Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Explore the World of Computing

In the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program, you’ll learn about algorithms, performance analysis, networks, computer architectures, information systems, and software engineering. You’ll also get professional experience through internships, hands-on projects, and applied learning activities inside and outside the classroom.
You can even tailor your degree to your interests by choosing a concentration in database programming, network security, operating systems, or computational informatics.
Our graduates go on to work as software developers, software engineers, game programmers, database specialists, and more.

Request Info ApplyÌýCurriculum & Requirements

Why Study at the Region's Polytechnic?

Get a hands-on education, real-world experience, and personalized support from faculty so you can launch your career with confidence.


Affordable Education

Get a high-quality education without the high price tag. We award roughly $59,870 in scholarships each year.

Small Class Sizes

With most classes capped at 25–40 students, you’ll get personalized attention and support from faculty.

Excellent Job Opportunities

Our grads consistently land great jobs soon after graduation—some even before completing their degree.


Where Our Graduates Work

  • Amazon
  • Microsoft
  • IBM
  • Avista
  • F5
"What I like most about the program is that there's quite a few opportunities to do hands-on projects and work with hardware components." — Amelya Avdeyev

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official , which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Computer Science Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

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In the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) program, students learn about programming, algorithms, database systems, networking, software development, cybersecurity, computer architecture, operating systems, and computing ethics, as well as a wide range of electives based on students' interests. The BSCS degree differs from the Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) degree in the number of required mathematics and natural science courses and computer science electives.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, .

Note: No course may be used as both a requirement and an elective in a student's program.

Exam Requirement: All Computer Science majors are required to pass the Advanced Programming Exam prior to taking courses for which it is a prerequisite. Passing the exam is required for graduation and no exam waivers will be granted for degree completion.

Grade Requirements: As a computer science student, you are expected to maintain an overall university GPA ≥2.3. Each computer science course and cybersecurity course must be completed with a minimum grade of C+.  Additionally, all courses satisfying an elective must be completed with a minimum grade of C+. All supporting courses required by the department must be completed with a minimum grade ≥C.

Required Computer Science Courses
COMPUTING ETHICS4
PROGRAMMING PRINCIPLES I5
PROGRAMMING PRINCIPLES II5
C AND UNIX PROGRAMMING5

ARCHITECTURE AND ORGANIZATION
and ARCHITECTURE AND ORGANIZATION LAB
4
or 
MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEMS
and MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEMS LAB
DATA STRUCTURES5
ALGORITHMS5

RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEMS
and RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEMS LAB
4

COMPUTER NETWORKS
and COMPUTER NETWORKS LAB
4
OPERATING SYSTEMS5

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES
and SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES LAB
4

COMPILERS
and COMPILERS LAB
4
Required Supporting Courses
CYBERSECURITY FUNDAMENTALS5

DIGITAL CIRCUITS
and DIGITAL CIRCUITS LAB
5
CALCULUS I5
CALCULUS II5
LINEAR ALGEBRA5
DISCRETE MATHEMATICS5
ELEMENTARY PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS5
Required Laboratory Science Sequence–choose one sequence from the following 10-15
Biology

BIOLOGY I
and BIOLOGY I LAB

BIOLOGY II
and BIOLOGY II LAB

BIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
and BIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION LAB
Chemistry



GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
Geosciences

DISCOVERING GEOLOGY
and DISCOVERING GEOLOGY LAB

THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND WEATHER
and THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND WEATHER LAB
Physics
GENERAL PHYSICS I
GENERAL PHYSICS II
MECHANICS LABORATORY
HEAT AND OPTICS LABORATORY
Required Electives–choose six courses; at least four courses must be 400-level24
Note: many of these elective courses have prerequisites.
Note: other courses may be used with prior approval of the department.

C++ PROGRAMMING
and C++ PROGRAMMING LAB

.NET PROGRAMMING
and .NET PROGRAMMING LAB

INTRODUCTORY COMPUTER GRAPHICS
and INTRODUCTORY COMPUTER GRAPHICS LAB

.NET WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
and .NET WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT LAB
EXPERIMENTAL COURSE (prior departmental approval of topic content is required)
DIRECTED STUDY (prior departmental approval of topic content is required)

ADVANCED DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
and ADVANCED DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS LAB

DATA MINING
and DATA MINING LAB

BIG DATA ANALYTICS
and BIG DATA ANALYTICS LAB
TOPICS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE (prior departmental approval of topic content is required)

GPU COMPUTING
and GPU COMPUTING LAB

PARALLEL PROGRAMMING AND SYSTEMS
and PARALLEL PROGRAMMING AND SYSTEMS LAB

CLOUD FOUNDATION AND PROGRAMMING
and CLOUD FOUNDATION AND PROGRAMMING LAB

3D COMPUTER GRAPHICS PRINCIPLES
and 3D COMPUTER GRAPHICS PRINCIPLES LAB

ADVANCED 3D COMPUTER GRAPHICS
and ADVANCED 3D COMPUTER GRAPHICS LAB

DATA VISUALIZATION
and DATA VISUALIZATION LAB

GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 1
and GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 1 LAB

GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 2
and GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 2 LAB

