DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
ACADEMICS
UNDERGRADUATE INFORMATION
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DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE ACADEMICS UNDERGRADUATE INFORMATION |
Chair: David Whalley
Associate Chair: Gary Tyson
Professor: Baker, Desmedt, Fox, Gallivan, Hawkes, Kohout, Lacher, Levitz, Riccardi, Whalley
Associate Professor: Banks, Mascagni, Schwartz, Turner
Assistant Professor: Douglas, McDuffie, Van Engelen, Yasinsac, Yuan, Liu
Assistant Scholar/Scientist: Leach
Computing Resources Manager: Sprague
Courtesy Professor: Conrad, Ehlmann, Gaede, Harmon, Hussaini
The mission of the Department of Computer Science is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills required for a fulfilling career, and to create and disseminate knowledge to improve computer science education and practice.
A student in the department can look forward professionally to employment in an industrial or financial firm, a governmental agency, or secondary, college, or university teaching position.
In computer science education, whether graduate or undergraduate, keeping up with progress in the field is essential. Computer science is an exceptionally fast-moving field where knowledge is subject to rapid obsolescence and ideas progress swiftly from research to practice. The department therefore seeks to offer technical instruction on the frontier of new developments while simultaneously providing each student with a core of intellectual tools that will never become obsolete. The department views skills in communication, mathematics, and algorithmic reasoning as central, and the understanding of underlying principles as more important than familiarity with specific technical products. Still, direct hands-on experience is essential to mastering these skills and principles. If students are to be adequately prepared for careers in computer science, they should have extensive experience with modern machines and software.
The department also has a number of active research programs, in areas, including the following: computer security; cryptography; programming languages; compilers; real-time systems; databases; fault tolerance; networks; neural networks; expert networks; fuzzy sets and systems; scientific visualization; human computer interaction; computational science and engineering. These research programs enjoy external support from agencies ranging from the National Science Foundation to the private sector.
In support of the research mission, as well as in support of the instructional and public service missions, numerous research institutes and research centers have been established at the University. Some of these institutes and centers particularly affect the operation of the computer science programs.
The Institute for Cognitive Sciences was established to conduct interdisciplinary research in the field of human cognition. The Department of Computer Science is one of five participating academic departments.
The School of Computational Science and Information Technology (CSIT) supports graduate education, provides a leading-edge high-performance computational facility, and performs basic research in core areas of applied computer science, applied numerical mathematics and the overlap of these areas with traditional disciplines. The scope of CSIT includes the science and technology of performing, analyzing, and archiving large-scale computations over wide-area networks, and its goal is to employ large-scale computer and network resources in pursuit of scientific and technological research goals. CSIT supports multidisciplinary faculty, postdoctoral research fellows, and graduate students.
The Office of Technology Integration offers computing services for the entire campus through three areas. One, Academic Computing and Network Services (ACNS http://www.acns.fsu.edu) manages the campus backbone network and FSU-wide servers for popular services such as email, web servers, etc. ACNS also maintains a number of computer-equipmed laboratories and classrooms. User Services (US - http://www.us.fsu.edu) provides dial-up help desk support, training and software licensing. Finally, the third area, Administrative Information Systems (AIS - http://www.ais.fsu.edu), in conjunction with the Northwest Regional Data Center (http://www.nwrdc.fsu.edu), provide support for mainframe-based and client-server administrative computing services.
The Department of Computer Science has a full range of computing facilities available for a variety of instructional and research needs. Faculty and graduate students share a group of high-performance workstations, file servers, and computer servers over the departmental LAN. A majors' laboratory supports undergraduate and graduate instructional needs through networked workstations and file servers. Dial-up access is supported through multi-port modem servers. All departmental machines are connected to the local campus network and the internet. Students and faculty whose research requires higher computational power may apply for access to a variety of state-of-the-art machines, including super computers and compute clusters, across the University.
The Department of Computer Science offers Computer and Information Science (CIS) programs leading to the bachelor of science (BS) and bachelor of arts (BA) degrees, the master of science (MS) and master of arts (MA) degrees, and the doctor of philosophy (PhD). At the bachelor and master levels, programs of study are available for those who plan to work toward higher degrees, as well as for students planning on careers as computing professionals.
