Earn your Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science

As an undergraduate student, you will take traditional computer science courses in programming, languages, algorithms, data structures, databases, object-oriented design, architecture, and operating systems.

The undergraduate program prepares you to be a problem-solver and innovator that will be able to analyze a problem and propose a computing solution.  You will learn not only the technical skills, but also develop abilities to communicate, work with teams of people, and make informed judgments about your computing solutions with respect to societal, legal, and ethical principles.

Student using computer to program code.

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Your Career in Computer Science

$80,236

Average starting salary
for undergraduate students as of 2023

From the operating software we use on a daily basis to the security of our critical infrastructures, computer scientists develop ways to solve problems, process information, and secure our future. Computer programmers harness the technology of our world, making computers continually innovative and limitlessly functional in a wide variety of engineered, medical, and social contexts.

Computer Science is the development of algorithms to solve real-world problems in a mechanized way. Computer scientists write programs to control computer systems, engineered systems, and work on applications that use computers. They work in cyber security, networking, distributed systems, databases, and artificial intelligence.

S&T Computer Science graduates work for technological companies, law enforcement, national defense institutions, the financial industry, and computer manufacturing.

Learn more about statistics and job opportunities.

career.mst.edu

Degree Details

Our bachelor of science degree in computer science consists of 128 credit hours. As a freshman, you will be admitted into the Freshman Engineering Program, but you have the option to choose a computer science preference. If this is the route you choose, you may qualify for freshmen scholarships within the department. You will be admitted to the computer science program after completing the freshman year requirements.

For more information on courses, check out the university catalog.

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We developed this brochure to assist you with the computer science program. It gives an overview on the department, undergraduate research, and provides info on the curriculum. We also provide the names of professors and administrators that you can contact.

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Students can work with their academic advisors as they progress toward graduation to concentrate electives around the specific areas of interest to them. Examples and details can be found at the link  below.

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Interested in staying ONE more academic year to receive your MS degree in Computer Science?? Check out our accelerated program here.

As an engineering freshman, you'll work toward completing common freshman year courses while acquiring information to help you determine a major and career. During the first two or three semesters on campus, you will take a set of courses that are required by all engineering departments. After successfully completing the freshman engineering requirements, you'll formally apply for admission to the computer engineering department. Admission is nearly automatic if you have completed these requirements.

Learn more about the program:

Freshman Engineering Program

Experiential learning at Missouri S&T refers to learning stimulated by a variety of structured activities that differ significantly from the traditional lecture format. Experiential learning activities are designed to require students to go beyond mastering basic skills and knowledge in the application of that material to problem solving challenges. These activities involve collaboration and reflective learning and allow students to learn in environments that align with their aptitudes.

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Our Cooperative Education Program gives you an opportunity to gain practical degree-related work experience prior to graduation. The program is set up so you can take a break from studies and work full-time for one or for a combination of semesters, such as spring/summer or summer/fall, allowing eight to nine months of work experience.

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You can get a bachelor of science degree in both computer science and computer engineering in about one extra semester.

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Note: The below table shows the course and credit hour requirements by discipline for catalog years(= requirement terms) FS 2004 and onward; the requirements changed in FS 2006, in FS 2008, in FS 2010, in FS 2012, in FS 2014, in FS 2015, and in FS 2017. Effective catalog year 2013, a “C” or higher grade is required for all CS courses counting towards the BS in CS degree, as well as a “C” or higher grade in COMP ENG 2210, COMP ENG 3150, and the required ethics elective.

