Scott DeLoach, Head

University Distinguished Professors: Hatcliff
Professors: Andresen, Caragea, DeLoach, Hitzler, Hsu, Mizuno, Neilsen, and Robby
Associate Professors: Amariucai, Amtoft, Howell, Prabhakar, Shamir, and Vasserman
Assistant Professor: Munir
Teaching Assistant Professors: Lang, Valenzuela, and Weese
Instructors: Bean, Feldhausen, LaVezzi, Thornton, and Votipka
Emeritus University Distinguished Professor: Schmidt
Emeritus Professors: Gustafson, Hankley, Schmidt, Unger, Van Swaay, and Wallentine
Emeriti Associate Professors: Calhoun, Conrow, and Zamfir-Bleyberg
Emeritus Instructor: Shea

2184 Engineering Hall
785-532-6350
Fax: 785-532-7353
E-mail: csoffice@k-state.edu
www.cs.k-state.edu

Computer Science is the study of computing and its possibilities, ranging from theoretical foundations to applications in business, society, and the sciences. Many other fields require a minor emphasis in Computer Science, and students working toward a dual degree (one in Computer Science and one in some other field) are common. The CS Department also offers a minor in Computer Science.

Many Computer Science graduates will also pursue a Master of Business Administration degree. In order to accelerate this process, the CS Department and the College of Business Administration offer a concurrent Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Master of Business Administration program.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree program emphasizes a broad foundation of computer organization, software engineering, distributed computing systems, data structures, programming environments, and mathematics, together with electives that focus on advanced aspects and applications. Two options are available to interested students. The Entrepreneurship Option prepares graduates for entrepreneurial activities that are common in the computing industry. The Cybersecurity Option focuses on building secure software systems and detecting attacks on software.

Admission to the Pre-Professional Program

New students, including transfer students, should submit the standard application form directly to the Office of Admissions. The admission criteria are the same as those for the university and the College of Engineering.

Any student who has completed more than 15 credit hours at Kansas State University in any major outside the College of Engineering may change majors into the pre-professional program provided that the student meets the admission requirements for the College of Engineering. A resident cumulative GPA of 2.3 or better is required for a change of major from any Engineering program to the pre-professional program Computer Science.

Course Requirements (24 total credits)

The course requirements and semester-by-semester curriculum for a BS in Computer Science remain in effect. However, certain courses from the first three semesters of the curriculum must be completed with a C or better for advancement beyond the pre-professional program. These courses are:

In addition, credit must be received for CIS 015 Undergraduate Seminar.

Admission to the Professional Program

Students must complete the pre-professional program and be accepted to the professional program prior to taking any of the following courses, which we will refer to as professional program courses:

The only other students who will be allowed to enroll in any of the above courses are non-CS majors who need these specific courses to satisfy the degree requirements of their majors. Non-CS majors wishing to use any of these courses to satisfy elective requirements for their majors will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

In order to be considered for admission to the professional program, a student must have:

1. Passed all pre-professional program courses with a C or better.
2. Achieved at least a 2.3 GPA on all pre-professional courses (including transfer courses).
3. Received credit in CIS 015 Undergraduate Seminar.

Additionally, an application to the professional program must be submitted to the Department of Computer Science by the end of the eighth week of either the Spring or Fall semester. This submission will be immediately prior to the student’s pre-enrollment into any of the professional program courses.

All courses in the pre-professional program must be completed and all grade criteria must be met by the end of the semester that the application is submitted. An exception to this rule is the student who expects to complete these criteria during the summer term. Those students should also make application in the Spring semester prior to pre-enrollment. All eligible applicants will be allowed to pre-enroll into professional program courses with the understanding that they will be dropped if they are not accepted for admission to the professional program prior to the beginning of the subsequent semester.

Applications will be reviewed by the Curriculum Committee of the Department and accepted or rejected as soon as possible after semester grades are issued. The number of students admitted in any given semester will be limited by the number of seats available. If the number of applicants who meet the grade requirements listed above exceeds the number of seats available, then in addition to the minimum grade requirements listed above, the admission will be determined a holistic evaluation of the following factors:

• Grades in college-level courses, particularly computing courses;
• Communication skills;
• Activities and service;
• Socioeconomic disadvantage;
• Status as first-generation college student; and
• History of overcoming personal hardship.

Students who have completed the pre-professional program with the required grades, but are denied admission, may re-apply in a later semester.

Academic Standards

After admission to the professional program, students are expected to attain “C” or better grades in each of the professional program courses taken, and to receive a “Cr” grade in CIS 018 each Fall and Spring semester they remain in the program. Specifically, students will be subject to the following academic standards that are more stringent than those for the University.

1. Warning of unsatisfactory progress
   Regardless of the overall GPA, a student with any “D” or “F” grade in any professional program course will receive a “Warning of Unsatisfactory Progress.” Additionally, any student who fails to receive a grade of “Cr” in CIS 018 in any Fall or Spring semester will receive a “Warning of Unsatisfactory Progress.” This warning will remain in effect for the remainder of their stay in the professional program.
    
2. Dismissal from the Program
   If a student has received a warning of unsatisfactory progress, then subsequently receives a “D” or “F” grade in any professional program course, or fails to receive a grade of “Cr” in CIS 018 in any Fall or Spring semester, that student will be dismissed from the professional program, and will be ineligible to enroll in any professional program courses (though students who transfer to either Computer Engineering or Biomedical Engineering will be allowed to enroll in certain courses, as outlined above). 
    
3. Readmission
   A student who has been dismissed from the professional program may petition to be readmitted to the program, provided at least one year has elapsed from the conclusion of the last semester that the student was in the program to the beginning of the semester for which the student is seeking admission. The petition must include a justification of the student’s preparedness to complete the program. This petition must be submitted to the Computer Science Department by the eighth week of the Fall or Spring semester preceding the semester for which the student seeks readmission. The student will be interviewed by the Curriculum Committee, who will then make a decision in time for the student to pre-enroll. All readmitted students will remain on warning of unsatisfactory progress for the remainder of their stay in the professional program.

**The warning and dismissal actions referenced above are departmental actions that are separate and distinct from Academic Warning and Academic Dismissal as defined by the University Catalog. Grades earned during an intersession will not be considered by the Department in the determination of unsatisfactory academic progress by the department.

Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

Program educational objectives are broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years after graduation. Program educational objectives are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies.

1. Graduates will have progressed in the computing field by either obtaining an advanced technical/management position, exhibiting entrepreneurial activities or obtaining a graduate degree.
2. Graduates will have worked with others to develop software systems that meet the needs of society.
3. Graduates will be committed to lifelong learning and contributing back to the profession.
4. Graduates will be committed to the professional and ethical standards established by related professional societies.

Approved by the faculty of the department of computer science on April 6, 2016.

Student outcomes describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These relate to the knowledge, skills and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through the program. 

Graduates of the program will have an ability to:

1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
4. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
6. Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

Approved by the faculty of the department of computer science on March 28, 2018.

Programs

• Computer Science (B.S.)

• Computer Science Certificate

• Concurrent B.S. in Computer Science and Master of Business Administration

• Computer Science Minor

Courses

• CIS 775 - Analysis of Algorithms
• CIS 798 - Topics in Computer Science