Dec 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Computer Science, B.S.


Offered by Computer Science and Electrical Engineering .

The Computer Science, B.S. is an ABET-accredited program that prepares students for a career in the computing industry and for further studies in pursuance of graduate degrees. Required courses include programming, discrete structures, ethics in information technology, data structures, operating systems, algorithms, and software engineering. Computer science is a rich and diverse discipline. Students may optionally pursue a track in artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, or game development. Computing jobs are among the fastest growing and highest paid in the country according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. UMBC computer science graduates are employed by many businesses, including tech industry leaders, government agencies, the defense industry and video game companies. Many graduates have also been admitted to the top graduate programs in computer science.

University Requirements


Completion of Minimum University Requirements for an Undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree .

  • Minimum 120 credits and minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Completion of 45 upper-level credits, residence requirement, Writing Intensive requirement, and General Education requirement

Major Requirements


  • Minimum 75 credits
  • Minimum grade of ‘C’ in courses applied to the major, except where otherwise indicated
  • Students may complete one major or minor in  
  • Two courses in each track cannot be used towards any other tracks.

Course Requirements


Computer Science Gateway (8 credits)


Complete the following with minimum grade of ‘B’:

Required Science Courses (10-12 credits)


Complete one of the following two-course sequences:

Technical Electives (9 credits)


Complete 9 credits from 400-level CMSC courses excluding , , , and , computer engineering courses as approved, or a maximum of two of the following courses:

Computer Science Track


Two courses in each track cannot be used towards any other tracks.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Track


The Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning track consists of the following 12 credits in addition to the core requirements of the major:

Cybersecurity Track


The Cybersecurity track consists of the following 12 credits in addition to the core requirements of the major:

Electives

Complete 6 credits from the following or other courses as approved:

Data Science Track


The Data Science track consists of the following 12 credits in addition to the core requirements of the major.

Game Development Track


The Game Development track consists of the following 19 credits in addition to the core requirements of the major:

Laptop Requirement


 requires all incoming first year and incoming transfer students to have a laptop computer.

The Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Technology Requirement is available from the department website.

Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs


Qualified students may apply to an accelerated program, which allows them to share courses between a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Students take graduate courses as undergraduate students and later apply those courses to master’s degrees. An undergraduate may apply to participate in an accelerated program even if the desired graduate program is in a department other than the one in which the student is majoring. More information is available from the Accelerated Program page of the Graduate School website.