Course FS2006-
FS2007
FS2008-
FS2009
FS2010-
FS2011
FS2012-FS2013 FS2014-FS2016 FS2017-FS2018     FS2019-    
Computer Science
CS 1010 - Introduction To Computer Science 1 1 1 1 1 1  
CS 1200 - Discrete Mathematics For Computer Science 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
CS 1500 - Computational Problem Solving             3
CS 1570 - Introduction To Programming 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
CS 1580 - Introduction To Programming Laboratory 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
CS 1575 (1510) - Data Structures 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
CS 1585 - Data Structures Lab           1 1
CS 2200 - Theory of Computer Science   3 3 3 3 3 3
CS 2300 - File Structures And Introduction To Database Systems 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
CS 2500 - Algorithms 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
CS 3100 - Software Engineering I 3 3 3 3 3 3  
CS 3200 - Introduction To Numerical Methods 3 3 3 3 3    
CS 3500 - Programming Languages And Translators 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
CS 3600 - Introduction to Computer Security           3  
CS 3610 - Computer Networking             3
CS 3800 - Introduction To Operating Systems 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
CS 4090 - Software Engineering Capstone I             3
CS 4091 - Software Engineering Capstone II             3
CS 4096 - Software Systems Development I 3 3 3

3

3

3

 
CS 4610 - Computer Security             3
CS Electives 5000 or higher / total 6/12 12/15 12/15 9/15 9/15 9/15 9/15
Computer Engineering
CpE 2210 - Introduction to Computer Engineering 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
CpE 3150 - Digital Systems Design 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Mathematics / Statistics
Math 1208/1214 - Calculus I 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5    
Math 1214 - Calculus for Engineers I           4 4
Math 1215 - Calculus for Engineers II           4 4
Math 1221/ 1215 - Calculus II 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5    
Math 2222  - Calculus III 4            
Math 3103/3108 - Linear Algebra 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Stat  3113/ 3115/ 3317/ 5643 - Statistics 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
English / Literature / Speech
English 1120 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
English 1160/3560 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Literature Elective [See the below Literature Tab] 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Speech 1185/ 3282 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Constitutional Requirement (called History Elective on your CAPS Report / Degree Audit)
Political Science  1200 or History 1200/ 1300/ 1310 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Humanities & Social Science Electives [See below Humanities tab].
Humanity Elective 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Social Science Elective 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Humanity/Social Science Elective 6 3 0 0 0 0 0
Ethics Elective (Phil 3225 or 3235 or 4340 or 4368) 0 0 3 3 3 3 3
Lab Science Elective
Science lecture / laboratory pair 4-6 4-6 4-6 4-6 4-6 4-6 4-6
Physics Electives
Physics I - Phys 1135  4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5
Physics II - Phys 2135  4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5
Science & Engineering Electives
From any BS program except CS [exclusion list under Approved Science and Engineering Electives] 9 9 9 9      

From any discipline associated with either the Science or Engineering Discipline Specific Curriculum Committees

        9 9 9
Free Electives
Additional courses to make a total of 128 credit hours 3-9 4-10 4-10 4-10 4-10 4-10 4-10

Footnotes
[1] CS 2002 and x7x courses do not at all count towards CS electives; CS 2001 - Domain Exploration and Innovation Methods, CS 3001 - Skill Development for Entrepreneurs and Innovators, CS 4001 - Advanced Domain Exploration and Innovation Methods, and CS 4001 - Interpersonal Dynamics for Entrepreneurs and Innovators do not count towards CS electives and instead count towards either social science electives or free electives; CS 4097 may count towards total CS electives, but not towards 5000 level or higher CS electives. Starting with catalog year FS2008, CS 4700 does not count towards CS electives. Starting with catalog year FS2012, at least nine credit hours of CS electives must be lecture courses.

[2] Any science lecture/laboratory course or course pair totaling at least four hours credit. The laboratory is mandatory in all cases.

[3] Engineering: Aeronautical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Material Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering.

         Science: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geological Sciences, Geophysics, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics

[4] Effective with catalog year FS2015, CS students have to meet the CS department’s experiential learning requirement, which can be found here.

 

Students currently completing their undergraduate BS in Computer Science can apply to double-count some of their undergraduate courses toward an accelerated masters degree, thus completing both faster!

See the Graduate Track Pathway page for more: GTP

Approved Electives

  • Humanities
  • Literature
  • Social Science
  • Approved Science and Engineering Electives
  • Downloadable PDF

Humanities

ART: 1185 and any course for which 1185 is listed as a prerequisite, 3222.