VIRTUAL REALITY WITH COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND GAME ENGINES
and VIRTUAL REALITY WITH COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND GAME ENGINES LAB

INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
and INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS LAB

MODELING AND SIMULATION
and MODELING AND SIMULATION LAB

MACHINE LEARNING
and MACHINE LEARNING LAB

DEEP LEARNING
and DEEP LEARNING LAB
INTERNSHIP (variable credit–one 4-credit internship is allowed)
EXPERIMENTAL COURSE (variable credit–prior departmental approval of topic content is required)
DIRECTED STUDY (variable credit–prior departmental approval of topic content is required)

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SECURITY
and COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SECURITY LAB

APPLIED CYBER DEFENSE
and APPLIED CYBER DEFENSE LAB

NETWORK SECURITY
and NETWORK SECURITY LAB

SECURE CODING
and SECURE CODING LAB

APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY
and APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY LAB

HARDWARE DESCRIPTION LANGUAGES
and HARDWARE DESCRIPTION LANGUAGES LAB

COMPUTING SYSTEMS: ORGANIZATION AND DESIGN
and COMPUTING SYSTEMS: ORGANIZATION AND DESIGN LAB

EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN
and EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN LAB

REAL TIME EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
and REAL TIME EMBEDDED SYSTEMS LAB
Required Senior Capstone Series
SENIOR PROJECT5
SENIOR CAPSTONE5
Total Credits133-138

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits.ÌýIndividual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current.ÌýStudents should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet theÌý.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
All Courses on the Cheney CampusAll Courses on the Cheney CampusAll Courses on the Cheney Campus
555
555
555
Ìý15Ìý15Ìý15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
All Courses on the Cheney CampusAll Courses on the Cheney CampusAll Courses on the Cheney Campus
(Social Science BACR 1)5
&Ìý
4 (Humanities & Arts 2 BACR)4
Natural Science BACR 1 - chose from major list15Natural Science BACR 2- chose from major list15
&Ìý
5
Social Science BACR 2 (Recommended LIBR 110)15Humanities & Arts BACR 1155
Ìý15Ìý14Ìý14
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
All Courses at the Spokane Catalyst BuildingAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst BuildingAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst Building

&Ìý
4
&Ìý
45
55CSCD Elective 224
CSCD Elective 124Global Studies - graduation requirement (online)15Diversity - graduation requirement (online)15
Elective - minor, or general elective4ÌýÌý
Ìý17Ìý14Ìý14
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
All Courses at the Spokane Catalyst BuildingAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst BuildingAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst Building

&Ìý
45 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5

&Ìý
4CSCD Elective 424CSCD Elective 624
CSCD Elective 324CSCD Elective 524Elective - minor, or general elective5
Elective - minor, or general elective4Elective - minor, or general elective4Ìý
Ìý16Ìý17Ìý14
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.Ìý Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Required Electives–choose six courses from the approved list; at least four courses must be 400-level.

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Students who earn a BS in Computer Science from 51¸£ÀûÉç should be able to:​​​

  • analyze a problem and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution;
  • analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society;
  • apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity;
  • apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the discipline;
  • apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the tradeoffs involved in design choices;
  • communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
  • demonstrate an understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities;
  • design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs;
  • function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal;
  • recognize the need for, and will have the ability to engage in, continuing professional development;
  • use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice;
  • identify risk with regard to security, to participate in risk mitigation activities, and to provide application and information security.

Applied Learning Opportunities

  • Internships: Get real-world experience (and often credit or pay) by working in a professional setting connected to your career goals.
  • Classroom-Based Applied Learning/Simulation: Practice real-world decision-making through simulations, case studies, role playing, and other hands-on activities in the classroom.
An 51¸£ÀûÉç computer science student works on his laptop in class.

BS in Computer Science FAQs

The BS differs from the BCS in its requirements for mathematics, natural science, certain computer science courses, and the total number of computer science electives. Review the course catalog for more details and schedule an appointment with an advisor if you need guidance.

The cybersecurity minor strongly complements a BS in computer science, providing the skills needed to meet the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals.

Grade Requirements:ÌýAs a computer science student, you are expected to maintain an overall university GPA ≥2.3. Each computer science course must be completed with a minimum grade ≥C+. All supporting courses required by the department must be completed with a minimum grade ≥C. Note:Ìý

Required Courses
CYBERSECURITY FUNDAMENTALS 5
PROGRAMMING PRINCIPLES I 5
C AND UNIX PROGRAMMING 5
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SECURITY 4
COMPUTER NETWORKS 4
NETWORK SECURITY 4
SECURE CODING 4
Total Credits 31

A computer science degree allows you to pursue a wide range of in-demand jobs. Example job titles include:

  • Computer and Information Research Scientist
  • Technical Support Specialist
  • Robotics Engineer
  • Ethical Hacker
  • UX Designer
  • Forensic Computer Analyst
  • Data Scientist
  • Database Administrator
  • Software Developer
  • Cloud Security Specialist

Yes. 51¸£ÀûÉç offers various financial aid options, including grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Please visit the 51¸£ÀûÉç Financial Aid Office to learn about eligibility and the application process.

51¸£ÀûÉç Computer Science Stories