Computational Sciences

Chair:   William Harris

Program Coordinator:  Danny Thorne

Note: Students who wish to major in Computational Sciences but are starting later than their first semester should contact Dr. Will Harris or Dr. Danny Thorne as early as possible to plan their schedules.

Major

(B.S.) A total of fifty-five to fifty-eight semester hours required. All students must take the computer science and mathematics cores, one of the science cores, and the research experience.

Computer Science Core: (12 hours)

CSC 115, 215, 304, plus one of MAT/CSC 327, CSC 337

Mathematics Core: (15 hours)

MAT 125, 225, 301, 343, plus one of MAT 310, 331

Science Core: (13-16 hours)

Choose either a biology, chemistry or physics core.

Biology Core: (15 hours)

Students should choose one of the following groups of courses.

• Genetics/Bioinformatics emphasis: BIO 111, 212, 335, MAT 111
• Ecology/Environmental Science emphasis: BIO 111, 314, 330, MAT 111
• Physiology emphasis: BIO 111, 212, 305, 305L, MAT 111
• Other emphases may be constructed in consultation with the program coordinator.

Chemistry Core: (13-16 hours)

Students should choose one of the following groups of courses.

• Physical Chemistry emphasis: CHE 111, 112, 113, 331, PHY 111
• Computational Chemistry emphasis: CHE 111, 112, 113, 201, 202, 421
• Other emphases may be constructed in consultation with the program coordinator.

Physics Core: (16 hours)

• PHY 111, 112, 241, MAT 325, plus one of PHY 313 or 319

Electives: (12 hours)

Students should choose twelve hours from the following list of courses. The elective courses recommended (even possible) will depend in large part on the student’s choice of science core, and should be made in con­sultation with the program coordinator. Up to six hours of special topics and/or independent study courses may be approved to serve as electives.

• BIO 300, 306, 306L, 311, 316, 320, 335*, 337, 413
• CHE 201*, 202*, 305, 309, 331*, 332, 333, 337, 339, 341, 421*
• CSC 337, 405, 430, 435,
• MAT 310*, 325, 331*, 332, 345, 431
• PHY 313*, 319*, 401

(*if not selected as a Core course)

Research Experience: (3 hours)

CPS 450 Seminar in Computational Sciences or equivalent summer research/in­tern experience (must be approved by the program coordinator).

Minor

A total of twenty-four semester hours required. Students must complete the Core courses, either the math or computer science emphasis, and the research experience.  Students majoring in mathematics or computer science may not choose this minor.

Required Core Courses:  (12 hours)

MAT 125, 343; CSC 115, 215

Computer Science Emphasis:  (9 hours)

MAT 301, CSC 304, plus three hours from MAT/CSC 327, CSC 337

Mathematics Emphasis:  (9 hours)

MAT 225, plus six hours from MAT 301, 310, 325, 331, 332, 345, MAT/CSC 327

Research Experience: (3 hours)

CPS 450 or equivalent summer research/intern experience (must be approved by the program coordinator).  The capstone experience should be related to subject matter in the student’s major; this minor will almost certainly be useful only to students whose major is in the natural or social sciences.