Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Major in Computer Science

Minimum required: 120 semester credit hours

General Requirements

  1. The general education core curriculum courses are listed in the degree plan below along with the statewide component code number. See the General Education Core Curriculum section of this catalog for the Texas State requirements and options in the core curriculum, including Honors courses.
  2. In addition to the general education core curriculum requirements, the Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) requires three hours of math/science/logic/computer science courses, a minor and six hours of 2000-level modern language courses. Most students will have to complete 1410 and 1420 as prerequisites before attempting 2310.
  3. For transfer students, 26-32 semester credit hours in computer science (or their equivalents) may be transferred from a Texas public institution of higher education for the Computer Science Field of Study and be applied to the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Computer Science at Texas State University. More information about the Field of Study is available in the Academic Policies section of this catalog. If transferring additional computer science courses please contact the Department of Computer Science for assistance. The transferable Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) is listed below the Texas State University course number in the following course list.

    CS 1319Fundamentals of Computer Science3
    TCCN: COSC 1336 or 1436 (CS 1319 + 1 hour CS ELNA)
    CS 1428Foundations of Computer Science I4
    TCCN: COSC 1337 or 1437
    CS 2308Foundations of Computer Science II3
    TCCN: COSC 2336 or 2436 (CS 2308 + 1 hour CS ELNA)
    CS 2318Assembly Language3
    TCCN: COSC 2325 or 2425 (CS 2318 + 1 hour CS ELNA)
    MATH 2471Calculus I4
    TCCN: MATH 2313 or 2413
    MATH 2472Calculus II4
    TCCN: MATH 2314 or 2414
    PHYS 2325
    PHYS 2125
    Mechanics
    and Mechanics Laboratory
    4
    TCCN: PHYS 2325 and 2125
    PHYS 2326
    PHYS 2126
    Electricity and Magnetism
    and Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory
    4
    TCCN: PHYS 2326 and 2126
    Total26-32
  4. Students pursuing the B.A. are required to complete an additional 3 hours of English beyond the general education core curriculum. Students may select from the following English courses.
    Choose one from:
    ENG 2310British Literature before 17853
    ENG 2320British Literature since 17853
    ENG 2330World Literature before 16003
    ENG 2340World Literature since 16003
    ENG 2359US Literature before 18653
    ENG 2360US Literature since 18653
    ENG 2371U.S. Literature: Writing Identities3
  5. Computer Science students must complete 37 hours of Computer Science courses, including one CS project course from: CS 4318CS 4326CS 4371CS 4380, or CS 4398​.
  6. No more than 3 hours of credit may be applied to the student's major elective from any combination of the following courses: 
    CS 3190Cooperative Education1
    CS 3290Advanced Cooperative Education2
    CS 4100Computer Science Internship1
    CS 4298Undergraduate Research I2
    CS 4299Undergraduate Research II2
    CS 4395Independent Study in Computer Science3
    HON 4390BHonors Capstone3
    RES 4399Mentored Research and Creative Expression 3
  7. Nine hours of writing intensive (WI) courses are required for graduation.
  8. Students must select a minor from the approved list of Undergraduate Minors.
  9. Students must complete a minimum of 36 advanced hours (3000 or 4000 level courses).
  10. In addition to satisfying the University graduation requirements, students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all computer science and mathematics courses used to satisfy the requirements of the computer science major.
  11. The number of free electives a student will complete varies, depending on the number of hours needed to satisfy the 120 and/or the 36 advanced or 9 hours writing intensive requirements. Students should consult with the academic advisor before enrolling in any free elective courses to ensure that electives are needed.
  12. Students entering Texas State with fewer than 16 credit hours completed after high school graduation will be required to take US 1100. All others will be exempt from taking this course. Students may be required to earn an additional elective to reach the 120 minimum total credit hour requirement for the awarding of a degree.

Course Requirements 

Freshman
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
CS 1428 (TCCN COSC 1437)4CS 2308 (TCCN COSC 2336 or 2436 )3
Mathematics Component Code 020 select one of the following:3-4MATH 2358 (BA Computer Science, Logic, Mathematics or science [TCCN MATH 2305 or 2405] )3
MATH 1317 (TCCN MATH 1316)
 PHIL 1305 or 1320 (Language, Philosophy, and Culture Component Code 040 [TCCN PHIL 1301 or 2306])3
MATH 1329 (TCCN MATH 1325)
 Social and Behavioral Sciences Component Code 0803
MATH 2321 (TCCN MATH 2313)
 Government/Political Science Component Code 0703
MATH 2417 (TCCN MATH 2412)
  
MATH 2471 (TCCN MATH 2413)
  
US 11001 
ENG 1310, 1320, or 1321 (Communication Component Code 010)3 
COMM 1310 (Component Area Option Code 090/091 [TCCN SPCH 1311])3 
 14-15 15
Sophomore
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
CS 2318 (TCCN COSC 2325)3CS 23153
CS 33583CS 33543
MATH 33983Modern Language 14204
Life and Physical Sciences Component Code 03014Life and Physical Sciences Component Code 03014
Modern Language 14104Component Area Option Codes 0903
 17 17
Junior
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
CS 33393CS Advanced Elective3
CS 33983Modern Language 23203
BA English Literature (TCCN ENGL 2322, 2323, 2332, 2333, 2327 or 2328)3Minor3
Modern Language 23103American History Component Code 0603
Minor3ENG 3303 (Communication Component Code 010)2,33
 15 15
Senior
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
CS Advanced Elective3Computer Science Project Course3
Minor3CS Advanced Elective3
Creative Arts Component Code 0503Minor6
American History Component Code 0603 
Government/Political Science Component Code 0703 
 15 12
Total Hours: 120-121
1
Computer Science students must take eight hours (2 courses) of the Life & Physical Sciences Component Code 030 from: BIO 1330/BIO 1130 & BIO 1331/BIO 1131; PHYS 1315/PHYS 1115 & PHYS 1325/PHYS 1125 [or PHYS 2325/PHYS 2125 & PHYS 2326/PHYS 2126]; CHEM 1341/CHEM 1141, and CHEM 1342/CHEM 1142; or GEOL 1410 & GEOL 1420. The eight hours (2 courses) must be from the same science (BIO, CHEM, GEOL, or PHYS) as listed above. Field of Study requirements of PHYS 1430 and PHYS 2425 will be used to satisfy this requirement.
2

Students may take ENG 3313 instead of ENG 3303.  If students take ENG 3313, they will need to complete an additional CORE 010 course.

3

A grade of C or better is required in ENG 3303 or ENG 3313 to satisfy the graduation requirements for the BA in Computer Science.

Computer Science Project Course Options

Choose one from:
CS 4318Compiler Construction3
CS 4326Human Factors of Computer Systems3
CS 4371Computer System Security3
CS 4380Parallel Programming3
CS 4398Software Engineering Project3