The Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science comprises a rigorous, broad curriculum, including topics in algorithms and data structures, machine architecture, software development. A wide variety of additional topics are covered, such as philosophy, literary theory, and digital arts. Students will have a foundational program of study in computer science and gain interdisciplinary breadth via selected courses in the humanities. This program is designed to prepare individuals for professional contributions in traditional computer science areas and new fields involving increased application of computer science, such as digital humanities, media and communication, and interactive design. This degree program can also prepare students for graduate study.

This program has specific admission requirements.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:

  • 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 computer science discipline.
  • Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

Programmatic Admission Requirements

For admission to the BA of Computer Science, applicants must have completed preparation in mathematics equivalent to pre-calculus or higher. A review of high school or college transcripts showing completion of this requirement will be conducted during the admission process.

Please visit our AMU or APU undergraduate admission page for more information on institutional admission requirements.

Need help?

If you have questions regarding a program’s admission requirements, please contact an admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or info@apus.edu.

Degree at a Glance

General Education Requirements30
Major Required66
Select one of the following concentrations:18
Final Program Requirements6
Total Semester Hours120

Degree Program Requirements

General Education Requirements (30 semester hours)

Arts and Humanities (6 semester hours) 1
STEM270Thinking and Acting Ethically3
Select 1 courses from the following:3
Arabic I
Arabic II
Art Appreciation
Survey of Photography
Film and Literature
Image Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop®
French I
French II
German I
German II
Introduction to Japanese
Literature of American Encounters, Revolution, and Rebellion
From Abolition to #MeToo: Literature of the American Civil Rights Movement
Pivotal Figures in Early British Literature
British Literature from Wordsworth through the Wasteland
Leadership in World Literature: Antiquity to the Early Modern Period
Literature of the Newly Globalized World: The Individual’s Struggle to Adapt
Music Appreciation
Jazz and Rock
World Music and Cultures
Introduction to Philosophy
Critical Thinking
Introduction to Ethics
Philosophy of Science
Introduction to Brazilian Portuguese
Introduction to the Study of Religion
Introduction to World Religions
Russian I
Spanish I
Spanish II
Civics, Political and Social Sciences (6 semester hours)
STEM280Exploring Society and Cultures via Science Fiction3
Select 1 courses from the following:3
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Human Sexuality
Social Media and Society
Intercultural Communication
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Humane Education: A Global Interdisciplinary Perspective
Introduction to Geography
Practical Food Safety and Awareness
International Relations I
Forgotten America--Under Represented Cultures in American Literature
Introduction to Political Science
American Government I
Introduction to Psychology
Death and Dying
Race & Religion
Hope and Resilience
Introduction to Sociology
Social Problems
American Popular Culture
Communication: Writing, Oral, and Multimedia (9 semester hours)
COMM120Information and Digital Literacy3
ENGL110Making Writing Relevant3
Select 1 course from the following:3
Public Speaking
Proficiency in Writing
Argumentation and Rhetoric
Introduction to Literature
Technical Writing
Scientific Writing
Effective Business Communication
Human Relations Communication
Information Literacy and Global Citizenship
Introduction to Information Technology Writing
Human Relations
History (3 semester hours)
STEM185The History and Context of STEM3
Mathematics and Applied Reasoning (3 semester hours)
MATH225Calculus3
Natural Sciences (3 semester hours)
STEM100Introduction to STEM Disciplines3
Total Semester Hours30

Major Required (66 semester hours)

MATH210Discrete Mathematics3
ENGL235Take on the World: An Introduction to Linguistics3
MATH220Linear Algebra3
COMM255Digital Tools and Media in Communication3
CSCI140Introduction to Programming3
PHIL101Introduction to Philosophy3
IRLS200Information Literacy and Global Citizenship3
CSCI240Algorithms and Data Structures I3
CSCI230Machine Architecture and Organization3
CSCI220Operating Systems I3
MATH302Statistics3
CSCI315User Interface and Experience Design3
CSCI340Program Design and Development3
CSCI345Algorithms and Data Structures II3
PHIL300Logic3
CSCI360Introduction to Database Systems3
CSCI325Design for the Web3
CSCI335Web Applications Programming3
CSCI415Information Visualization3
CSCI425Information Systems Development3
CSCI440Principles of Programming Languages3
STEM380Coevolution of Society, Culture, and Technology3
Total Semester Hours66

Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from a Concentrations in Artificial Intelligence or Concentration in Communications.

Concentration in Artificial Intelligence (18 semester hours)

The Artificial Intelligence concentration teaches students how to design computing systems with a focus on humanity. The concentration focuses on exploring the societal consequences of rapidly emerging artificial intelligence systems, integrating a humanities viewpoint with technological analyses. The concentration offers a unique context and a shared vocabulary for interpreting the impact of technical developments in artificial intelligence on society. The uniqueness comes from integrating a humanities viewpoint with a technological analysis, using literary interpretation methods to analyze the social effects of AI systems.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Analyze data and perform predictions using machine learning methods.
  • Understand data collection, including data wrangling, cleaning, and sampling to get a suitable data set.
  • Understand data management in order to access data quickly and reliably.
  • Understand exploratory data analysis, generating hypotheses and building intuition.
  • Understand communication, summarizing results through visualization, stories, and interpretable summaries.
  • Gain practical knowledge of predictions and statistical learning.
  • Create web-based complex projects as a member of a team.

Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)

CSCI381Machine Learning3
PSYC304Perception3
CSCI484Introduction to Artificial Intelligence3
CSCI486Deep and Reinforcement Learning3
CSCI336Topics in Computer Vision3
STEM471Analytics, Algorithms, AI, and Humanity3
Total Semester Hours18

Concentration in Communications (18 semester hours)

The Communications concentration provides insight into the role of communication in a wide range of settings. The concentration focuses on unique domains. Students take courses not only about misinformation and disinformation, but also on web, graphic arts, information systems, security, and ethics. Students learn professional work practices, while emphasizing both theories and principles that focus on quality, effectiveness, and security of information. Students also learn how new media impacts our interaction and communication. Students also consider available mechanisms to address current challenges.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Effectively use design tools to create attractive visual compositions
  • Understand the key design and human perception principles
  • Understand the importance of cognition in visualization design
  • Apply structured design processes for data exploration, analysis, and storytelling
  • Focus on tools and available techniques for designing effective visuals
  • Use criticism and critical evaluation, giving suggestions, and proposing improvements
  • Work constructively on complex projects as part of a team
  • Use creative thinking in challenging scenarios of high-dimensional data
  • Explore different communication spaces (print, phone, desktop, VR, and AR)

Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)

COMM356Digital Communication and Media Design Principles3
COMM280Ethics in Communication3
COMM375Web and Mobile Communication3
CSCI471Software Engineering3
CSCI452Cybersecurity/Cyber Defense3
STEM470Cybersecurity, Surveillance, Privacy and Ethics3
Total Semester Hours18

Final Program Requirements (6 semester hours)

CSCI498Senior Project Design3
CSCI499Senior Project Implementation3
Total Semester Hours6