Majors & Minors

Four disciplines. One department. Find the program that fits your path — and explore what you'll study along the way.

Computer Science focuses on computational theory and the rich interplay between computer hardware and software. Students use scientific and design-centric approaches to solve computational problems and to create and evaluate realistic computer and computer-based systems.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate and be able to communicate the knowledge of data types, algorithms, and mathematical principles behind discrete objects.
Use scientific and theoretical methods to design, implement, evaluate, deploy, improve, maintain, and document software and hardware systems.
Apply and articulate key concepts from a specialization area where the interconnection between software and hardware is important and evident.
Able to communicate technical details of the produced software and hardware artifacts both in writing and orally.

Students who major in Computer Science may not double-major or minor in Data Science, Informatics, or Software Engineering.
Math 205 may substitute for CMPSC 102.
Math 320, 330, 345, or 370 may substitute for one required specialization course.
Students planning to attend graduate school in Computer Science are strongly encouraged to take Math 151 early.

Foundation

Take all three courses (12 credits)

Core

Take all four courses (16 credits)

Electives

Take two of the following (8 credits)

Project

Take all three (12 credits)

Students who minor in Computer Science may not major in Data Science, Informatics, or Software Engineering.
Math 205 may substitute for CMPSC 102.

Required

Take both courses (8 credits)

Core Electives

Take two of the following (8 credits)

Upper Electives

Take two of the following (8 credits)

Data Science focuses on the study of integrated principles and methods to analyze complex big data for decision making, prediction, modeling, and data management. Students examine social and human contexts and ethical implications of how data are collected, analyzed, and utilized in diverse areas.

Learning Outcomes

Effectively collects, organizes, analyzes and interprets both structured and unstructured datasets from diverse sources.
Can effectively and ethically use statistical data analysis techniques, modern machine learning algorithms, and state-of-the-art software tools and programming environments to design, build, evaluate, and deploy new predictive models.
Demonstrates and articulates the value of subject matter expertise in domains that apply data science techniques.
Can clearly and persuasively communicate the results of data analysis including critical examination and reflection on the ethical implications of such analysis.

Students who major in Data Science may not double-major or minor in Computer Science, Informatics, or Software Engineering.
With advisor approval, students may substitute a Junior Seminar in another department for CMPSC 580.

Foundation

Take all three courses (12 credits)

Core — Required

Take both courses (8 credits)

Core — Effective Communication

Take one course (4 credits)

ENGL 210 - Writing Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 208 - Professional Communication
FILM 375 - Documentary Traditions
COMM 360 - Rhetoric and Civic Engagement

Core — Ethics

Take one course (4 credits)

PHIL 130 - Values and Knowledge
PHIL 140 - Ethics and Community
PHIL 210 - Oppression and Liberation
POLSC 140 - Introduction to Political Theory
PSYCH 162 - Human Social Behavior
RELST 200 - Christian Ethics
RELST 341 - Jewish Ethics

Core — Statistics

Take one course (4 credits)

BIO 385 - Biostatistics
ECON 202 - Economic Statistics
POLSC 489 - Statistics and Data Analysis
MATH 345 - Probability and Statistical Inference I
PSYCH 207 - Statistical Methods in Psychology

Electives

Take one course (4 credits)

ECON 203 - Economic Statistics II
ECON 241 - Behavioral Economics
GHS 223 - People & Poisons: Foundations of Public Health Toxicology
GHS 228 - Global Health Data & Visualization
BIO 321 / GHS 321 - Epidemiology
MATH 320 - Linear Algebra
MATH 346 - Probability/Statistical Inference II
PSYCH 307 - Intermediate Statistics
COMM 376 - Ethnographic Methods in Media and Cultural Studies

Project

Take all three (12 credits)

Students who minor in Data Science may not major or double-minor in Computer Science, Informatics, or Software Engineering.

Required

Take all three courses (12 credits)

Ethics

Take one course (4 credits)

PHIL 130 - Values and Knowledge
PHIL 140 - Ethics and Community
PHIL 210 - Oppression and Liberation
POLSC 140 - Introduction to Political Theory
PSYCH 162 - Human Social Behavior
RELST 200 - Christian Ethics
RELST 341 - Jewish Ethics

Effective Communication

Take one course (4 credits)

ENGL 210 - Writing Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 208 - Professional Communication
FILM 375 - Documentary Traditions
COMM 360 - Rhetoric and Civic Engagement

Statistics

Take one course (4 credits)

BIO 385 - Biostatistics
ECON 202 - Economic Statistics
POLSC 489 - Statistics and Data Analysis
MATH 345 - Probability and Statistical Inference I
PSYCH 207 - Statistical Methods in Psychology

Informatics focuses on critical approaches to information and technology, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary methods. Students develop ethical and technical frameworks and apply them to a wide-ranging set of culturally-relevant problems in order to enrich the public understanding of the relationship between information and culture.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrates and articulates the distinct concerns of informatics-informed approaches to understanding information as cultural material.
Produce and present disciplinary findings in digital, artistic, oral, and/or written format.
Develop competency in the theories, methods, and practices of domains on which to apply informatics techniques.
Able to design scholarly projects and clearly and persuasively articulate their outcomes.

