Computer Science (CSCI)
The undergraduate programs in computer science stress fundamental principles of computational thinking, including solid theoretical underpinnings, computational methods and models for solving problems, principles for designing computing systems to meet human needs, and techniques for analyzing the effectiveness of these methods, models and systems. They provide students with the conceptual foundation needed to stay at the front of this fast-changing field. For most courses, classroom learning is enhanced through significant faculty-directed, hands-on experience, typically in the form of a regularly scheduled laboratory.
Graduates typically take entry-level positions in hardware and software systems application and design or continue their education at the graduate level.
Program Educational Objectives for the Bachelor of Science Degree
Computer science degree graduates will be successful professionals in computer science or other fields and will be recognized for qualities associated with their Bucknell education. Such qualities include critical thinking, problem-solving and effective communication. Graduates will be prepared to pursue lifelong learning such as professional or advanced education.
A computer science major may be pursued under any one of three degree programs: bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Engineering (see College of Engineering). The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (ABET.org). Students interested in the computer science major should consult the department concerning the choice of degree program.
Bachelor of Arts Major
The Bachelor of Arts major curriculum provides the student with an opportunity to combine the liberal arts tradition with strong preparation in computer science. It requires eight course credits in computer science.
| CSCI 201 | Computer Science Seminar | .5 |
| CSCI 203 | Introduction to Computer Science 1 | 1 |
| CSCI 204 | Data Structures & Algorithms | 1 |
| CSCI 205 | Software Engineering and Design | 1 |
| CSCI 306 | Computer Systems | 1 |
| CSCI 311 | Algorithm Design & Analysis | 1 |
| CSCI 345 | Computers and Society | 1 |
| CSCI 475 | Senior Design I 5 | .5 |
| CSCI 476 | Senior Design II 5 | 1 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus I 2 | 1 |
| MATH 202 | Calculus II 2 | 1 |
| MATH 227 | Statistics and Engineering 3 | 1 |
| MATH 241 | Discrete Structures 4 | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
Requirement can be fulfilled with transfer credit for AP Computer Science A. Alternatively, students with programming experience may request placement into CSCI 204 and later substitute this requirement for a CSCI elective.
- 2
All computer science students are encouraged to pursue a minor in mathematics. Students who have met the requirements for MATH 201 Calculus I and/or MATH 202 Calculus II may want to consider a mathematics minor or a mathematics double major. In addition to the required mathematics courses for the computer science degree, the suggested sequence to complete a mathematics minor is MATH 211 and MATH 343.
- 3
The MATH 227 Statistics and Engineering requirement may be waived for students who have credit for a substantially similar course, such as AP Statistics or another statistics course required for a second major.
- 4
Any 1.5-credit or 2.0-credit combination of MATH 280 and MATH 240 or any 1.0 credit Combinatorics & Graph Theory course may replace MATH 241 (note that some MATH courses have MATH 211 as a prerequisite). Students seeking additional depth in mathematics are encouraged to pursue this route as MATH 211 and MATH 280 are prerequisites to several upper-level mathematics courses.
- 5
Students may substitute CSCI 475 and CSCI 476 with a 1.5 credit senior thesis, honors thesis, OR a culminating experience. A culminating experience is defined as "At least 1.5 credits of 300-level or above coursework, including a significant project, in a single discipline outside computer science."
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| CSCI 2031 | 1 | CSCI 204 | 1 |
| MATH 2012 | 1 | MATH 2022 | 1 |
| CASCC6 | 1 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| W1 Elective (FOUN or RESC)7 | 1 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| CSCI 201 | .5 | CSCI 205 | 1 |
| MATH 2273 | 1 | MATH 2414 | 1 |
| W2 Elective6,7 | 1 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective8 | .5 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Junior | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| CSCI 306 | 1 | CSCI 311 | 1 |
| CSCI 345 | 1 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| CASCC6 | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Senior | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| CSCI 4755 | .5 | CSCI 4765,7 | 1 |
| CASCC6 | 1 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| CASCC6 | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective8 | .5 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Total Credits: 32 | |||
- 6
The College of Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum (CASCC) requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences may be met with a variable number of courses. Once all CASCC requirements are met, the CASCC slots in this schedule can be treated as elective courses.
