Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Build the Software That Drives Society

Software touches every part of our lives. Computer scientists create that software and solve problems to make that software even more useful. They do this by using their knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, human-computer interaction, cybersecurity, and algorithms, among other areas of computer science. With a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Clarkson University, you'll be ready to create tomorrow's technology.

Why Major in Computer Science at Clarkson?

Software is at the core of computer science, and you'll become a proficient coder in this program. More importantly, though, you'll gain a deep understanding of computer science and you'll learn to solve hard problems to make software even better and more useful.

As an undergraduate at Clarkson, you'll study topics such as:

  • Software design and development
  • Algorithms and data structures
  • Operating systems and computer networks
  • Artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision
  • Virtual reality and human-computer interaction
  • Cryptography and cybersecurity

The Department of Computer Science is a small, research department, which is an unusual combination for a computer science program. Our small size leads to a friendly, collaborative atmosphere among students, and to personal attention from the faculty.

The fact that we are a research department means that you'll have the opportunity to get involved in research and help professors push forward the boundaries of the field. It also means that your upper-level CS courses will be taught by experts and that you'll share in the excitement of a program where new knowledge is being created and not just transmitted.

And, our Computer Science Class of 2023 had a 100 percent placement rate.

What You'll Learn

Of the 120 credit hours you need to earn a bachelor's degree, the Computer Science major consists of 70 credit hours of computer science, mathematics and science. This leaves you the flexibility to declare a minor or even a second major.

Your computer science courses will cover topics such as:

  • Software design and development
  • Algorithms and data structures
  • Programming Languages
  • Theory of computation
  • Operating systems
  • Computer networks
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning
  • Computer vision
  • Virtual reality
  • Human-computer interaction
  • Quantum computation
  • Cryptography
  • Cybersecurity

The computer science program consists of 43 credits hours in computer science, 15 credit hours in mathematics, and 12 credit hours in science. 30 credit hours are in free electives, which is enough to complete a minor or second major if you so choose.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson. 
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit) 
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

Computer Science Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

Computer Science:

  • CS141 Introduction to Computer Science I (4 credits)
  • CS142 Introduction to Computer Science II
  • CS241 Computer Organization
  • CS242 Advanced Programming Concepts in Java
  • CS341 Programming Languages
  • CS344 Algorithms & Data Structures
  • CS345 Automata Theory & Formal Languages
  • CS350 Software Design & Development
  • CS444 Operating Systems
  • CS499 Professional Experience

Professional Experience

Students are required to complete the following Professional Experience: 
CS499 Professional Experience (0 credits)

Math Courses for Computer Science

Students are required to complete the following courses:

  • MA131 Calculus I
  • MA132 Calculus II
  • MA211 Foundations
  • MA339 Applied Linear Algebra
  • or MA239 Elementary Linear Algebra
  • STAT383 Probability & Statistics
  • or STAT381 Probability

Computer Science Core Electives

Students must complete three of the following courses:

  • CS442 Computational Complexity
  • CS443 Parallel Programming
  • CS445 Compiler Construction
  • CS447 Computer Algorithms
  • CS449 Computational Learning
  • CS451 Artificial Intelligence
  • CS452 Computer Graphics
  • CS455 Computer Networks
  • CS456 Cryptography
  • CS457 Computer & Network Security
  • CS458 Formal Methods for Program Verification
  • CS459 Human-Computer Interaction
  • CS460 Database Systems
  • CS461 Virtual Environments: Principles & Applications
  • CS464 Computer Game Development
  • CS465 Mobile Robotics & Human-Machine Interaction

Students must complete two of the following courses:

