Computer Science (BS)
The Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering at NC State 福利逼站 offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree. The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of 础叠贰罢,听.听
Students complete the standard set of engineering first-year courses, which include courses in the humanities, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computing. Students may apply to join the Department of Computer Science as degree-seeking students via the .听
The Computer Science curriculum teaches students the skills needed to specify, design, implement, test, and deploy computer and software systems. Core courses provide a foundation for all students in programming languages, data structures, software engineering, systems, the theory of computation, the basics of building secure software and systems, teaming and communication, and the social and ethical dimensions of the practice of computer science.听
Computer science electives are chosen in consultation with advisers, usually starting during the junior year. These electives allow for the exploration of more advanced areas. Among them are artificial intelligence, cloud computing, compilers, computer architecture and multiprocessors, computer graphics, cryptography, database management systems, data science, development and operations, educational technology, file organization and processing, human-computer interface design, multimedia technology, networks, privacy, security (computer, network, and software), sensor systems, social computing, and web services.听
All Computer Science majors must complete a team project in Senior Design. Projects under the auspices of the department鈥檚 听may have industrial sponsors, so student teams gain experience working jointly with industry representatives to achieve project goals. Senior Design teams are expected to solve a technical computing problem while effectively communicating their work and process to various audiences.
Departmental Information
The Department of Computer Science is located in Engineering Building II on NC State鈥檚 Centennial Campus.听听
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Field of Study Requirements | ||
| Math | ||
| MA听141 | Calculus I 1,2 | 4 |
| MA听241 | Calculus II 1,2 | 4 |
| MA听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MA听305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 |
| ST听370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Sciences | ||
| CH听101 &听CH听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1,2 | 4 |
| PY听205 &听PY听206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1,2 | 4 |
| PY听208 &听PY听209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| Basic Science Elective | 3 | |
| CSC Major | ||
| CSC听116 | Introduction to Computing - Java 2 | 3 |
| CSC听216 &听CSC听217 | Software Development Fundamentals and Software Development Fundamentals Lab 2 | 4 |
| CSC听226 | Discrete Mathematics 2 | 3 |
| CSC听230 | C and Software Tools | 3 |
| CSC听246 | Concepts and Facilities of Operating Systems for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| CSC听316 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| CSC听326 | Software Engineering | 4 |
| CSC听333 | Automata, Grammars, and Computability | 3 |
| CSC听379 | Ethics in Computing | 1 |
| CSC听492 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Other Major | ||
| CSC Restricted Electives | 12 | |
| Other Restricted Electives - Group A | 6 | |
| Other Restricted Electives - Group B | 6 | |
| ENG听331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 |
| College Requirements | ||
| Orientation Course(s): | 4 | |
| Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,3 | ||
| Engineering in the 21st Century 3 | ||
| Introduction to Computing Environments 1 | ||
| Other: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
or听EC听201 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
or听ARE听201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |
| General Education Program Requirements | ||
| ENG听101 1,3 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 121 | |
- 1
College of Engineering CODA classes.
- 2
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 3
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Basic Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO *** | ||
| CH听201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| MEA *** | ||
| PB *** | ||
| PY听123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | 3 |
| PY听124 | Solar System Astronomy | 3 |
| PY听328 | Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics | 3 |
| PY听341 | Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology | 3 |
| PY听401 | Quantum Physics I | 3 |
| PY听402 | Quantum Physics II | 3 |
| PY听407 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
| PY听411 | Mechanics I | 3 |
| PY听412 | Mechanics II | 3 |
| PY听413 | Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PY听414 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| PY听415 | Electromagnetism II | 3 |