- 7
Three courses must fulfill the University's writing requirement, which includes a W1 Elective (FOUN or RESC) taken in the first semester and two subsequent W2 courses. (CSCI 476 will count toward one of the required W2 courses.)
- 8
Students may elect to substitute a 1.0 credit elective for a total of 4.5 credits in this semester.
Bachelor of Science Major
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science requirements are:
| CSCI 201 | Computer Science Seminar | .5 |
| CSCI 203 | Introduction to Computer Science | 1 |
| CSCI 204 | Data Structures & Algorithms | 1 |
| CSCI 205 | Software Engineering and Design | 1 |
| CSCI 306 | Computer Systems | 1 |
| CSCI 307 | Computer Networks and Security | .5 |
| CSCI 308 | Programming Language Design | 1 |
| CSCI 311 | Algorithm Design & Analysis | 1 |
| CSCI 315 | Operating Systems Design | 1 |
| CSCI 341 | Theory of Computation | 1 |
| CSCI 345 | Computers and Society | 1 |
| CSCI 475 | Senior Design I | .5 |
| CSCI 476 | Senior Design II | 1 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus I 2 | 1 |
| MATH 202 | Calculus II 2 | 1 |
| MATH 227 | Statistics and Engineering 3 | 1 |
| MATH 241 | Discrete Structures | 1 |
| Lab Science Elective 7 | 1 | |
| Science Elective 7 | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 17.5 | |
Students pursuing a BS in computer science are eligible to pursue a BA in data science as a co-major. Complementing the depth a student receives from their primary major, the BA in Data Science provides breadth across the interdisciplinary field of data science. The major is not intended as – nor can it be declared as – a stand-alone course of study.
The recommended sequence for the bachelor of science major is as follows:
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| CSCI 2031 | 1 | CSCI 204 | 1 |
| MATH 2012 | 1 | MATH 2022 | 1 |
| W1 Elective (FOUN or RESC)8 | 1 | Science Elective7 | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| CSCI 201 | .5 | CSCI 205 | 1 |
| MATH 2273 | 1 | MATH 2414 | 1 |
| Elective5 | .5 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| Lab Science Elective7 | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| W2 Elective8 | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Junior | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| CSCI 306 | 1 | CSCI 307 | .5 |
| CSCI 341 | 1 | CSCI 308 | 1 |
| CSCI 345 | 1 | CSCI 311 | 1 |
| CASCC6 | 1 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| Elective5 | .5 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Senior | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| CSCI 315 | 1 | CSCI 4768 | 1 |
| CSCI 475 | .5 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| CASCC6 | 1 | CASCC6 | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective5 | .5 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Total Credits: 32 | |||
- 1
Requirement can be fulfilled with transfer credit for AP Computer Science A. Alternatively, students with programming experience may request placement into CSCI 204 and later substitute this requirement for a CSCI elective.
- 2
All computer science students are encouraged to pursue a minor in mathematics. Students who have met the requirements for MATH 201 Calculus I and/or MATH 202 Calculus II may want to consider a mathematics minor or a mathematics double major.
- 3
The MATH 227 requirement may be waived for students who have credit for a substantially similar course, such as AP Statistics or another statistics course required for a second major.
- 4
Any 1.5-credit or 2.0-credit combination of MATH 280 and MATH 240 or any 1.0 credit Combinatorics & Graph Theory course may replace MATH 241 (note that some MATH courses have MATH 211 as a prerequisite). Students seeking additional depth in mathematics are encouraged to pursue this route as MATH 211 and MATH 280 are prerequisites to several upper-level mathematics courses.
- 5
Students may elect to take a 1.0-credit elective for a total of 4.5 credits in the semester or a 0.5 credit Computer Science elective, CSCI 202 Research Methods in Sophomore year, second semester.
