Computer Science
The computer science major prepares you for a career working as a network, systems or database administrator, programmer, software engineer, business or systems analyst and more.
Ready for Anything
Like an engineer, you learn how technology systems are designed, built and maintained. You gain a foundation in programming, systems, networking, databases and software engineering. Because it’s focused on theory, you take more math and sciences than the related CIS degree.
You have four routes to a CS degree. You can earn a general CS degree and customize electives to your career interests, or you can add a concentration in computer game technology, or software, web and computer security, or mobile computing. Computer game technology introduces you to game design and development. The security concentration shows you how to protect data and systems from cyber attacks. The mobile computing concentration strengthens your understanding of wireless networks and teaches you how to develop mobile applications. Additionally, you can earn a CS or CIS master’s degree at Bradley.
By the time you graduate, your experiences include:
- Research and projects in small classes and groups
- Internship opportunities at organizations such as Walgreens, Caterpillar, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, ProducePro and Illinois Mutual Insurance.
- A yearlong senior project with a local business client
- Networking, career development and programming contests through the Association for Computing Machinery student chapter
Making your Mark
Computer science majors are valuable in many business, financial or technical settings. Recent graduates have found jobs at Epic Systems, Microsoft, the New York Times and Sony. Others have attended graduate school at institutions such as Virginia Tech and Washington University in St. Louis.
Major Requirements
Required Courses - 48-50 hrs.
- CS 101: Introduction to Programming - 4 hrs.
- CS 102: Data Structures - 3 hrs.
- CS 200: Advanced Programming Concepts and Languages - 3 hrs.
- CS 210: Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms - 3 hrs.
- CS 215: Computability, Formal Languages, and Heuristics - 3 hrs.
- CS 220: Computer Architecture - 3 hrs.
- CS 321: Operating Systems - 3 hrs.
- CS 330: Net-Centric Computing - 3 hrs.
- CS 370: Database Management Systems - 3 hrs.
- CS 390: Introduction to Software Engineering - 3 hrs.
- CS 480: Social and Professional Issues in Computing - 2 hrs.
- CS 490: Capstone Project I - 3 hrs.
- CS 491: Capstone Project II - 1-3 hrs.
- *MTH 120: Discrete Mathematics - 3 hrs.
- *MTH 121: Calculus I - 4 hrs.
- *MTH 122: Calculus II - 4 hrs.
- MTH 325: Probability and Statistics I - 3 hrs.
or IME 311: Introduction to Engineering Statistical Methods - 3 hrs.
or QM 262: Quantitative Analysis I - 3 hrs.
MTH 121 should be taken first, followed by MTH 122 then MTH 120.
Math Elective (choose one) - 3-4 hrs.
- MTH 207: Elementary Linear Algebra With Applications - 3 hrs.
- MTH 223: Calculus III - 4 hrs.
- MTH 224: Elementary Differential Equations - 3 hrs.
- MTH 300: Topics for Middle School Math Teachers - 3 hrs.
- MTH 301: Combinatorics - 3 hrs.
- MTH 302: Introduction to Graph Theory - 3 hrs.
- MTH 305: Modern Geometry - 3 hrs.
- MTH 307: Linear Algebra - 3 hrs.
- MTH 310: Introduction to Number Theory - 3 hrs.
- MTH 325: Probability and Statistics I - 3 hrs.
- MTH 326: Probability and Statistics II - 3 hrs.
- MTH 335: Topics in Actuarial Science - 3 hrs.
- MTH 345: Differential Equations - 3 hrs.
- MTH 371: History of Mathematics - 3 hrs.
- MTH 390: Mathematical Modeling - 3 hrs.
- MTH 403: Complex Variables I - 3 hrs.
- MTH 404: Modern Algebra I - 3 hrs.
- MTH 405: Modern Algebra II - 3 hrs.
- MTH 406: Elementary Topology - 3 hrs.
- MTH 414: Partial Differential Equations - 3 hrs.
- MTH 420: Introduction to Analysis - 3 hrs.
- MTH 421: Advanced Calculus - 3 hrs.
- MTH 427: Applied Statistical Methods - 3 hrs.
- MTH 428: Topics in Applied Statistics - 3 hrs.
- MTH 435: Stochastic Processes - 3 hrs.
- MTH 490: Topics in Mathematics - 3 hrs.
- MTH 491: Directed Individual Studies in Mathematics - 1-16 hrs.
- MTH 494: Senior Project in Mathematics I - 0 hrs.
- MTH 495: Senior Project in Mathematics II - 3 hrs.
- MTH 501: Topics in Applied Mathematics I - 3 hrs.
- MTH 502: Topics in Applied Mathematics II - 3 hrs.
- MTH 510: Numerical Methods I - 3 hrs.
- MTH 511: Numerical Methods II - 3 hrs.
- MTH 514: Partial Differential Equations - 3 hrs.
Science Courses
- 8 semester hours of science: two courses, with laboratories, designated for science or engineering majors.
Course Sequence
Sample program plan information is provided for sample purposes only. Students should consult with their academic advisor about their individual plan for course registration and completion of program requirements.
| First Year - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| CS 101 | Introduction to Programming | 4 hours |
| MTH 121 | Calculus I | 4 hours |
| Core Courses | 6 hours | |
| Total | 14 hours | |
| First Year - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| CS 102 | Data Structures | 3 hours |
| MTH 122 | Calculus II | 4 hours |
| Core Course | 9 hours | |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Sophomore - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| CS 200 | Advanced Programming | 3 hours |
| MTH 120 | Discrete Math | 3 hours |
| Core Course | 10 hours | |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Sophomore - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| CS 210 | Applications of Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 hours |
| CS 220 | Computer Architecture | 3 hours |
| Math Electives | 3 hours | |
| Core Course | 6 hours | |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Junior - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| CS 215 | Computability, Formal Languages, and Heuristics | 3 hours |
| CS 321 | Operating Systems | 3 hours |
| Statistics | 3 hours | |
| Core Courses | 3 hours | |
| Elective | 3 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Junior - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| CS 330 | Net-Centric Computing | 3 hours |
| CS 370 | Database Management Systems | 3 hours |
| CS 390 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3 hours |
| Core Course | 3 hours | |
| Elective | 3 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Senior - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| CS 490 | Senior Capstone I | 3 hours |
| CS 480 | Social and Professional Issues in Computing | 2 hours |
| CS/CIS Elective or Electives | 12 hours | |
| Total | 15-17 hours | |
| Senior - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| CS 480 | Social and Professional Issues in Computing | 2 hours |
| CS 491 | Senior Capstone II | 3 hours |
| CS/CIS Electives or Electives | 6 hours | |
| Total | 16 hours | |