4500 - Numerical Calculus
• COT 5405 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• Software Engineering Area:
• CEN 5016 - Software Engineering
• CIS 4615 - Secure Software Development and Assurance
• COP 4020 - Programming Languages I
• COP 4520 - Concepts of Parallel and Distributed Processing
• COP 4710 - Database Systems
• COP 5021 - Program Analysis
• COP 5711 - Parallel and Distributed Database Systems
• Cybersecurity Area:
• CAP 4145 - Introduction to Malware Analysis
• CIS 4203C - Digital Forensics
• CIS 4361 - Secure Operating Systems and Administration
• CIS 4615 - Secure Software Development and Assurance
• CIS 4940C - Topics in Cybersecurity
• CNT 4403 - Network Security and Privacy
• EEE 4346C - Hardware Security and Trusted Circuit Design
• Big Data Area:
• CAP 5610 - Machine Learning
• CDA 5106 - Advanced Computer Architecture
• CDA 5110 - Parallel Architecture and Algorithms
• CNT 4425C - Cloud Computing Management
• CNT 5008 - Computer Communication Networks Architecture
• COP 4520 - Concepts of Parallel and Distributed Processing
• COP 4710 - Database Systems
• COP 5611 - Operating Systems Design Principles
• COP 5711 - Parallel and Distributed Database Systems
• COT 4500 - Numerical Calculus
• EEL 4768 - Computer Architecture
• Vision and Robotics Area:
• CAP 4453 - Robot Vision
• CAP 4720 - Computer Graphics
• CAP 5415 - Computer Vision
• EGN 4060C - Introduction to Robotics
• EEL 4660 - Robotic Systems
• EEL 5820 - Image Processing
• Computer Networks Area:
• CNT 4403 - Network Security and Privacy
• CNT 4704 - Analysis of Computer Communication Networks
• CNT 5008 - Computer Communication Networks Architecture
• COP 5537 - Network Optimization
• CNT 5805 - Network Science
• EEL 4781 - Computer Communication Networks
• EEL 5780 - Wireless Networks
• Math/Statistics Restricted Electives:
• Any 4000-5000 level courses with STA, MAP, MAA, MAD or MAS prefixes, except independent study hours, internship, or cooperative education hours.
• MAC 2313 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry III
• MAP 2302 - Ordinary Differential Equations I
• MAS 3105 - Matrix and Linear Algebra
• MAS 3106 - Linear Algebra
• Capstone Requirements:
• COP 4934 - Senior Design I
• COP 4935 - Senior Design II
• Free Electives:
• Remaining hours needed to meet the minimum of 120 hours for graduation

Assessment:

• Computer Science Foundation Exam: This exam covers problem-solving techniques, algorithms, abstraction, and programming language skills.
Students must pass this exam to advance to upper-level coursework.
• Coursework: Students must earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in each course.
• GPA: Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all courses in the advanced level core requirements.
• Senior Design Projects: Students complete two senior design projects (COP 4934 and COP 4935) which demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The program boasts faculty with internationally recognized expertise in fundamental and application areas of computer science.
• Teaching Methods: The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, labs, group projects, and individual assignments.
• Unique Approaches: The program emphasizes hands-on learning and problem-solving skills.
Students have access to high-tech labs and research opportunities.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Software Engineer
• Software Developer
• Database Administrator
• Computer Systems Analyst
• Computer Hardware Engineer
• Network Architect
• Opportunities: The job outlook for computer science graduates is expected to grow 12% over the next decade.
• Outcomes: The average annual salary of computer science graduates is $103,000.

Other:

• CSRankings.org: UCF's Department of Computer Science is ranked in the top 50 for publishing in the most selective computer science conferences.
• UCF Programming Team: The UCF Programming Team is one of the best in the world, consistently finishing in the Southeast region's top three in the ACM's International Programming Contest since 1982.
• Accelerated BS/MS Program: The program offers an Accelerated BS/MS Program for students of high academic standing, allowing up to twelve hours to be shared between the BS and MS degrees.