Major in Computer Science, Computing Systems Concentration

Computing systems are integrated devices that input, output, process, and store data and information. Computing systems encompass a wide range, from simple sensors and hardware components to phones, laptops, desktops, and entire data centers. Computing systems specialists are challenged to provide ever increasing levels of performance from these systems.

The Computing Systems concentration provides students the necessary tools to solve important and demanding systems problems at scale. Students will learn how to design and assess computer systems from a holistic perspective that encompasses distributed and parallel algorithms, big data, systems software, networking, compiler design, and artificial intelligence/machine learning.

Data is our most valuable resource. Large scale data are being generated by programs, sensors, and simulations. Drawing timely and effective insights from these data are at the heart of modern problems in computer science and society in general. The Computing Systems concentration includes courses that teach you how to accomplish this goal, from storing, transporting, organizing, and extracting insights from data to expressing programs that execute in parallel and distributed environments encompassing hundreds of thousands of cores.

Learning Objectives

Upon successfully completing this program, students will be able to:

1. Design scalable systems for computational and data intensive problems.
2. Design distributed and parallel algorithms to analyze large data sets.
3. Leverage diverse computing architectures in support of problem solutions.
4. Program accelerators/coprocessors (e.g., for deep learning).
5. Confidently pursue graduate studies or professional employment in computer systems and computer science.

Potential Occupations

In addition to the career opportunities open to all computer science graduates, the Computing Systems concentration opens career paths that include:

Cloud applications designer, systems designer, data scientist, big data analyst, compiler designer, database specialist, and supercomputing applications specialist.

Effective Fall 2023

A minimum grade of C (2.000) is required in CO 150 and in all CS, DSCI, MATH, STAT and departmental Technical Elective courses which are required for graduation​.

Technical Electives (6 credits)

Select a minimum of 6 credits, of which 3 credits must be upper-division. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Any CS, CT, DSCI, IDEA, or MATH courses numbered 300- or above, excluding 380-399 and 480-499, and DSCI 369, MATH 369, and CT 301
Any STAT Courses numbered 300- or above, excluding 301, 302A, 307, 315, 380-399 and 480-499
BZ 350	Molecular and General Genetics	4
BZ 360	Bioinformatics and Genomics	4
CIS 320	Project Management for Information Systems	3
CIS 350	Operating Systems and Networks	3
CIS 360	Systems Analysis and Design	3
CIS 413	Advanced Networking and Security	3
CIS 455	Advanced Database Management	3
ECE 452	Computer Organization and Architecture	3
ENGR 422	Technology Entrepreneurship	3
JTC 372	Web Design and Development	3
JTC 472	Advanced Web Design and Development	3
MATH 161	Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)	4
MATH 256	Mathematics for Computational Science II	4
MGT 330	Creativity, Innovation, and Value Creation	3
MGT 340	Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship	3
MGT 420	New Venture Creation	3
PHIL 410	Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems	3
PHIL 411	Logic in Philosophy and Beyond	3
PHIL 415	Logic and Scientific Method	3
PSY 252	Mind, Brain, and Behavior	3
PSY 352	Learning and Memory	3
PSY 452	Cognitive Psychology	3
PSY 454	Biological Psychology	3
PSY 456	Sensation and Perception	3
PSY 458	Cognitive Neuroscience	3

¹

MATH 156 recommended for computer science majors who do not already have MATH 160 credit.

²

Recommended sequence for most incoming students is Group A: CS 150B to CS 164.

³

CS 192 or other seminar course is a recommended elective for incoming first semester students.

⁴

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

To prepare for first semester: The curriculum for the Computer Science major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus. Entering students who are not prepared to take calculus will need to fulfill pre-calculus requirements in the first semester. All students must maintain a C (2.000) or better in CO 150 and in all CS, DSCI, MATH, STAT and departmental Technical Elective courses which are required for graduation.