The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is built on a rigorous, highly concentrated, accredited curriculum of computer science courses. The program provides a strong foundation in the discipline and includes advanced study in several important areas of computer science.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and includes undergraduate requirements, general education requirements and computer science major requirements.

Degree requirements

The degree curriculum requires a minimum of 45 credits in courses labeled CMSC. Computer science majors are required to complete all of the following computer science courses:

CMSC 101 Introduction to Computer Science
CMSC 255 Introduction to Programming
CMSC 256 Data Structures and Object Oriented Programming
CMSC 302 Introduction to Discrete Structures
CMSC 303 Introduction to the Theory of Computation
CMSC 311 Computer Organization
CMSC 312 Introduction to Operating Systems
CMSC 355 Program Design and Implementation Practicum
CMSC 401 Algorithm Analysis with Advanced Data Structures
CMSC 403 Programming Languages
CMSC 451-452 Senior Project

In order to provide breadth and depth of knowledge, an additional 9 credits in upper-level computer science courses must be completed. No more than two of CMSC 420, 519 or 525 may count toward these 9 credits.

General education requirements

The general education requirements for computer science majors are as follows.
Tier I: UNIV 111 and UNIV 112
Tier II:

Quantitative literacy: MATH 200-201, MATH 211 and STAT 212; complete one other course from MATH 301, MATH 310 or MATH 351.
Research and academic writing: ENGL 200 or other research and academic writing course.
Humanities, fine arts and social/behavioral sciences:

Humanities/fine arts: Select one course from the university approved list.
Social/behavioral science: Select one course from the university approved list
ECON 205 The Economics of Product Development and Markets
Humanities electives: nine additional credits in the humanities, fine arts and social sciences from among the following programs: African American studies, American studies, anthropology, School of the Arts, English, foreign language, history, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, social work, sociology and urban studies. Some courses in other programs (including most honors modules and other courses that focus on human behavior, communication and/or social interaction) may be counted toward this requirement with departmental approval.

Natural/physical sciences:

One science course from the university approved list.
Chemistry, physics, or biology sequence: CHEM 101-102 and CHEZ/FRSZ 101L-102L, PHYS 207 and PHYS 208, or BIOL 151 and 152 and BIOZ 151L and 152L.
Two additional 3-credit (or more) courses in a natural science that count toward the major in that science

Tier III: CMSC 451-452

Curriculum for computer science

Freshman year, fall semester	Credits
CMSC 101 Introduction to Computer Science	3
UNIV 111 Focused Inquiry I	3
Humanities electives	6
Natural/physical science from list	3
	15

Freshman year, spring semester
CMSC 255 Introduction to Programming	4
ECON 205 The Economics of Product Development and Markets	3
MATH 211 Mathematical Structures	3
UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry II	3
Humanities elective	3
	16

Sophomore year, fall semester
CMSC 256 Data Structures and Object Oriented Programming	3
CMSC 302 Introduction to Discrete Structures	3
MATH 200 Calculus with Analytic Geometry	4
Humanities/fine arts from list	3
Tier II research and academic writing course	3
	16

Sophomore year, spring semester
CMSC 303 Introduction to the Theory of Computation	3
CMSC 311 Computer Organization	3
MATH 201 Calculus with Analytic Geometry	4
STAT 212 Concepts of Statistics	3
Social/behavioral science from list	3
	16

Junior year, fall semester
CHEM 101 and CHEZ/FRSZ 101L General Chemistry and Laboratory I or PHYS 207 University Physics or BIOL 151 and BIOZ 151L Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory I	4 or 5
CMSC 312 Introduction to Operating Systems	3
CMSC 355 Program Design	3
Natural science elective	3
	13 or 14

Junior year, spring semester
CHEM 102 and CHEZ/FRSZ 102L General Chemistry and Laboratory I or PHYS 208 University Physics or BIOL 152 and BIOZ 152L Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory II	4 or 5
CMSC 401 Algorithm Analysis with Advanced Data Structures	3
CMSC 403 Programming Languages	3
Mathematics elective	3
	13 or 14

Senior year, fall semester
CMSC 451 Senior Project	3
CMSC upper-level electives	6
General electives	2 to 4
Natural science elective	3
	14 to 16

Senior year, spring semester
CMSC 452 Senior Project	3
CMSC upper-level elective	3
General electives	9
	15

Total credits	120 minimum