- 6
The College of Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum (CASCC) requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences may be met with a variable number of courses. Once all CASCC requirements are met, the CASCC slots in this schedule may be treated as elective courses.
- 7
Students will choose any two natural science electives. One must have a lab component (LBSC); the other may be any NSMC not in the departments of mathematics or computer science.
- 8
Three courses must fulfill the University's writing requirement, which includes a W1 Elective (FOUN or RESC) taken in the first semester and two subsequent W2 courses. (CSCI 476 will count toward one of the required W2 courses.)
Computer Science Minor
The minor in computer science requires 4.0 credits in CSCI, numbered 2041 and above, including at least 1.0 CSCI credit numbered 300 or above.
- 1
CSCI 204 is recommended for all minors, as it is a prerequisite to multiple CSCI courses.
Graduates of the program are expected to demonstrate the following learning outcomes, which reflect ABET computing accreditation criteria:
- Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- Design, implement and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
Courses
CSCI 103. Introduction to Computer Programming. 1 Credit.
Offered Summer Session Only; Lecture hours:6
Introduction to programming using the Python programming language. Students will learn to collect, process and visualize data. Students will make a simple predictive model and discuss the benefits and limitations of using predictive algorithms. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Open to BCCSP students only.
CSCI 187. Creative Computing and Society: Computing, Creativity, and the Social Good. 1 Credit.
Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3,Other:2
Introduces computing through creativity and examining social problems, guiding students to create visual artifacts that empower them to draw insights from data, complemented by discussions on computing's societal impact. This course is not available to Computer Science majors, and it does not count towards the Computer Science minor.
CSCI 1NT. Computer Science Non-traditional Study. .25-2 Credits.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer; Lecture hours:Varies
Non-traditional study in computer science. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
CSCI 201. Computer Science Seminar. .5 Credits.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:1.5
A variety of Computer Science related topics presented by faculty, alumni, student speakers, and other relevant guests. Presentations and discussions on the frontier of the discipline, professional development, ethics and societal issues, and other topics relevant to the profession. Prerequisite: open to sophomores. Others by permission of the instructor.
CSCI 202. Research Methods. .5 Credits.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:1.5
An introduction to research methodology in Computer Science, involving reading scientific literature, developing presentation skills, and learning to use various software packages. Prerequisites: open to first years and sophomores. Others by permission of the instructor.
CSCI 203. Introduction to Computer Science. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3,Lab:2
Students will learn the python programming language in order to explore the capabilities, limits, and social impact of computing. Application areas include image manipulation, data manipulation and visualization, introductions to predictive models, and ethical programming practices. Not open to students who have taken ANOP 203 or ECEG 230.
CSCI 204. Data Structures & Algorithms. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3,Lab:2
Introduction to data structures and algorithms using an object-oriented approach. Topics include software-engineering principles, object-oriented programming, recursion, basic data structures, algorithm analysis and team programming. Prerequisite: CSCI 203 or ECEG 230 or permission of the instructor.
CSCI 205. Software Engineering and Design. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3,Lab:2
Fundamentals of software design and software engineering. Students will participate in large-scale, team-based software development project. Prerequisite: CSCI 204 or permission of the instructor.
CSCI 240. Computers and Society. .5 Credits.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:2
The place of computers in society. In-depth study of societal, ethical, and legal issues related to computing. Historical and futurists' views of computing and technology. Public perceptions of computing and the role of computer scientists as professionals. Course work includes oral and written presentations. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
CSCI 278. Computer Science Individual Study. .5-1 Credits.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer; Lecture hours:Varies,Other:Varies; Repeatable
Independent study or project in computer science. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
CSCI 279. Topics in Computer Science. .5-1 Credits.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:Varies
Current topics of interest. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
CSCI 2NT. Computer Science Non-traditional Study. .25-2 Credits.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer; Lecture hours:Varies
Non-traditional study in computer science. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
CSCI 305. Introduction to Database. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
Relational database design methodologies, evaluation techniques, programming, and query languages. Introduction to database systems design, performance, and object-oriented databases. Prerequisites: CSCI 204 and junior or senior standing.
