Programs

The Computer Science Department offers an undergraduate major leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, and two minors. In addition, the Computer Science, Biology, and Mathematics departments jointly offer an interdisciplinary concentration in Bioinformatics.

CS Major/Minor Declaration Form

Computer science majors pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete seven core requirements plus 12 additional credits earned through higher level computer science courses. 

Core Courses:

  • Computer Science 1 
  • Computer Science 2
  • Computer Systems
  • Computer Organization
  • Logic and Computation
  • Randomness and Computation
  • Algorithms 

(The final three courses must be taken in the order listed) 

Additional courses (12 credits):

  • Three credits from CSCI 2000 or above
  • Nine credits from CSCI 3000 or above

Mathematics Component

  • The Bachelor of Arts requires one semester of Calculus 2 for science majors.

Computer science majors pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree must complete seven core requirements plus additional coursework in computer science, mathematics, and the laboratory sciences. 

Core Courses:

  • Computer Science 1 
  • Computer Science 2
  • Computer Systems
  • Computer Organization
  • Logic and Computation
  • Randomness and Computation
  • Algorithms 

(The final three courses must be taken in the order listed) 

Additional courses (12 credits):

  • Three credits from the Social & Ethical Issues cluster (CSCI 2260- 2267)
  • 12 elective credits from CSCI 3000 or above

Mathematics Component (12 credits):

  • Calculus II (mathematics or science majors)
  • Multivariable Calculus 
  • Linear Algebra
  • Any math course 3000 or higher (other than MATH 4426 - Probability)

Science Component:

  • A two-semester sequence in a laboratory science for science majors. Choose from among the Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Earth & Environmental Sciences sequences listed below.

The computer science minor is designed to provide an introduction to computer science for students with a strong secondary interest in computer science and good analytical skills.

Course Requirements (18 credits):

  • Computer Science 1
  • Computer Science 2 
  • Two electives numbered 2000 or higher
    • One must be Computer Systems (CSCI 2271) or Logic and Computation (CSCI 2243). 
    • Only one of Database Systems (CSCI 2257) and Applications or Technology and Culture (CSCI 2267) may count toward this requirement.
  • Two electives numbered 3000 or higher.

Please Note: Computer science minors should take CSCI 1101 and CSCI 1102 by the end of their sophomore year, and Logic & Computation (CSCI 2243) and Computer Systems (CSCI 2271) by the end of their junior year, as all 3000-level CS electives have one or both of these courses as prerequisites. Several 3000-level electives have additional prerequisites such as Randomness & Computation (CSCI 2244), Algorithms (CSCI 3383), and Linear Algebra (MATH2210).

Declaring a minor:
Students can declare a minor in computer science after they have taken CS2 or enrolled in the course (following the add/drop deadline). The minor must be declared before the end of the student's sophomore year.

CS Major/Minor Declaration Form

The data science minor is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing human-centered applications of data analysis and modeling for the common good. The minor has been designed to be flexible and accessible for students across a variety of disciplines; no previous programming experience is required, and students will be able to construct a 6-course pathway that connects data science to their application area of interest.  The minor is open to all undergraduate students at Boston College

Course Requirements (18 credits):

  • Data Science Principles (CSCI 1090) (no prerequisite) 
  • Mathematical Foundations of Data Science (MATH 2250) (prerequisite: Math 1101 or AP Calculus AB) 
  • Data Science: Methods and Applications (CSCI 2291) (prerequisite: CSCI 1090 and MATH 2250) 
  • Elective 1 
  • Elective 2 
  • Data Science Capstone (CSCI 4900)

Please Note: CSCI 1090 and MATH 2250 can be taken in either order or concurrently. Consistent with the University’s academic regulations, students must have at least 15 credits in the data science minor that are not used to fulfill requirements for another major or minor or a Core requirement. At most, 3 credits (1 course) can be “double-counted” towards the minor and the student’s major requirements.

Applying for the minor

To be eligible to apply for entry to the data science minor program students must:

  • Declare the minor before the end of your sophomore year.
  • Complete CSCI 1090 and MATH 2250. (It is recommended that you maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 averaged across these two courses.)
  • Have a degree audit
  • Complete the data science minor pathway form listing the focus area of your pathway, the two elective courses you will take, and two additional courses outside of the minor that support your pathway plan.
  • Apply by November 20 in the fall or April 20 in the spring. Notifications on acceptance will be made in December and May (once degree audits can be reviewed).

For further information or to receive a data science minor pathway form as part of the application, contact the program director, Professor George Mohler.

Email Prof. Mohler

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