College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Computer Science
www.kent.edu/cs

Contact Information

• Program Coordinators: Feodor F. Dragan and Augustine Samba | ugradinfo@cs.kent.edu | 330-672-9120
• Speak with an Advisor
  • Kent Campus
  • Stark Campus
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Fully Offered

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus (major and all concentrations)
  • Stark Campus (no concentration and Cybersecurity optional concentration)

Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science seeks to prepare students to have successful careers as computing professionals, with a solid understanding of software development and computer systems and the foundation for life-long learning in the field; to have an academic foundation suitable for graduate study in computer science or related areas; to be able to function effectively on software development teams, with oral and written communication skills. and with an understanding of professional ethics and responsibility.

Graduates of the B.S. degree in Computer Science have careers in developing, managing and building software in a variety of industries, including finance, health care, entertainment, telecommunications and manufacturing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the following as top occupation choices for Computer Science majors: computer network architect; software developer; information security analyst; database administrator; computer systems analyst; computer programmer; and network and computer systems administrator.

Computer Science students may apply early to the M.S. degree in Computer Science and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

The Computer Science major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Cybersecurity concentration prepares students to meet the security needs of industry and government through coursework that provides a thorough understanding of security, privacy and cryptographic techniques and protocols used in computing and communication.
• The Data Engineering concentration prepares students to perform the data analysis and modeling needed by organizations and to process structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data using statistical and semantic analysis techniques to meet their employers’ needs.
• The Game Programming concentration provides students with a solid understanding of the algorithms, techniques and software used to construct interactive virtual environments. Students work in teams with content specialists and artists to develop the teamwork skills required in this multidisciplinary field, which includes a range of opportunities, from the game industry to education to training design.
• The Robotics and Embedded Systems concentration prepares students to work with devices that combine hardware and software. Such devices include robots and most high tech mechanical devices like cars, planes, farm equipment and construction equipment.

Students may declare the program with no concentration and develop of plan of study to meet their educational and career goals.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campus to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. Check with a regional campus admissions office to determine application requirements, as they may differ among campuses.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
2. Design, implement and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program's discipline.
3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
4. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program's discipline.
6. Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Minimum C grade must be earned in CS 13001 or in both CS 13011 and CS 13012 for graduation.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

¹

A minimum C grade is required to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

This course can be taken as 1 to 3 credit hours. Students may apply a maximum of 4 credit hours of CS 33192 to the Computer Science Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level).

Cybersecurity Concentration Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade is required to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Data Engineering Concentration Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade is required to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Students may apply a maximum of 4 credit hours of CS 33192 to the Computer Science Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level).

Game Programming Concentration Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade is required to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Robotic and Embedded Systems Concentration Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade is required to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Graduation Requirements

• A minimum grade may be required in some courses

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.S.

• Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.¹
• Minimum Elementary I and II of the same language

¹

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

Roadmaps

• Computer Science Major (no concentration)
• Computer Security Concentration
• Data Engineering Concentration
• Game Programming Concentration
• Robotics and Embedded Systems Concentration

Computer Science Major (no concentration)

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Cybersecurity Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Data Engineering Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Game Programming Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Robotics and Embedded Systems Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.