When we switched to semesters, we did not include the idea of tech elective options. Over the last couple of years, students, faculty, and the Advising Office have heard feedback that suggests it would be very useful to reintroduce the tech elective options. We do have a set of focus areas that list relevant courses for a number of areas but this is not formalized in any way. In their discussions, the Undergrad Studies Committee and the faculty have agreed that we should indeed create a set of tech elective options based on the ones under quarters and using the courses listed in the corresponding focus areas. We intend to send such a proposal to the College of Engineering (for the CSE program) and the College of Arts and Science (for the CIS program) shortly.
It is worth noting that we had been looking for a course that would help improve our students' oral communication skills. Until JCom 321 which was introduced in the past year or so, no suitable course was available.
Many of our students already choose to take Econ 200 or 201 as part of their GEC. This proposal will require them to do so.
5. Curriculum:
a. Must include at least 60 (quarter-) hours of study in computing.
b. Must include at least 45 hours of mathematics and science.
c. Must include at least 45 hours of study in humanities, social
sciences, arts and other disciplines that serve to broaden the
background of the student.
d. Must include a broad-based core of fundamental CS material of at
least 24 hours.
e. The core must provide basic coverage of algorithms,
data structures, software design, concepts of programming languages,
and computer organization and architecture.
f. Theoretical foundations, problem analysis, and solution design
must be stressed within the core.
g. Must include at least 24 hours of advanced course work in CS
to provides breadth and builds on the core to provide depth.
h. Students must be exposed to a variety of programming languages
and systems.
i. Math must include discrete mathematics,
differential and integral calculus, and probability and statistics.
j. Must include at least 22.5 hours of mathematics.
k. Must include at least 18 semester hours of science.
l. Course work in science must include the equivalent of a
two-semester sequence in a laboratory science for science or
engineering majors.
m. Additional science course work must be in science courses or
(non-science, such as social science) courses that enhance the
student's ability to apply the scientific method.
n. Oral communication skills must be developed and
applied in the program.
o. Written communication skills must be developed and
applied in the program.
p. Must include sufficient coverage of social and ethical implications
of computing.
q. Team-working skills must be developed and applied in the program.