| ZOO *** | ||
CSC Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSC听236 | Computer Organization and Assembly Language for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| CSC听302 | Introduction to Numerical Methods | 3 |
| or听CSC听580 | Numerical Analysis I | |
| CSC听342 | Applied Web-based Client-Server Computing | 3 |
| CSC听401 | Data and Computer Communications Networks | 3 |
| or听CSC听573 | Internet Protocols | |
| CSC听402 | Networking Projects | 3 |
| CSC听405 | Computer Security | 3 |
| CSC听406 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | 3 |
| or听CSC听506 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | |
| CSC听408 | Software Product Management | 3 |
| CSC听411 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| or听CSC听520 | Artificial Intelligence I | |
| CSC听412 | Compiler Construction | 3 |
| or听CSC听512 | Compiler Construction | |
| CSC听414 | Foundations of Cryptography | 3 |
| or听CSC听514 | Foundations of Cryptography | |
| CSC听415 | Software Security | 3 |
| or听CSC听515 | Software Security | |
| CSC听416 | Introduction to Combinatorics | 3 |
| CSC听417 | Theory of Programming Languages | 3 |
| CSC听418 | Software Analysis and Design | 3 |
| CSC听419 | DevOps: Modern Software Engineering Practices | 3 |
| or听CSC听519 | DevOps: Modern Software Engineering Practices | |
| CSC听422 | Automated Learning and Data Analysis | 3 |
| or听CSC听522 | Automated Learning and Data Analysis | |
| CSC听431 | File Organization and Processing | 3 |
| CSC听433 | Privacy in the Digital Age | 3 |
| or听CSC听533 | Privacy in the Digital Age | |
| CSC听440 | Database Management Systems | 3 |
| or听CSC听540 | Database Management Concepts and Systems | |
| CSC听442 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| CSC听447 | Introduction to Cloud Computing | 3 |
| or听CSC听547 | Cloud Computing Technology | |
| CSC听450 | Web Services | 3 |
| CSC听451 | Robot Motion Planning | 3 |
| CSC听453 | Introduction to Internet of Things (IoT) Systems | 3 |
| CSC听454 | Human-Computer Interaction | 3 |
| or听CSC听554 | Human-Computer Interaction | |
| CSC听455 | Social Computing and Decentralized Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| or听CSC听555 | Social Computing and Decentralized Artificial Intelligence | |
| CSC听456 | Computer Architecture and Multiprocessors | 3 |
| or听CSC听506 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | |
| CSC听461 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| or听CSC听561 | Principles of Computer Graphics | |
| CSC听462 | Advanced Computer Graphics Projects | 3 |
| or听CSC听562 | Introduction to Game Engine Design | |
| CSC听467 | Introduction to Quantum Algorithms | 3 |
| CSC听469 | Quantum Programming | 3 |
| CSC听471 | Modern Topics in Cybersecurity | 3 |
| CSC听472 | Cybersecurity Practicum | 3 |
| CSC听474 | Network Security | 3 |
| or听CSC听574 | Computer and Network Security | |
| CSC听481 | Game Engine Foundations | 3 |
| or听CSC听581 | Game Engine Foundations | |
| CSC听482 | Advanced Computer Game Projects | 3 |
| CSC听484 | Building Game AI | 3 |
| or听CSC听584 | Building Game AI | |
| CSC听486 | Computational Visual Narrative | 3 |
| CSC听490 | Independent Study in Computer Science | 1-6 |
| CSC听491 | Special Topics in Computer Science | 1-6 |
| CSC听499 | Independent Research in Computer Science | 1-6 |
| CSC听501 | Operating Systems Principles | 3 |
| CSC听503 | Computational Applied Logic | 3 |
| CSC听505 | Design and Analysis Of Algorithms | 3 |
| CSC听510 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CSC听517 | Object-Oriented Design and Development | 3 |
| CSC听530 | Computational Methods for Molecular Biology | 3 |
| CSC听537 | Systems Attacks and Defenses | 3 |
| CSC听541 | Advanced Data Structures | 3 |
| CSC听542 | Neural Networks and Deep Learning | 3 |
| CSC听546 | Management Decision and Control Systems | 3 |
| CSC听548 | Parallel Systems | 3 |
| CSC听563 | Visual Interfaces for Mobile Devices | 3 |
| CSC听565 | Graph Theory | 3 |
| CSC听568 | Enterprise Storage Architecture | 3 |
| CSC听570 | Computer Networks | 3 |
| CSC听572 | Optimizations and Algorithms | 3 |
| CSC听575 | Introduction to Wireless Networking | 3 |
| CSC听576 | Networking Services: QoS, Signaling, Processes | 3 |
| CSC听577 | Switched Network Management | 3 |
| CSC听578 | LTE and 5G Communications | 3 |
| CSC听582 | Computer Models of Interactive Narrative | 3 |
| CSC听583 | Introduction to Parallel Computing | 3 |
| CSC听591 | Special Topics In Computer Science | 1-6 |
| CSC听595 | Cybersecurity Practicum | 3 |
| ECE听482 | Engineering Entrepreneurship Senior Design I | 3 |
| ECE听483 | Engineering Entrepreneurship Senior Design II | 3 |
| MA听414 | Foundations of Cryptography | 3 |
| MA听416 | Introduction to Combinatorics | 3 |
| ST听442 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
Other Restricted Electives - Group A
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSC Other Restricted Electives - Group B | ||
| ACC听200 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC听210 | Concepts of Financial Reporting | 3 |
