Computer Science, B.S.

Program Coordinator: Robert T. Kasper, PhD

Program Overview

This accelerated degree-completion program provides working adults with an opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science with a concentration in Software Development. The program is designed to match the energy and talents of professionals who have experienced success without having completed a baccalaureate degree, offering a cohesive, nontraditional college experience for motivated, working adults. The concentrated, structured course of study leads to a bachelor’s degree in just two years. To meet the needs of busy adults and reduce commuting time, this program includes a combination of classroom, blended, and online course formats.

The Software Development concentration develops valuable experience and professional skills in areas such as object-oriented programming, web programming, networked systems, and computer and information security, with significant experience using Java and C++ programming languages. MVNU has a successful 40-year history in the computer science fields, with graduates finding rewarding careers in software development, software engineering, system administration and management, and research and development in both commercial and government laboratories.

Program Objectives

Upon graduation from the Computer Science (Software Development) program, students are expected to demonstrate the following outcomes:

Foundation: graduates shall have a strong foundation in computer science and be able to apply this fundamental knowledge to software development tasks.
Development: graduates shall be able to effectively apply software engineering methods during each phase of the software lifecycle, including requirements analysis, prototyping, design, implementation, testing, maintenance activities, and management of risks involved in software and embedded systems.
Technical competency: graduates shall demonstrate proficiency in several current programming languages, networking protocols, web developments methods, managing security, database design and management, and computer organization and architecture.
Methodology: graduates will know various classical and evolving software development methods, such as object oriented design and programming, and will be able to select appropriate methods for projects and development teams, as well as refine and apply them to achieve project goals.
Professionalism: graduates shall be knowledgeable of ethics, professionalism, and cultural diversity in the work environment.
Quality: graduates will apply shall be able to apply basic software quality assurance practices to ensure that software designs, development, and maintenance meets or exceeds applicable standards.
Presentation: graduates will have effective written and oral communication skills; and will be able to prepare and publish the necessary documents required throughout the project lifecycle.
Teamwork: graduates shall be able to effectively contribute to project discussions, presentations, and reviews.
Growth: graduates will understand the need for lifelong learning and will be able to readily adapt to new software development environments.

The following objectives detail what is expected of graduates within 2-5 years following graduation from the program:

Graduates will have achieved competency in software development methods and have acquired experience with current programming languages.
Graduates will possess effective communication and technical skills, in order to assure the production of quality software, on time and within budget.
Graduates will be able to build upon and adapt knowledge of science, mathematics, and engineering in order to take on more expansive tasks that require an increased level of self-reliance, technical expertise, and leadership.
Graduates will effectively participate in the processed of software system specification, design, development, validation and testing, documentation, and maintenance.
Graduates will be effective team members, aware of cultural diversity, and will conduct themselves ethically and professionally.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Computer Science (Software Development) program are selected on the basis of their academic background and professional experience. Admission requirements include the following:

submission of official transcripts of all previous college or university courses completed to date;
completion of at least 56 transferable credit hours from a regionally-accredited institution(s) of higher learning with a grade of C- or better for each course;
an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) for all previous college or university coursework completed to date (an applicant with a GPA less than 2.00 may apply for probationary admittance);
completion of an online application and Registration Agreement Form.

Applicants from countries and US territories in which English is not the primary language must also provide recent evidence of proficiency in English by scoring 80 or above on the Internet-based TOEFL with subscores in writing, reading, speaking and listening of at least 20; or scoring 550 or above on the written TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with subscores in writing and reading of at least 50. All tests of English proficiency must have been taken in the last two years to be considered for acceptance.

The following prerequisites must be met before starting the first course of the major (CSCI-3103: Foundations of Computer Science I):

sophomore standing (26 or more earned credit hours)
an English composition course with a research writing component
CSCI-1033 (Fundamentals of Computer Programming in Java)
MATH-1053 (Elementary Discrete Mathematics)

The prerequisite courses (CSCI-1033, MATH-1053) may be completed at MVNU, or equivalent courses may be transferred from another accredited college or university. MVNU also offers a placement examination option for both CSCI-1033 and MATH-1053. Applicants may take a placement examination for one or both of these courses if they have experience in these areas yet lack transferable course credit. A student who achieves a passing score on the placement examination will not be required to take the corresponding prerequisite course; however, passing the placement examination will not earn the student credit for the corresponding prerequisite course.

Equivalent lower division courses (freshman or sophomore level) completed at another institution may be used to meet prerequisite requirements, but lower division courses do not satisfy that requirements for the Computer Science (Software Development) major. Upper division computer science courses (junior or senior level) completed at another institution will be evaluated by the GPS Computer Science (Software Development) Program Coordinator to determine whether they are equivalent to courses required for the Computer Science (Software Development) major.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite Courses

CSCI-1033	Foundations of Computer Programming In Java	3.0 credits
MATH-1053	Elementary Discrete Mathematics	3.0 credits

Required Courses

CSCI-3103	Foundations of Computer Science I	3.0 credits
CSCI-3113	Foundations of Computer Science II	3.0 credits
CSCI-3123	Data Structures and Algorithms	3.0 credits
CSCI-3013	Computer Networks and Telecommunications	3.0 credits
CSCI-3133	Database Management Systems	3.0 credits
CSCI-3143	Web Application Programming	3.0 credits
CSCI-3004	Software Development	4.0 credits
CSCI-3024	Software & Systems Engineering	4.0 credits
CSCI-3054	Computer Organization and Architecture	4.0 credits
CSCI-4003	Computer Information Security	3.0 credits
CSCI-3083	Technology and Society	3.0 credits
CSCI-4011	Software Applications Practicum I	1.0 credits
CSCI-4021	Software Applications Practicum II	1.0 credits
CSCI-4031	Software Applications Prac III	1.0 credits

Total 45 Hours

Graduation Requirements

The student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours (with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00) including:

Successful completion of the GPS General Education Core (39 hours):
- 15 credit hours in Arts and Humanities (Minimum of 3 credit hours in an English composition course with a research writing component; minimum of 3 credit hours in Bible/Theology)
- 15 credit hours in Natural and Social Sciences, and Mathematics (Minimum of 3 credit hours in Mathematics; minimum of 3 credit hours in Social Science; and minimum of 3 credit hours in Natural Science with laboratory)
- 9 credit hours in Liberal Arts electives
Completion of at least 39 credit hours of upper division course work (3000 level or higher);
Successful completion of the 45 credit hours of the Computer Science (Software Development) curriculum with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. A student who receives a grade below "C-" in any Computer Science (Software Development) course will be required to repeat that course until a grade of C- or better is earned. All repeated coursework to replace grade of D+, D, F, W, or X is at the student's expense.