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Computer Science 

Sample Four Year Schedule for Computer Science Majors

This is a model four year graduation plan. Your path to graduation may vary slightly based on factors such as college credit you earned while in high school, your choice of general education electives, and placement in English and Mathematics

This is a sample 125-hour schedule assuming that you have to (or want to) take MTH 138, and that you take CSC 111 instead of CSC 101. One advantage of this schedule is that CSC 130/131, CSC 232/325, MTH 261/280, and PHY 203/204 are all Fall/Spring.


First Semester (Fall) Hrs.   Second Semester (Spring) Hrs.
IDS 110 Introduction to University Life 1   ENG 110 Writing I 3
COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3   PED 100 Fitness for Living 2
CSC 111 Introduction to Computing 3   CSC 131 Introduction to Computer Science I 4
CSC 130 The World of Computer Science 3   MTH 215 Discrete Mathematics 3
MTH 138 Pre-Calculus 5   PHY 220 Introduction to Digital Computers 4
Total Hours 15   Total Hours 16
         
 Third Semester (Fall) Hrs.   Fourth Semester (Spring) Hrs.
HST 121 or 122 US History 3   Gen Ed: Culture and Society/Social Sciences 3
CSC 232 Introduction to Computer Science II 4   PLS 101 American Democracy and Citizenship 3
CSC 285 Computer Architecture 4   Gen Ed: Self-Understanding/Humanities 3
MTH 261 Calculus 5   CSC 325 Algorithms & Adv. Data Structures 3
      MTH 280 Calculus II 5
Total Hours 16   Total Hours 17
         
 Fifth Semester (Fall) Hrs.   Sixth Semester (Spring) Hrs.
Natural World Elective - any one of : BIO 121,
CHM 160, GLG 110, GRY 135, GRY 142 		4   Gen Ed: Self-Understanding/ Social-Behavioral 3
CSC 333 Languages & Machines 4   Writing II: ENG 321 recommended 3
MTH 345 Statistics for Scientists and Engineers 3   CSC 450 Software Engineering 3
PHY 203 Foundations of Physics I 5   Computer Science Elective 3
      PHY 204 Foundations of Physics II 5
Total Hours 16   Total Hours 17
         
 Seventh Semester (Fall) Hrs.   Eighth Semester (Spring) Hrs.
Gen Ed: Culture and Society/Humanities1 3   Gen Ed: Self-Understanding/Creativity & Vision 3
GEP 397 Capstone Course 3   General Elective1 3
CSC 335 Database System Concepts 3   CSC 460 Operating Systems 3 
Computer Science Elective 3   CSC 482 Seminar in Computer Science 1
PHY 324 Computer Interfacing 4   Computer Science Elective 3
Total Hours 16   Total Hours 13

The Computer Science program meets the requirements for a minor in Mathematics
GPA Requirements include: 2.0 in major and minor fields (Computer Science and Mathematics)
Other Requirements include: 40 hours must be in upper level courses (300 level or above)
1You must have at least 40 hours of upper level credit (300 level or above). If you take ENG 310 or ENG 321 for Writing II, you can complete 40 hours of upper level credit by taking MUS 345 for Culture and Society/Humanities Perspective or by taking a 300, 400, or 500 level course for your General Elective.

Suggestions for Computer Science Majors

  1. Do not  "get all your gen-ed out of the way" before taking courses in the major; you will not finish in four years. (This applies to all of the sciences and mathematics, not just Computer Science.)

  2. Take MTH 138 (if necessary) as soon as possible; do not take MTH 135.

  3. Take CSC 111 instead of CSC 101, if possible.

  4. Take CSC 131, 232, and 325 in consecutive semesters.

  5. Take MTH 261 and 280 in consecutive semesters, then take PHY 203 and 204 in consecutive semesters.

  6. PHY 203 counts as one Natural World elective; the other must be BIO 121, BMS 110, CHM 160, GLG 110, GRY 135, or GRY 142.

  7. By completing a CSC major you will also satisfy the requirements for a MTH minor; you will be two hours short of a PHY minor.

Also see CSC course descriptions in Missouri State Undergraduate Catalog, requirements for BS in Computer Science.