Students who major in Informatics may complete any minor; however, they may not double-major or minor in Computer Science, Data Science, or Software Engineering.
With advisor approval, students may substitute a Junior Seminar in another department for CMPSC 580.

Foundation

Take all three courses (12 credits)

Core — Required

Take both courses (8 credits)

COMM 342 - Digital Media and Technology

Core — Methods

Take two of the following (8 credits)

ART 187 - Electronic & Intermedia Art
ART 287 - Art at the Intersection of Science and Culture
COMM 376 - Ethnographic Methods in Media and Cultural Studies
FILM 171 - Filmmaking 1
FILM 300 - Filmmaking 2
FILM 375 - Documentary Traditions

Application Module

Take at least two courses from at least one module (8+ credits)

Humanities Informatics

Practices which build and maintain technical platforms to answer questions traditionally thought of as the domain of the Humanities.

At least one course must be at the 200-level or above.

ART 251 - Contemporary Art Writing
ART 343 - Feminist Art Histories
Any ENGL 100-level
ENGL 360 - Language, Theory, and Practice
HIST 170 - Introduction to Public History
PHIL 140 - Ethics and Community
RELST 180 - Religion in American Life
RELST 200 - Christian Ethics
RELST 341 - Jewish Ethics

Geoinformatics

Study and development of technologies that use information to address issues in geology, geography, cartography, and other related sciences.

At least one course must be at the 200-level or above.

ENVSC 285 - Quantitative Sustainability
ENVSC 305 - Environmental GIS I
ENVSC 306 - Environmental GIS II
GEO 110 - Physical Geology

Polinformatics

Practices focused on building and maintaining information and information systems which pertain to questions characterized as social science, in particular those concerned with governance and political participation.

At least one course must be at the 200-level or above.

COMM 256 - Power, Politics, and Communication
COMM 360 - Communication and Civic Engagement
POLSC 120 - Comparative Politics
POLSC 215 - Politics in Popular Culture
POLSC 318 - Politics and the Media
POLSC 321 - Urban Government and Politics
POLSC 424 - Inequality and Social Policy
PHIL 210 - Oppression and Liberation

Health Informatics

Practices which build, maintain, and conceptualize the role of information and information systems in clinical, professional, and academic contexts with particular emphasis on health data.

At least one course must be at the 200-level or above.

COMM 331 - Disease, Disability, and Difference in Popular Culture
GHS 228 - Global Health Data and Visualization
GHS 235 - Global Health Ethics
GHS 321 - Epidemiology
GHS 354 - Medical Anthropology
HIST 380 - Disease and Medicine in Modern History
PHIL 385 - Medical Ethics

Project

Take all three (12 credits)

Students who minor in Informatics may complete any major; however, they may not major in Computer Science, Data Science, or Software Engineering.

Foundation

Take both courses (8 credits)

Core

Take both courses (8 credits)

COMM 342 - Digital Media and Technology

Application Module

Take two courses from one module (8 credits)

Humanities Informatics

ART 251 - Contemporary Art Writing
ART 343 - Feminist Art Histories
Any ENGL 100-level
ENGL 360 - Language, Theory, and Practice
HIST 170 - Introduction to Public History
PHIL 140 - Ethics and Community
RELST 180 - Religion in American Life
RELST 200 - Christian Ethics
RELST 341 - Jewish Ethics

Geoinformatics

At least one course must be taken outside of CMPSC.

ENVSC 285 - Quantitative Sustainability
ENVSC 305 - Environmental GIS I
ENVSC 306 - Environmental GIS II
GEO 110 - Physical Geology

Polinformatics

COMM 256 - Power, Politics, and Communication
COMM 360 - Communication and Civic Engagement
POLSC 120 - Comparative Politics
POLSC 215 - Politics in Popular Culture
POLSC 318 - Politics and the Media
POLSC 321 - Urban Government and Politics
POLSC 424 - Inequality and Social Policy
PHIL 210 - Oppression and Liberation

Health Informatics

COMM 331 - Disease, Disability, and Difference in Popular Culture
GHS 228 - Global Health Data and Visualization
GHS 235 - Global Health Ethics
GHS 321 - Epidemiology
GHS 354 - Medical Anthropology
HIST 380 - Disease and Medicine in Modern History
PHIL 385 - Medical Ethics

Software engineering focuses on the knowledge and skills that teams and individuals need to develop and maintain large-scale software systems. Students apply engineering principles and industry-standard software tools to design, implement, test, release, and enhance software for real-world customers.

Learning Outcomes

While working in a team, can effectively design, implement, evaluate, improve, and document a solution to a problem delivered as a maintainable software system.
Demonstrates competency in the theories, models, and practices of project domains that require the engineering of software.
Can effectively manage and predict the cost, scope, and deadline of a software engineering project.
Uses effective oral and written communication methods to explain both the technical and product-use details of a software artifact.

Students who major in Software Engineering may not double-major or minor in Computer Science, Data Science, or Informatics.

Foundation

Take all three courses (12 credits)

Core

Take all four courses (16 credits)

Electives

Take two of the following (8 credits)

Project

Take all three (12 credits)

Students who minor in Software Engineering may not major in Computer Science, Data Science, or Informatics.

Required

Take all three courses (12 credits)

Core Elective

Take one of the following (4 credits)

Upper Electives

Take two of the following (8 credits)