At the bachelor's level, majors are offered in both computer science (CS) and software engineering (SE). The SE major is specifically designed for the student preparing for a career as a software professional, while the CS major leans more toward preparation for graduate work in computer science. There is significant overlap between the two, however, and each is an excellent preparation for a fulfilling lifetime career as a computer professional.
The undergraduate program with major in Computer Science is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC) of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post secondary Accreditation (COPA) and the United States Department of Education.
Both of the undergraduate majors (CS and SE) are available via Internet-Supported Distance Learning to students with a recent State of Florida Associate of Arts degree and to upper division students otherwise admitted to the program. For more information contact the FSU Office for Distributed and Distance Learning (http://www.fsu.edu/~distance).
Honors in the Major
The Department of Computer Science offers a program in honors in the major to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research as part of the undergraduate experience. For requirements and other information, see the University Honors Program and Honor Societies section of this General Bulletin.
University-wide Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree
Successful completion of a minimum a one hundred twenty (120) semester hours. A minimum adjusted grade point average of 2.0 (C) on all course work taken at Florida State University. The last thirty (30) credit hours must be earned in residence at this University. Sixty (60) hours of the work credited toward a Baccalaureate degree must be earned in an accredited senior institution. In cases of emergency, a maximum of six (6) hours of the final thirty (30) hours may be completed by correspondence or residence at another accredited senior institution with the approval of the academic dean.
Basic Studies Requirements: Completion of at least 52 semester hours of credit, including successful completion (with grades of ``C-" or better) of 27 of the required hours for Liberal Studies of which all the required hours in Communications, History and Humanities must be met. (Completion of these three areas automatically meets the Florida Administration Code 6A-10.30 requirements of 6 semester hours of Mathematics and the written component consisting of 28,000 words. Students who have received exemption credit for any or all of these areas should check with their advisor.)
Liberal Studies Requirements: Completion of 36 hours of Liberal Studies courses with at least 12 hours in Communication (6 each in English and Math); 6 to 12 hours in History and Social Sciences (at least 3 hours in both History and Social Science); 5 to 11 hours in Humanities and Fine Arts including at least 3 hours in a Humanities Literature course; and 7 hours in Natural Sciences including at least lab and lecture course. A student who transfers to Florida State University from a Florida public community/junior college or senior institution with an "AA" will be deemed to have satisfied the University's Liberal Studies requirement. For detailed information, please consult the Florida State University General Bulletin.
College Level Academic Skills Test
The Florida Legislature made it mandatory that all college students who were not classified as Upper Division prior to January, 1983, be required to take the CLAST. All Liberal Studies courses provide students with the opportunity to practice CLAST skills. All students must take CLAST before they complete 60 hours of college credit. Students may satisfy the CLAST by alternative means with the appropriate combination of course work and score from either the ACT or SAT. For additional information contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies at 644-2451.
State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites
The State of Florida has identified common course prerequisites for this University degree program. Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites, but may not be admitted into the program.
The following are the common prerequisites or their substitutions necessary for admission into this upper-division degree program:
The following additional courses, though not required for admission into the upper division major, are required for completion of the degree:
Please review all college-wide degree requirements summarized in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this General Bulletin.
Arts and Sciences Requirements
Completion of at least 66 semester hours of courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, including a minimum of 6 semester hours of Humanities, 6 semester hours of Natural Sciences, and 3 semester hours each in History and Mathematics. Students who complete the equivalent of FSU's Liberal Studies requirements at another institution are expected to complete any discrepancies. Completion of a major and a minor. Computer Science can use the required collateral course work in mathematics, physics, and statistics as an interdisciplinary minor. Completion of the final course (2200 or 2300 level) of a 12 semester hour sequence in a foreign language (these hours may be taken on a S/U basis). Be enrolled during the final 30 semester hours in the degree program. Any exceptions to the final 30 hour requirement must be cleared through Arts and Sciences.
Requirements for a Bachelors Degree in Computer and Information Science
The undergraduate program in computer and information sciences is limited access. In order to be considered for entrance a student must have completed the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites MAC X311 and COP XXXX with a grade of "C-" or better and have the required overall GPA (computed on all prior college work attempted) that is in effect for the term in which application is made. Minimum GPA for admission to the program is 2.65. Upon entrance to the program, the student must maintain a 2.5 GPA to remain in good standing in the major.
