Choosing a Major

The Computer Science Department offers majors and minors in Computer Science (CS) and Information Technology (IT) and additional minors in Bioinformatics, Computer Security and Web Design and Programming.

Computer Science (CS) explores programming and theoretical foundations of computing with emphasis on algorithms and mathematical principles. Computer scientists work on developing new designs for hardware and software. CS majors prepare for careers in software development or for graduate studies in any area of computing. If you dream about designing space missions at NASA, this can be your starting point!

Information Technology (IT) is concerned with forming and maintaining computing environments for businesses and organizations. Information technicians chose and configure hardware and software, monitor performance and security of databases, web servers and computer networks. If you dream about providing computing support at the 21st century level, IT is for you! IT technicians are sought in health care, financial or educational services, commerce and manufacturing. As our IT major requires only a small number of credits, it can be easily taken as a second major.

According to recent job market analysis, computing jobs form one of the fastest growing segments and will remain in that position for a number of years. Because of security concerns, most current and future computing jobs will not be subject to outsourcing -- they will remain in the country. Altogether, CS and IT are excellent career choices for life!

If you like math and programming, choose the CS major. And if you want to make it even stronger, add the Computer Security Minor or the IT Minor.

If you are not sure what major to choose, start with the IT major -- it requires only 40 credits for the BA degree (or 52 cr. for BS) and gives you flexible options:

If you decide to gain a deeper understanding of computing, including its foundations, after a year you can switch to the CS major;
If you decide to build more strength in IT, you can take courses and internships beyond the required 40 credits or add the CS Minor or the Computer Security Minor;
If you decide to expand your knowledge and skills in natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry, environmental science, ...) or in math, you can add a second major in one of these areas. The 40 credits devoted to IT should still be quite easy to complete. But if you wish, you can replace the IT major with a minor in IT or CS. Your knowledge and skills in computing will nicely complement those of natural sciences and will be highly marketable when you start looking for a job.

Because of an overlap in requirements for CS and IT majors, it is easy to switch from one major to the other. You can also declare additional minors in the case of IT, CS or Computer Security minors 6-7 credits can becounted towards both the major and the minor, so instead of taking 18-22 credits for the minor you need only 12-15.

IT major BA (40 cr.)	IT major BS (52 cr.)	CS major BA (49 cr.)	CS major BS (58 cr.)
Additional CS minor (add 12 cr.)		Additional IT minor (add 12 cr.)
Additional Computer Security minor (add 15 cr.)

Computer Security Minor has been approved and will appear in the 2013-2014 Undergraduate and Graduate Catlog.

You may be interested in interdisciplinary minors related to computing:

Bioinformatics Minor for Biological Sciences Students (add 18-24 cr. to the major)
Bioinformatics Minor for Computer Science Students (add 18-21 cr. to the major)
Web Design and Programming Minor (add 12-18 cr. to the major)

Our courses, whether in IT, CS or computer security, have the same prefix, CSC.

Our most successful students choose a double major or a major and a minor or even a major and two minors, enroll in the Honors Program or write a thesis for an advanced honors project. They also register as Teaching Assistants at our department or work as tutors in the Learning Center. We encourage you to consider right from the start how you can distinguish yourself.