| CE听214 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics | 3 |
| CSC听251 | Python Applications | 1 |
| CSC听255 | 1 | |
| CSC听281 | Foundations of Interactive Game Design | 3 |
| CSC听293 | Computer Science Teaching Assistant Training | 1 |
| CSC听295 | Special Topics in Computer Science | 1-3 |
| CSC听297 | Cybersecurity Topics | 1 |
| CSC听298 | Introduction to Computer Science Research Methods | 3 |
| CSC听299 | Mentored Research in Computer Science | 1-3 |
| ECE听211 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| ECE听212 | Fundamentals of Logic Design | 3 |
| MAE 2** | 1-3 | |
| MSE听201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials | 3 |
Other Restricted Electives - Group B
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSC Restricted Elective Courses | 1-6 | |
| ACC听310 | Intermediate Financial Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC听311 | Intermediate Financial Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC听330 | An Introduction To Income Taxation | 3 |
| ACC听340 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| ARS听306 | Music Composition with Computers | 3 |
| BUS听320 | Financial Management | 3 |
| BUS听340 | Information Systems Management | 3 |
| BUS听360 | Marketing Methods | 3 |
| BUS 4** | ||
| CHE听435 | Process Systems Analysis and Control | 3 |
| CHE听465 | Colloidal and Nanoscale Engineering | 3 |
| CSC听427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| CSC听428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| DSC听405 | Data Wrangling and Web Scraping | 1 |
| DSC听406 | Exploratory Data Analysis for Big Data | 1 |
| DSC听410 | Data Internship Preparation for Social Impact | 1 |
| DSC听412 | Exploring Machine Learning | 1 |
| EC 3** | ||
| EC 4** | ||
| EC 5** | ||
| ECE 3** (except for ECE听309) | ||
| ECE 4** | ||
| ECE 5** | ||
| EED听401 | Teaching Undergraduate Engineers | 3 |
| or听EED听501 | Teaching Undergraduate Engineers | |
| EED听411 | Societal Foundations for Engineering Education | 3 |
| or听EED听511 | Societal Foundations for Engineering Education | |
| EED听414 | Ethics for Engineering Education | 3 |
| or听EED听514 | Ethics for Engineering Education | |
| EED听495 | Special Topics in Engineering Education | 1-3 |
| EED听502 | Engineering Education : Content, Assessment, and Pedagogy | 3 |
| EED听509 | Field Experiences in Engineering Education | 3 |
| EED听595 | Special Topics in Engineering Education | 1-3 |
| EMS听480 | Teaching Mathematics with Technology | 3 |
| GC听320 | 3D Spatial Relations | 3 |
| GC听350 | Applied CAD/D and Geometric Controls | 3 |
| GC听420 | Visual Thinking | 3 |
| GN 5** | ||
| ISE听311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| ISE听361 | Deterministic Models in Industrial Engineering | 3 |
| ISE 4** | ||
| ISE 5** | ||
| LOG听335 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| LOG听435 | Advanced Logic & Metamathematics | 3 |
| LOG听535 | Advanced Logic and Metamathematics | 3 |
| MA听302 | Numerical Applications to Differential Equations | 1 |
| MA听341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| MA听351 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models | 3 |
| MA听401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| MA听402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3 |
| MA听403 | Introduction to Modern Algebra | 3 |
| MA听405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MA听407 | Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors | 3 |
| MA听408 | Foundations of Euclidean Geometry | 3 |
| MA听410 | Theory of Numbers | 3 |
| MA听412 | Long-Term Actuarial Models | 3 |
| MA听413 | Short-Term Actuarial Models | 3 |
| MA听425 | Mathematical Analysis I | 3 |
| MA听426 | Mathematical Analysis II | 3 |
| MA听427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| MA听428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| MA听430 | Mathematical Models in the Physical Sciences | 3 |
| MA听432 | Mathematical Models in Life Sciences | 3 |
| MA听437 | Applications of Algebra | 3 |
| MA 5** | ||
| MAE 3** | ||
| MAE 4** | ||
| MAE 5** | ||
| MIE 3** | ||
| MIE 4** | ||
| MSE 3** | ||
| MSE 4** | ||
| MSE 5** | ||
| MUS听306 | Music Composition with Computers | 3 |
| NE 3** | ||
| NE 4** | ||
| NE 5** | ||
| OR 5** | ||
| PHI听425 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 3 |
| PSY听307 | Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| PSY听340 | Human Factors Psychology | 3 |
| PSY听400 | Perception | 3 |
| PSY听420 | Cognitive Processes | 3 |
| PSY听425 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 3 |
| PY 4** | ||
| PY 5** | ||
| ST听372 | Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression | 3 |
| ST 4** | ||
| ST 5** | ||
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
Semester Sequence4
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH听101 &听CH听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1, 2 | 4 |
| E听101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,3 | 1 |