  • COMM440 PHP/MY SQL Interactive Design
  • COMM442 Advanced World Wide Web Interface Design
  • COMM444 Linux Web System Administration
  • CS442 Computational Complexity
  • CS443 Parallel Programming
  • CS445 Compiler Construction
  • CS447 Computer Algorithms
  • CS449 Computational Learning
  • CS451 Artificial Intelligence
  • CS452 Computer Graphics
  • CS455 Computer Networks
  • CS456 Cryptography
  • CS457 Computer & Network Security
  • CS458 Formal Methods for Program Verification
  • CS459 Human-Computer Interaction
  • CS460 Database Systems
  • CS461 Virtual Environments: Principles & Applications
  • CS464 Computer Game Development
  • CS465 Mobile Robotics & Human-Machine Interaction
  • EE368 Software Engineering
  • EE466 Computer A
  • IS314 Database Design & Management

Computer Science Other Electives

Science Electives:

Students must complete one two-course lecture/lab sequence in chemistry (CM) or physics (PH), plus 4 additional credits in the biology (BY), chemistry (CM), or physics (PH) subject areas.

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives:

Students will have at least 18 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.

Free Electives:

Students majoring in computer science will have approximately 30 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.

*Up to 12 credit hours of advanced (300- or 400-level) coursework in aerospace studies or military science may count toward graduation requirements. Aerospace studies or military science credits at the 100 and 200 levels do not count toward the required 120 hours. Other restrictions may apply; check with the department for details.

At Clarkson, which is not only small but is devoted to tech, you won't have to wait for your chance to participate in cutting-edge research. Our faculty regularly rely on undergrads to assist in their work, which covers topics such as computer vision, machine learning, sensor data analysis, automated reasoning, natural language processing, virtual reality, robotics, human-robot interaction, cybersecurity, algorithmic accountability, quantum computing, and computational complexity.

You can't keep up with this field sitting on the sidelines. Nearly nine out of 10 computer science majors have at least one internship while at Clarkson. You might even be able to turn your internship into a full-time job.

Our students have interned at many organizations, including:

  • Amazon
  • Anderson Consulting
  • AOL
  • Aplix Corp.
  • Catholic University of America
  • CBSI
  • Dealer.com
  • General Electric
  • George Mason University
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Microsoft
  • Mozilla
  • National Security Agency
  • PROXICOM
  • Sandia National Lab
  • Syracuse Research Corp.
  • U.S. Air Force
  • VMware

Learn more about co-ops and internships at Clarkson.

Computer science students can get involved with more than 200 student-run clubs and organizations. Some, like the Google Developer Student Club, Software Engineering Club and Task-Based Robotics Club let you put your CS skills to work. But you can also join a club or intramural sport, try a new hobby or give back through community service. See all clubs and activities.

The minor in computer science is designed to provide you with a solid and coherent introduction to computer science. The requirements are in two areas. The first area gives you a strong foundation in programming, basic software engineering principles and the design, analysis and implementation of data structures and algorithms. The second area consists of electives that allow you to explore various areas of computer science or specialize in one of these areas. The majority of the electives must be upper-level courses. A total of seven courses are required for the minor.

The minor in computer science is not open to students majoring in computer science or software engineering. Students must also achieve a GPA of 2.0 in the courses below.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Computer Science Minor Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:*

CS141 Introduction to Computer Science I (4 credits)
CS142 Introduction to Computer Science II
MA211 Foundations
CS344 Algorithms and Data Structures

Computer Science Minor Electives

Students must complete the following courses:**

Computer Science (CS) 200-level or above 3-credit course
Computer Science (CS) 300-level or above 3-credit course
Computer Science (CS) 400-level or above 3-credit course

Course Substitutions

*Some course substitutions are possible. A list of acceptable substitutions is maintained by the department and updated annually. Currently, the allowed substitutions are EE261 for CS141, EE363 for CS142, EE360 for CS241 and MA346 for MA21l.

**Certain courses cannot be used to satisfy the electives. A list of all exclusions is available from the department and updated annually. The current list includes all courses titled Directed Study, Computer Science Clinic, or Undergraduate Research.