ENGL: 1211, 1212, 1231, 1221, 1222, or 2230 or any course for which those classes are listed as prerequisite, actual or implied, and including 3302 and 3303.

ETYM: 4306.

FR: 1101, 1102, 1180 or any course for which 1180 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied, except 4360.

GER: 1101, 1102, 1180 or any course for which 1180 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied.

MUS: 1150.

PHIL: 1105, 1110,  1115, 1175 or any course for which those classes are listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied.

RUS: 1101, 1102, 1180 or any course for which 1180 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied.

SPAN: 1101, 1102, 1180, or 4379 or any course for which 1180 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied, except 2160 and 2180.

SPMS: 2181 or any course for which 1185 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied.

TH: 1190, 2141, 2143, 3241, 3242, 4341

Literature

ENGL: 1211, 1212, 1231, 1221, 1222, or 2230 or any course for which those classes are listed as prerequisite, actual or implied, and including 3302 and 3303.

FR: 1180 or any course for which 1180 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied, except 4360.

RUS: 1180 or any course for which 1180 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied.

SPAN: 1180, or 4379 or any course for which 1180 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied, except 2160 and 2180.

Social Science

BUS: 1110, 1210, 2910, 3105, 3115, 3205, 3220, 3305, 4111, 4150, 4675, 4970, 4980, 5115, 5230, 5360, 5470, 5580, 5910, 5980.

COMP SCI: 4700, 2001 - Domain Exploration and Innovation Methods, 3001 - Skill Development for Entrepreneurs and Innovators, 4001 - Advanced Domain  Exploration and Innovation Methods, 4001 - Interpersonal Dynamics for Entrepreneurs and Innovators.

ECON: 1100 or 1200 or any course for which 1100 or 1200 are listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied.

EDUC: 2102.

HIST: 1100,1200,1300,1310 or any course for which those or POLSC 1200 are listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied.

POLSC: 1200 or any course for which 1200 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied, except 4085.

PSYC: 1101 or any course for which 1101 is listed as a prerequisite, actual or implied.

SPAN: 2160.

Approved Science and Engineering Electives

2014 and beyond
From any discipline associated with either the Science or Engineering Discipline Specific Curriculum Committees1

1) Engineering: Aeronautical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Material Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering.
Science: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geological Sciences, Geophysics, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics

 Excluding:

  • All Computer Science
  • Math 1101, 1120, 1103, 1140, 1160, 1208, 1110, 1212, 1214, 1215, 1221
  • Physics 1111, 1119, 1135, 2135, 2111, 2119, 1145, 2145

Prior to 2014
Science/Engineering Electives from any department offering a BS degree

Excluding:

  • All Computer Science
  • Math 1101, 1120, 1103, 1140, 1160, 1208, 1110, 1212, 1214, 1215, 1221
  • Physics 1111, 1119, 1135, 2135, 2111, 2119, 1145, 2145
  • IST 1750, 1551, 1552, 3423, 3131, 3333, 3343, 3321, and 6654
  • Please note that IST 4654 is not in the above list

In addition to these courses, ALL courses numbered: 2001, 3000, 3001, 3010, 4000, 4001, 4010, 4099, would be examined if requested. NOTE: If any of the above listed courses has the approved prerequisite, then that course would be automatically accepted.

Effective with catalog year FS2015, CS students have to meet the CS department’s experiential learning requirement, which can be found here.

Downloadable PDF

Minors and Emphasis Areas

Our one minor and emphasis area help you focus on your interests and career goals. You will complete at least 20 credit hour courses to obtain a minor and at least 29 credit hours to establish an emphasis area.

If you are earning another degree at S&T, you can obtain a minor in computer science by taking 20 credit hours in the area.

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Bioinformatics is the rapidly-developing field that applies computational methods to address biological questions, and includes new advances in computer science, mathematics, and biology. Students entering the field of bioinformatics should have some training in each of these fields.

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Admissions

To apply for admission to Missouri S&T, choose the selection below that best describes your application status.

Learn more about admissions here.

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