CSCI 306. Computer Systems. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Lab:2
Fundamental concepts showcasing the integration of hardware and software. Topics include data representation, processor, memory, I/O, Unix system programming in C and assembly, introduction to operating systems, and development tools. Prerequisite: CSCI 204 or permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken CSCI 206.
CSCI 307. Computer Networks and Security. .5 Credits.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:1.5
Introduction to network programming including datagram and virtual circuit protocols. Introduction to topics in computer security such as authentication, integrity, access control, applied cryptography and secure programming. Prerequisite: CSCI 206 or CSCI 306.
CSCI 308. Programming Language Design. 1 Credit.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Lab:2
Study of modern programming language paradigms (procedural, functional, logic, object-oriented). Introduction to the design and implementation of programming languages including syntax, semantics, data types and structures, control structures, run-time environments. Prerequisite: CSCI 205 or permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken CSCI 208.
CSCI 311. Algorithm Design & Analysis. 1 Credit.
Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3,Recitation:1
An introduction to standard patterns and techniques in algorithm design and tools for analyzing algorithmic performance. Students learn to evaluate algorithms, design new algorithmic solutions, and communicate the correctness and usefulness of their solutions. Prerequisite: MATH 241 or (MATH 240 and MATH 280) and CSCI 204.
CSCI 315. Operating Systems Design. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Lab:2
Introduction to operating system design including processor management, scheduling, memory management, resource allocation, file systems and concurrency. Prerequisite: CSCI 306.
CSCI 320. Computer Architecture. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
Explores two important topics in computer architecture today: memory hierarchy and parallelism in all its forms. Students will use a hardware description language to implement concepts including pipelining, cache and branch prediction. Prerequisite: CSCI 206 or CSCI 306 or ECEG 247 or permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as ECEG 443 and ECEG 643.
CSCI 331. Compiler Optimization. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
Project based introduction to compiler optimization for theoretical and practical issues such as run-time, memory usage, code robustness, and security. Prerequisite: CSCI 308.
CSCI 332. The Internet of Things. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
A broad investigation into the design of internet-connected physical objects and the infrastructure that supports them. This hands-on course covers topics including embedded systems, wireless communication, internet protocols, cloud computing and security. Students will develop their own IoT system. Prerequisite: (CSCI 206 or CSCI 306) or ECEG 247. Crosslisted as ECEG 432 and ECEG 632.
CSCI 340. Mobile Computing. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:4
Mobile computing ecosystem including apps, devices, wireless networks, and back-end systems. Includes at least one major project; the specific course content will vary based on projects, student interest, and current technology trends. This course typically includes a considerable amount of software development. Prerequisite: CSCI 205 or permission of instructor. Crosslisted as ECEG 430 and ECEG 630.
CSCI 341. Theory of Computation. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Recitation:1
Finite automata, regular sets, pushdown automata, context-free grammars. Turing machines, recursive functions and undecidability. Prerequisite: MATH 241 or MATH 280.
CSCI 345. Computers and Society. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
Analysis of the impact of computing on society through the application of deontological and consequence-based ethical theories and professional codes of ethics. Students will learn to analyze the impacts of computing on the fundamental values of society so as to be able to create systems that don't oppose social progress.
CSCI 349. Introduction to Data Mining. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
Data preprocessing, statistical modeling, basic machine learning algorithms for mining large datasets. Topics include association analysis, frequent pattern mining, classification, and clustering. Prerequisites: CSCI 311 and (MATH 216 or MATH 226 or MATH 227).
CSCI 351. Distributed Computing. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
An introduction to concurrency, communication, and fault-tolerance. Students learn fundamental models of distributed computing and use them to study classic problems and their solutions or impossibility. Examples include consensus, mutual exclusion, distributed data structures and more. We focus primarily on theoretical results, also applying them in practical implementations.