Computational Science

Take on thorny problems in this math-focused minor. Build your knowledge in numerical methods, differential equations, linear algebra and statistics. Learn more about the computational science minor.

Information Technology

Virtually every organization is now driven by information technology. In this minor, you'll get a good overview of some key aspects of this technology. The minor includes courses on programming and software development, computer systems, database administration, computer networks and web technologies. Learn more about the information technology minor.

Robotics

This multidisciplinary field weds mechanical engineering, electrical, computer and software engineering and computer science. In this minor, see how robots are taking on jobs too dirty, dangerous or dull for humans. Learn more about the robotics minor.

Statistics

Chances are, you'll find plenty of opportunities to put your skills to work analyzing data and solving problems with this minor. Statisticians work in government, healthcare, business and many other fields. Learn more about the statistics minor.

Originally founded more than 20 years ago to promote open-source software, this student-led lab has expanded to include the Internet Teaching Lab and the Virtual Reality Lab. These labs support a variety of projects. COSI students have won several awards at open source competitions. Current major projects include a mirror site that provides, among others, downloads of various Linux distributions and software such as Blender, Cygwin and Eclipse. Another major project is the maintenance of a working teaching lab, including all the required hardware, software and networking. Such projects provide students with invaluable hands-on, real-life experience. Explore the lab.

Integrating Multiple Disciplines

Meet Essence '25 a Computer Science major who has been working with the AIDFab Lab at Clarkson University. Using cutting-edge metal 3D printers, robotics, and other state-of-the-art technologies this project addresses the increasing need for adaptive technology to support Aging in Place.

Career Possibilities

Technology isn't slowing down — and neither is the need for more graduates of computer science programs. Most of our graduates start their careers as software developers and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of software developer jobs to grow by 25 percent by 2031. And because every area of society depends on tech, you can make a difference in almost any field you can imagine. Graduates with a computer science degree can create software and computer technology that impacts fields from finance to the arts, from healthcare to manufacturing, and from education to engineering.

You might also consider pursuing a master's or PhD degree in computer science.

Besides a job as a software developer, here are some other jobs you might consider with a bachelor's degree in computer science

  • Web developer
  • Data scientist
  • Information technology specialist
  • Information security analyst
  • Network engineer
  • Database administrator

Recent Employers

Our computer science graduates hit the ground running. Thanks to our relationships with leading employers like IBM, a computer science degree from Clarkson gives you an edge in the job market. And it's a degree that pays: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average software developer makes $121,000 a year.

In recent years, our graduates have taken jobs at many organizations, including:

  • Corning
  • Deloitte
  • General Dynamics Mission Systems
  • Global Foundries
  • Google
  • Gracenote
  • IBM
  • INFICON
  • Infosys
  • Lockheed Martin
  • U.S. Air Force

Graduate Schools

Some of our graduates go on to graduate school. At the master's level, this is typically paid by their employer. At the PhD level, this is almost always with full financial aid and leads to a career as a researcher in industry or as a university professor. Some of the schools where our graduates have gone on to pursue a PhD are:

  • Yale
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Rice University
  • University of Rochester
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Virginia Tech
  • Lehigh University
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Clarkson University

"Computer science changes the way you think about problems and helps you learn new skills very fast, as the industry is constantly evolving day by day. My internships and research have shown me the importance of both teamwork and when to be self-reliant."

Alexander Kupin '21, BS in Computer Science, '23, MS in Computer Science

Contact Us

Department of Computer Science
Email: cs@clarkson.edu
Phone: 315-268-2395

Interested in learning more about the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science? Contact the Department of Computer Science today with your questions.

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100 Percent Placement Undergrad - Program Specific

What it is like to be in the Computer Science Program

Hear from Sarah Inzerillo '21 on what her favorite aspects of the program are. 

Get With the Program

Learn to solve the programming problems that will drive tomorrow's tech with a computer science degree from Clarkson. Find out more today.