Computer Science, A.S.

Degree: Associate in Science
HEGIS Code: 5101
Curriculum Code: 0532
Campus Location: North
Liberal Arts Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations: 3 years NYS Regents Math or comparable, 1 year Science
Recommended High School Courses and/or Experiences: a fourth year of Math, 2 years of Science (one of which is Physics)
Further Education/Career Opportunities: Transfer to Bachelor’s Degree Program. Career opportunities include software engineer, software developer, computer programmer.

Program Description
Admission Requirements
Program Competencies
Curriculum

Program Description

Computer science is the study of the computing process and the fundamental algorithms, structures and languages that underlie that process. There is an increasing need for experimental work, and the application of computing science to other fields is unlimited. It is this blend of theory and practice that makes computer science so exciting.

Programming is an indispensable tool in engineering, technology and many other scientific and technical fields. However, programming is a means to explore the processes of reasoning that are found between and among several different programming languages. Computer science also concentrates on areas such as artificial intelligence, graphics, distributed systems, robotics, machine vision, numerical analysis and applications of computing in other fields.

The Computer Science Program at Erie Community College provides the coursework necessary for the first two years of a four-year degree in Computer Science. The primary goal of the Computer Science curriculum is to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions as third-year students in a computer science program.

Computer science courses require a firm understanding of critical issues and concepts of computer science: problem analysis, data abstraction, algorithm development, program implementation, testing and validation, computer organization and basic system control. Other courses in the curriculum focus on skills needed for essential activities such as communicating, designing logical programs, working as a member of a project team and understanding potential areas of application. All computer science courses have both lecture and lab components. In computer labs, students analyze problems and then proceed to design, write and debug computer programs. The computer languages and methodology taught are those currently employed by practicing professionals. Studying computer science demands a substantial time commitment; therefore, students should be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time in the lab.

Admission Requirements

The Computer Science curriculum requires a strong math background. Three years of high school math (to include intermediate algebra and trigonometry) and one year of science are required for admission. A fourth year of math and two years of science, including physics are strongly recommended. Students should also be proficient in English language usage.

Program Competencies

Upon graduation with an Associate in Science degree in Computer Science, the graduate will be able to:

identify all the steps of the software system life cycle and perform problem analysis, the top-down step-wise refinement design process, coding and testing;
write, execute and debug programs in high-level languages, an assembly language and hybrid programs;
explain the concept of an abstract data type and design such data types for implementation in programs;
apply efficiency measures to algorithms and abstract data types and to interpret the results;
describe and explain the main components of a computer, their organization and functionality, as well as system control concepts, computer memory organization and management, addressing modes, internal representation of programs and data, assemblers and compilers;
write technical documents with an emphasis on good composition and communication skills. This includes documentation that is internal to computer programs and external documentation such as user manuals and programmer manuals; and
apply appropriate mathematical procedures and quantitative methods.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 64.0

First Year, Fall Semester

CS 121 - Computer Science I Credit Hours: 4
MT 181 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 ¹
EN 110 - College Composition Credit Hours: 3
SUNY General Education: Social Science or American History Elective Credit Hours: 3²
SUNY General Education: Liberal arts Elective Credit Hours: 3⁶

First Year, Spring Semester

CS 132 - Computer Science II Credit Hours: 4
MT 182 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II Credit Hours: 4 ¹
EN 111 - Composition and Interpretation of Literature Credit Hours: 3
SUNY General Education: Humanities Elective Credit Hours: 3⁵

Second Year, Fall Semester

CS 221 - Machine Organization and Assembly Language Programming Credit Hours: 4
SUNY General Education: Humanities Elective Credit Hours: 3 ⁵
SUNY General Education:Natural Sciences Elective Credit Hours: 4 ⁴
MT 167 - Discrete Mathematics Credit Hours: 4 ⁷

Second Year, Spring Semester

CS 232 - Advanced Data Structures Credit Hours: 4
SUNY General Education: Liberal Arts Elective Credit Hours: 3 ⁶
SUNY General Education: Natural Sciences Elective Credit Hours: 4 ⁴
SUNY General Education: Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3 ²
Approved Elective Credit Hours: 4 ³

Note:

This is a recommended sequence. Student should consult his/her academic adviser prior to registering.

¹ MT 175, 176 can be substituted for MT 181, 182 upon advisement..

² At least one of the social science electives must be from the approved list of SUNY General Education courses in the Social Sciences category. The second course must be from a SUNY General Education American History, Western Civilization, or Other World Civilizations categories.

³ Approved Electives:

⁴ The program requires two sequential laboratory sciences (two sequential courses in the natural sciences with their associated labs). At least one course must be from the approved list of SUNY General Education courses in the Natural Sciences category.

⁵ Courses must be from the approved list of SUNY General Education courses in the Humanities, The Arts, or Foreign Language categories. If the second course is from the American History, Western Civilization, or Other World Civilizations category, then the two Humanities may be in the same category.

⁶ The two liberal arts electives must be taken from the list of approved SUNY General Education courses with the following exception: If a student takes two physics courses on the SUNY General Education list, then the two (2) Liberal Arts Electives need not be on the SUNY General Education list.

⁷ MT 167 is required if the student intends to transfer into a Computer Science Bachelors program. Upon advisement, this course may be substituted with an Approved Elective.

Note:

The student should check with the appropriate department concerning the semester in which the above courses may be offered.