CSCI 358. Human Computer Interaction. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
In this interdisciplinary course, we will study research at the intersection of people and computing. Through a variety of prototypes that we'll build (3D user interfaces, visual design, data communication, intelligent user interfaces, etc), we will deliberately practice processes that result in useful, usable and maybe even inspirational computer interfaces.
CSCI 359. Fairness, Privacy, & Transparency When Learning From Data. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
The course enables students to audit and analyze data-centric systems and processes that are used to make decisions about people’s lives and understand the bias, fairness, privacy, and transparency implications of these systems. We will read, discuss, and implement ideas from recently published research articles in this upcoming area.
CSCI 363. Computer Networks. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
Principles and design of networked computing systems and application programs. Topics include reliable communications medium access control, routing, transport, congestion control and networked applications. Prerequisite: CSCI 306 or ECEG 247.
CSCI 365. Image Processing & Analysis. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3,Other:1
Imaging is everywhere! In this course, we will cover broadly the acquisition, processing, and analysis of digital images, covering topics ranging from the human visual system, to image and video compression algorithms, to pattern recognition and machine learning within the context of automatic image understanding.
CSCI 368. Wireless Networks & Applications. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:4
This course explores the realm of modern wireless technologies and their practical applications, familiarizing students with the ever-evolving landscape of wireless networks. It equips students with a profound understanding of wireless communication principles, protocols and network architectures, covering fundamental concepts such as radio frequency fundamentals, as well as advanced topics. Crosslisted as ECEG 479 and ECEG 679.
CSCI 375. Teaching Assistant in CSCI. .5-1 Credits.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:Varies,Other:Varies; Repeatable
Teaching assistant to support mastery in a core computer science course. Written learning objectives and assessment policies will be developed with the course instructor. Prerequisites: by permission only.
CSCI 376. Computer Science Honors Thesis. .5-1 Credits.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer; Lecture hours:Varies; Repeatable
Independent work on computer science honors thesis. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
CSCI 378. Individual Study in Computer Science. .5-1 Credits.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer; Lecture hours:Varies; Repeatable
Independent study in computer science. Recent areas include graph algorithms, computer security, distributed computing, graphics, programming languages, software engineering, web information retrieval. Prerequisites: junior standing and permission of the instructor.
CSCI 379. Topics in Computer Science. .25-1 Credits.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:Varies; Repeatable
Current topics of interest.
CSCI 3NT. Computer Science Non-traditional Study. .25-4 Credits.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer; Lecture hours:Varies,Other:3
Non-traditional study course in computer science. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
CSCI 475. Senior Design I. .5 Credits.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:1,Other:2
A recognized software engineering methodology will be used with all phases of a senior design project. Written work will include a technical report about the project, a feasibility report, and a requirements specification document. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken ENGR 452.
CSCI 476. Senior Design II. 1 Credit.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:2,Other:2
Students undertake several cycles of delivery, each including a design document, product implementation, testing, and feedback. Students produce technical and user’s manuals for the final version. Class presentations of designs and implementations. Includes public presentation of the final product and design process. Prerequisites: CSCI 475 and permission of the instructor.
CSCI 479. Computer Science Design Project. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
Students in teams use software engineering methodology to design and implement a semester-long project. Written reports and oral presentations are required. Prerequisites: CSCI 205 and senior standing in the College of Arts and Sciences and permission of the instructor.
Faculty
Professors: Susan Baish (Teaching), Jessen Havill, Luiz Felipe Perrone
Associate Professors: Brian R. King, Alan Marchiori (Chair), Darakhshan Mir, Joshua V. Stough, Lea D. Wittie (Associate Chair)
Assistant Professors: Alexander Fuchsberger (Teaching), Samuel C. Gutekunst, Rajesh Kumar, Sing Chun Lee, Anne Spencer Ross, Todd Schmid, Edward Talmage
Laboratory Director: Lily Romano