Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) Degree
Program Learning Outcomes for the BSCS Degree
Upon completion of the BSCS degree, students will be able to:
- Be knowledgeable about algorithms and their use. Students will analyze new problems, choose appropriate algorithms for their solutions, and develop analytical skills in the manipulation of algorithms.
- Demonstrate the ability to design and implement complex software systems. Students will demonstrate skill in their design and implementation and function effectively in teams.
- Be knowledgeable about programming languages and their use. Students will demonstrate an understanding of distinguishing and mapping two different programming languages.
- Demonstrate a deep knowledge in a subarea of Computer Science. Students will be able to explain issues in the selected subarea and demonstrate a depth of knowledge.
- Communicate effectively to a client and user.
Requirements for the BSCS Degree
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BSCS degree must complete:
- A minimum of 23-25 courses (84 credit hours) depending on course selection to satisfy the major requirements.
- A minimum of 128 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 14 courses (51 credit hours) at the 300-level and above.
The BSCS degree is designed for students who are interested in an in-depth study of computer science to prepare themselves for a professional career in the computing industry.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Computer Science | 84 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BSCS Degree | 128 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Math and Science Courses 1 | ||
| MATH 101 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I | 3 |
| or MATH 105 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I | |
| MATH 102 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II | 3 |
| or MATH 106 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II | |
| Select 1 from the following: | 3 | |
| ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND LINEAR ALGEBRA | ||
| MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS | ||
| HONORS CALCULUS III | ||
| HONORS CALCULUS IV | ||
| STAT 310 / ECON 307 | PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | 3 |
| or STAT 312 | PROBABILITY & STATISTICS FOR ENGINEERS | |
| or ELEC 303 | RANDOM SIGNALS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SYSTEMS | |
| Select 1 from the following: | 3 | |
| MATRIX ANALYSIS | ||
| LINEAR ALGEBRA | ||
| HONORS LINEAR ALGEBRA | ||
| Select 1 from the following: | 4 | |
| MECHANICS (WITH LAB) and MECHANICS DISCUSSION | ||
| HONORS MECHANICS (WITH LAB) | ||
| GENERAL PHYSICS (WITH LAB) | ||
| Select 1 from the following: | 4 | |
| ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (WITH LAB) and ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM DISCUSSION | ||
| HONORS ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (WITH LAB) | ||
| GENERAL PHYSICS II (WITH LAB) | ||
| Computer Science Courses | ||
| Select 1 from the following: | 4 | |
| COMPUTATIONAL THINKING | ||
| ELEMENTS OF ALGORITHMS AND COMPUTATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GAME PROGRAMMING IN PYTHON | ||
| COMP 182 | ALGORITHMIC THINKING | 4 |
| COMP 215 | INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM DESIGN | 4 |
| ELEC 220 | FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING | 4 |
| COMP 310 | ADVANCED OBJECT - ORIENTED PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN | 4 |
| COMP 321 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SYSTEMS | 4 |
| COMP 322 / ELEC 323 | PRINCIPLES OF PARALLEL PROGRAMMING | 4 |
| COMP 382 | REASONING ABOUT ALGORITHMS | 4 |
| COMP 411 | PRINCIPLES OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES | 4 |
| or COMP 412 | COMPILER CONSTRUCTION FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS | |
| COMP 421 / ELEC 421 | OPERATING SYSTEMS AND CONCURRENT PROGRAMMING | 4 |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 2 Computer Science (COMP) departmental course offerings (a minimum of 3 credit hours each) at the 300-level or higher 2 | 6 | |
| Capstone Requirement 3 | ||
| Design Component | ||
| Select 1 from the following: | 4 | |
| SOFTWARE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY | ||
| DISTRIBUTED PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION | ||
| ADVANCED COMPUTER GAME CREATION | ||
| Capstone | ||
| Select 3 additional courses at the 300-level or above in consultation with a major advisor | 11 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Computer Science | 84 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 44 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 128 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Includes coursework completed as distribution credit, FWIS, LPAP, upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), 60 hours outside of the major (if applicable), and any additional academic program requirements. The “hours outside of the major” requirement may include all of the above university requirements. |
| 1 | Typically, the Math and Science courses are taken during the freshman and sophomore years. |
| 2 | At most 1 of these courses may be an independent study project (COMP 390, COMP 490, or COMP 491). Departmental approval is required to use a 600-level course as an elective. |
| 3 | The capstone sequence represents a coherent set of courses in a computer science specialization chosen by the student. Departmental approval is required for suggested specializations. Including the design component, the capstone requires a minimum of 15 credit hours. |
Policies for the BSCS Degree
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the BSCS degree should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Computer Science website: https://www.cs.rice.edu/
Opportunities for the BSCS Degree
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Fifth-Year Master’s Degree Option for Rice Undergraduate Students
Rice students have an option to pursue the Master of Computer Science (MCS) degree by adding an additional fifth year to their four undergraduate years of science and engineering studies.
Advanced Rice undergraduate students in good academic standing may apply to the MCS degree program during their junior or senior year. Upon acceptance, depending on course load, financial aid status, and other variables, they may then start taking some required courses of the master's degree program. A plan of study will need to be approved by the student's undergraduate advisor and the MCS program director.
As part of this option and opportunity, Rice undergraduate students:
- must complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree and the master's degree independently of each other (i.e. no course may be counted toward the fulfillment of both degrees).
- should be aware there could be financial aid implications if the conversion of undergraduate coursework to that of graduate level reduces their earned undergraduate credit for any semester below that of full-time status (12 credit hours).
- more information on this Undergraduate - Graduate Concurrent Enrollment opportunity, including specific information on the registration process can be found here.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Computer Science website: https://www.cs.rice.edu/