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Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Prior to graduation, students will develop a sound analytical mindset based in a foundation of mathematics, algorithmic principles, computer organization, and computer science theories. They will use current technologies, skills and tools necessary to design and implement system components under realistic constraints to solve problems of varying complexity. They will work effectively on teams to manage system development projects. They will understand their professional, ethical and social responsibilities and communicate effectively with a range of audiences. They will recognize the need for, and are able to engage in, continuing professional development.

In particular, they will apply the core technologies from computer science when solving problems in such areas as

  • Networking
  • Data structures and algorithms
  • Software development and systems
  • Operating Systems
They will have had an opportunity to concentrate their coursework in computer networking, software systems or bioinformatics.

High school students planning to apply to the computer science program are strongly urged to take a college preparatory program that emphasizes mathematics, science and communication skills.

First-time college student applicants to the undergraduate program in computer science will be admitted if they obtain:

  1. An ACT mathematics score of at least 25 and
  2. An ACT composite score of at least 24 or
    a high school class rank in the upper 25 percent.


First-time college student applicants who do not meet the above criteria but do meet UMKC general admission requirements may be admitted on probation or into the University College.

Students without the recommended preparation must take prerequisite coursework in order to prepare for enrollment in courses required for the bachelor's degree.

Students seeking re-admission must have been in good academic standing when last enrolled. Otherwise, re-admission requires a formal review by the undergraduate program committee.

Transfer students (i.e., from community colleges) will be admitted provided they have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA; however, a higher GPA is strongly recommended for students pursing this rigorous degree program. Their coursework is accepted for transfer credit per university-wide policy, but will replace degree requirements only if a grade of C or higher is obtained and if either their content is equivalent to course requirements of the degree program/courses at the University of Missouri-Kansas City or the transfer is approved as part of a transfer articulation agreement. Not all courses taken at other institutions will transfer, and if they transfer, they might not satisfy specific degree requirements. Students taking courses at other institutions are welcome (and encouraged) to check the transferability of coursework before taking these courses at the home institution.

Coursework requirements for the Computer Science degrees are categorized into several areas totaling at least 120 hours of study.

Computer Science (BA)


Credit Hours
COMP-SCI 101
Prob. Solv. & Prog. I 3
COMP-SCI 111
Intro to Computing 3
COMP-SCI 191
Discrete Structures I
3
COMP-SCI 201R
Prob. Solv. & Prog. II 3
COMP-SCI 201L
Prob. Solv. & Prog. II Lab
1
COMP-SCI 281R
Intro to Computer Arch. & Organ. 3
COMP-SCI 282
Assembler Language Prog. 3
COMP-SCI 291
Discrete Structures II 3
COMP-SCI 303
Data Structures 3
COMP-SCI 304WI
Ethics and Professionalism 3
COMP-SCI Electives
(CS 300<497)
  3

COMP-SCI Advanced
Electives (CS 400<497)

  9
Minimum Requirement
  40

 

General Education Synthesis (6) Credit Hours
COMP-SCI 449 Fund. of Software Engr. 3
COMP-SCI 451R    
Software Engr. Capstone 
3
Minimum Requirement 6

 

Mathematics    Credit Hours
MATH 210 Calculus I 4
MATH 220 Calculus II 4
STAT 235 Elementary Statistics              
3
Minimum Requirement   11

 

Communicating    Credit Hours
ENGLISH 110 Freshman English I 3
ENGLISH 225 Freshman English II
3
COMM-ST 110              
Fundamentals of Speech
3
WEPT (Written English Proficiency Test)
0
Minimum Requirement 
9

 

Humanities and Fine Arts    Credit Hours
Elective: Art/Art Hist, CommSt, Conservatory, English,
Foreign Lang, Philosophy, or Theater
3
Minimum Requirement 3

 

Life and Physical Sciences     Credit Hours
One Life Science and one Physical Science course with a
minimum of one lab in either from one of the following
areas: Biology, Chemistry, environmental Science,
Geoscience, or Physics
 
Minimum Requirement   7-10

 

Social and Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours
HISTORY 101, 102, 360R or POL-SCI 210
(Meets MO constitution requirement)
3
Two courses from two different fields:
Criminal Justice, Geography, Economics, History,
Political Science, Psychology, Social Science or
Sociology
6
Minimum Requirement 9

 

Foreign Language Credit Hours
FRN-LNG 110 or 1 year H.S. study 0-4
FRN-LNG 120 or 2 years H.S. study 0-4
Culture Course(Independent Global Env.)         
3
Minimum Requirement 3-13

 

General Electives Credit Hours
Additional coursework to complete the credit hours
needed for graduation 12-15 hrs. 300<
 
Minimum Requirement
21-31

 

Total Minimum Requirement    120  

 

Computer Science (BS)