| E听115 | Introduction to Computing Environments 1 | 1 |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1,3 | 4 |
| MA听141 | Calculus I 1, 2 | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC听116 | Introduction to Computing - Java 2 | 3 |
| MA听241 | Calculus II 1, 2 | 4 |
| PY听205 &听PY听206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1, 2 | 4 |
| E听102 | Engineering in the 21st Century 1, 3 | 2 |
| EC听205 | Fundamentals of Economics or Principles of Microeconomics or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CSC听216 &听CSC听217 | Software Development Fundamentals and Software Development Fundamentals Lab 2 | 4 |
| CSC听226 | Discrete Mathematics 2 | 3 |
| MA听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY听208 &听PY听209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC听230 | C and Software Tools | 3 |
| CSC听316 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| CSC听333 | Automata, Grammars, and Computability | 3 |
| MA听305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CSC听246 | Concepts and Facilities of Operating Systems for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| CSC Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| ST听370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Other Restricted Elective - Group A | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC听326 | Software Engineering | 4 |
| CSC听379 | Ethics in Computing | 1 |
| CSC Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| ENG听331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Other Restricted Elective - Group A | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CSC Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Other Restricted Elective - Group B | 3 | |
| Basic Science Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC听492 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| CSC Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Other Restricted Elective - Group B | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 121 |
- 1
College of Engineering CODA classes.
- 2
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 3
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 4
One of the following two conditions regarding the major GPA is required: (l) the major GPA, which consists of all CSC courses attempted at NCSU, must be 2.0 or higher or (2) a student whose major grade point average is below 2.0 may graduate if no CSC course used to satisfy the major requirements has a grade below a C-.
Career Opportunities
Designing computer systems, and the software that runs on them is the job of computer scientists. Computer scientists find demand for their innovation, design, analysis, testing, and engineering skills across all domains. As a direct consequence of the increasingly critical role of computers in society, the discipline of computer science has enjoyed rapid growth for many years, with the trend likely to continue. Employment projections indicate a critical nationwide shortfall in the supply of people skilled in computing and information technology, and a resulting steady rise in demand and salaries, for decades to come. Computer Science graduates from NC State are in high demand, including by employers that are extremely selective in their national recruiting.
Anchoring one corner of the world-famous Research Triangle Park, and located in modern state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities on NC State鈥檚 Centennial Campus, the department and its students and faculty benefit from strong and active industry partnerships. NC State Computer Science is one of the top suppliers in the nation of new graduate hires to a number of high-tech companies, including several Fortune 500 companies, some with a substantial presence in the Research Triangle. Starting salaries for our undergraduates now average over $86,000 and show a steady increase. Opportunities are also plentiful for graduate study for those who wish to pursue the field in more depth.
Career Titles
- Architectural Drafters
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Clinical Data Managers
- Computer and Information Scientists
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Computer Hardware Engineers
- Computer Network Architects
- Computer Programmer
- Computer Science Professor
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer Systems Engineer
- Computer User Support Specialist
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Database Administrator
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Project Managers
- IT Administrator (Information Technology)
- Mathematician
- Project Management Specialists
- Robotics Engineers
- Scientific Linguist
- Software Developer
- Software Engineer
- Technical & Scientific Publications Editor
- Technical Publications Writer
- Video Game Designer
- Web Art Director
- Webmaster
Learn More About Careers
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Professional Organizations & Societies
- 听(ACM)
- 听(AITP)
- 听(NSPE)