A student who has accumulated more than five grades below "C-" (including grades of "U") in mathematics, statistics, science, or computer science courses taken for college credit at The Florida State University or elsewhere, whether repeated or not, will not be permitted to continue as a major in the department.
There are currently two majors for the CIS Bachelors degree, Computer Science (CS) and Software Engineering (SE). In the following listing of requirements, courses that are required for only one major are marked with the major abbreviation in parentheses.
A grade of "C-" or better must be earned in each of the following courses: COP XXXX (an introductory programming course in C or C++), CGS 3408 (only if COP XXXX above does not cover the C or C++ language), COP 3502, COP 3330, COP 3331, COP 4020 (CS); COP 4610, COP4530, COP 4531, COP 4710; CDA 3101, CEN 4010 (SE); COT 4420(CS), COT 4425(SE); MAC 2311, MAC 2312; MAD 2104 and MAD 3105, or MAD 3107; SPC 3601; STA 3032 or STA 4442; another advanced mathematics, statistics, or theoretical computer science course approved by the department, with a prerequisite of calculus or discrete mathematics.
In addition, the student must complete at least twelve (12) semester hours of computer science electives, at least nine (9) semester hours being at the 4000 level. One of the electives, must cover an additional programming language not presented in the other required course offerings. The student must complete PHY 2048c, 2049c and three/four (3-4) additional semester hours of science in a discipline(s) other than physics. All courses used to satisfy the science requirement must be identified as "For Science Majors" within the Liberal Studies Program (or have such a course as a prerequisite). Approval is to be requested prior to registration for the elective courses. All students are required to complete an exit survey for both the Department of Computer Science and the College of Arts and Sciences during their term of graduation. These forms may be obtained from the Academic Coordinator's Office (Room 203C Love Building). Students following this major will complete a total of at least one hundred twenty (120) semester hours in order to satisfy all University and major requirements.
Courses that meet the "approved math elective" requirement:| Course Number | Course Name | Prerequisites | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAP 2302 | Ordinary Differential Equations | MAC 2312 | 3 |
| MAD 3401 | Intro to Numerical Analysis | MAC 2312 | 3 |
| MAP 3305 | Engineering Math | MAC 2312 (with a B or better) | 3 |
| MAS 3105 | Applied Linear Algebra I | MAC 2312 | 4 |
| MAS 3301 | Intro to Modern Algebra | MAC 2312 or MAD 2104 | 3 |
| MAT 3711 | Intro to Symbolic Computation | MAC 2312 | 3 |
| Course Number | Course Name | Prerequisites | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSC 2010 + L | Biological Science I + Lab | CHM 1045 + L | 4 |
| BSC 2011 + L | Biological Science II + Lab | BSC 2010 + L | 4 |
| CHM 1045 + L | General Chemistry I + Lab | MAC 1105 | 4 |
| CHM 1046 + L | General Chemistry II + Lab | CHM 1045 + L | 4 |
| CHM 1050 + L | Honors General Chemistry I + Lab | MAC 1105 and High School Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 1051 + L | Honors General Chemistry II + Lab | CHM 1050 + L | 4 |
| GLY 2010C | Physical Geology | None | 4 |
| MET 2101 | Physical Climatology | MET 2700 | 2 |
| MET 2700 | General Meteorology | MAC 2311; Co-Req: PHY 2048C | 3 |
The required collateral courses in mathematics, physics, and statistics constitute an acceptable interdisciplinary minor. Students may contact the undergraduate advisor for information concerning other acceptable minors.
Requirements for a Minor in Computer Science
A minor in computer science consists of twelve (12) semester hours in a specific combination of computer science courses at or above the 3000 level for which the student has obtained written approval in advance from the department. (CGS 2060 and CGS 2100 may not be applied towards a computer science minor. Click here for more information on the minor, including a list of pre-approved courses for the minor.) Students must also satisfy stated prerequisites before enrolling in any computer science course. A grade of "C-" or better must be earned in each course counted toward the minor.