  Credit Hours   
COMP-SCI 101 Prob. Solv. & Prog. I 3
COMP-SCI 111 Intro to Computing
3
COMP-SCI 191 Discrete Structures I 3
COMP-SCI 201R Prob. Solv. & Prog. II
3
COMP-SCI 201L Prob. Solv. & Prog. II Lab 1
COMP-SCI 281R Intro to Computer Arch. & Organ. 3
COMP-SCI 282 Assembler Language Prog. 3
COMP-SCI 291 Discrete Structures II 3
COMP-SCI 303 Data Structures 3
COMP-SCI 304WI Ethics and Professionalism 3
COMP-SCI 394R Applied Probability 3
COMP-SCI 404 Intro to Algorithm & Complexity 3
COMP-SCI 421
-or-
COMP-SCI 420
Found. of Data Networks
-or-
Introductory Network Models & Interconnections
3
COMP-SCI 431              
Intro. to Operating Systems 3
COMP-SCI 441 Prog. Lang. Design & Impl. 3
COMP-SCI 470
-or-
COMP-SCI 371
Intro. Database Mgmt. Syst.
-or-
Database Design,
Implementation & Validation
3
COMP-SCI Electives (CS 300>) 3
COMP-SCI                                 
Advanced Electives
(CS 400-499)
9
Minimum Requirement          40-55                 

 

General Education Synthesis (6) Credit Hours
COMP-SCI 449 Fund. of Software Engr. 3
COMP-SCI 451R    
Software Engr. Capstone 
3
Minimum Requirement 6

 

Mathematics    Credit Hours
MATH 210 Calculus I 4
MATH 220 Calculus II 4
MATH 300 Linear Algebra 3
STAT 235 Elementary Statistics              
3
Minimum Requirement   14

 

Communicating    Credit Hours
ENGLISH 110 Freshman English I 3
ENGLISH 225 Freshman English II
3
COMM-ST 110              
Fundamentals of Speech
3
WEPT (Written English Proficiency Test)
0
Minimum Requirement 
9

 

Humanities and Fine Arts    Credit Hours
Elective: Art/Art Hist, CommSt, Conservatory, English,
Foreign Lang, Philosophy, or Theater
3
Minimum Requirement 3

 

Life and Physical Sciences     Credit Hours
PHYSICS 240 and PHYSICS 250 10
One Life Science course in one of the following:
Chemistry or Biology
 4-5
Minimum Requirement   14-15

 

Social and Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours
HISTORY 101, 102, 360R or POL-SCI 210
(Meets MO constitution requirement)
3

Two courses from at least two fields:
Criminal Justice, Geography, Economics, History,
Political Science, Psychology, Social Science or
Sociology

6
Minimum Requirement 9

 

General Electives Credit Hours
Additional coursework to complete the credit hours
needed for graduation
  9-10
Minimum Requirement
9-10

 

Total Minimum Requirement    120  

 

Students pursuing the B.S. degree in Computer Science are required to take two additional advanced elective courses (at the 400 level), with which they can tailor their degree to their specific needs. Students have the option to pursue the emphasis area in Bioinformatics or to pursue one of the concentration areas of Computer and Telecommunications Networking or Software Engineering.

Bioinformatics

The courses required for the emphasis area in Bioinformatics can be accommodated within the current plan of study, if properly chosen. They are: BIOLOGY 108-General Biology I w/Lab, BIOLOGY 109-General Biology II w/Lab, BIOLOGY 202-Cell Biology, BIOLOGY 206-Genetics, CHEM 211-General Chemistry I w/Lab, CHEM 212-General Chemistry w/Lab, COMP-SCI 490MB, MetaModels of Biology, COMP-SCI 490BI-Introduction to Bioinformatics, and either COMP-SCI 371 -Database Design, Implementation and Validation, or COMP-SCI 470-Introduction to DBMS. Please note that COMP-SCI 490MB can be replaced by an advisor approved junior or senior level course in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Life Sciences, or other similar discipline.

Computer and Telecommunications Networking

For the concentration in Computer and Telecommunications Networking, students may take the CS advanced electives from the following list of courses: COMP-SCI 411, COMP-SCI 416, COMP-SCI 420, COMP-SCI 421, COMP-SCI 423. Courses offered as special topics (COMP-SCI 490) that are relevant to this concentration may also count, such as Network Analysis, Network Security.

Software Engineering

For the concentration in Software Engineering, students may take the CS advanced electives from the following list of courses: COMP-SCI 456, COMP-SCI 457, COMP-SCI 458, COMP-SCI 461, COMP-SCI 464, COMP-SCI 493. Courses offered as special topics (COMP-SCI 490) that are relevant to this concentration may also count.

For suggested four year plans, please see the registrar’s website: http://www.sfa.umkc.edu/majormaps/
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