Department of Computer Science

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Introduction to the Department of Computer Science

With the rapid advances in science and technology, computing systems have risen to become the key technology that supports and expands almost every area of life, from education and research to commerce and entertainment. Networking systems and the global internet system connect millions of people and almost every educational, research, and business institution in the world. Computing has become the most powerful and pervasive aspect of modern technology and a vital element of success in almost every area of life.

We live in an information-based society; fundamental knowledge of how computers and computing systems work is a vital part of modern life. The universal role of computing and the great power that it brings to all areas of life is based on the ability of computing systems to represent and reason about the knowledge at the basis of any area of application. Computer science is the study of these structures and dynamics of information, and their expression into progress and machines. It creates an exciting area that merges aspects of mathematics and electronics to form a new discipline of software and computing systems. This allows one to describe abstract concepts or knowledge from any area of interest, and then create powerful systems that produce concrete results - the flight of a satellite, a computer graphics system for movies, scientific computation, management information systems, or desktop word processing. With such broad areas of application, a computer scientist must have a strong background in both the foundations of knowledge on which these systems are organized, and the principles which are used to create and apply computing to all diverse areas of life. Clearly, a computing professional enjoys the ability to work in one of the most exciting and leading areas of technology today and one of the most important areas for the future.

Our computer science programs prepare graduates for success in this field by providing comprehensive knowledge of discipline and the ability to think clearly and precisely.

Programs Offered

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Minor in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Computer Science
  • MS CS Specialization in Data Science
  • MS CS Specialization in IT Management
  • MS CS Specialization in Web Architecture
• Master of Science in Computer Science, Cooperative Program

Entrance Requirements for Computer Science Programs

Entry-level Mathematics Requirements

Students who intend to earn an MIU bachelor’s degree, specialization, or minor in mathematics, computer science, or physics must prove entry-level competency in mathematics at the level of MATH 162 - Functions And Graphs 2  as a prerequisite to the following required courses:

• MATH 281 - Calculus 1  
• MATH 272 - Discrete Mathematics 
• CS 201 - Procedural Programming 

This entry-level competency in mathematics equivalent to MATH 162  may be proved in one of three ways:

• Transferring qualified credits in a course equivalent to MATH 162 , MATH 281 , or MATH 282  earned at an eligible institution.
• Demonstrating proficiency equivalent to MATH 162  or higher in the on-campus Mathematics Placement Assessment.
• Submitting official proof of minimum qualifying scores achieved within 3 years prior to enrollment at MIU on specified standardized college-level calculus and/or mathematics exams offered by College Board Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IB HL). To be eligible for credit to fulfill a mathematics course, the student must take the official AP Calculus AB and/or BC exam within 3 years prior to enrollment. At the time of the AP exam, student must designate MIU’s school code as an automatic recipient of the official score report. A student who has already completed an AP exam within the past 3 years must go to apscore.collegeboard.org to request that scores be sent directly to MIU from College Board. Official AP, CLEP, and/or IB HL scores and transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing organization to MIU in a sealed envelope. Copies made and/or sent by the student will not be accepted.

Transfer Credit Policy for Entry-level Mathematics

Transferred credits for a mathematics course completed at an eligible prior post-secondary educational institution will be evaluated to determine if the transferred course fulfills the entry requirement equivalent to MATH 162 .

Definition of an Eligible Institution for Transfer Credit
Transferred credits for a mathematics course will only be evaluated for eligibility to fulfill the entry requirement equivalent to MATH 162  if the course was completed at a postsecondary institution that meets the following criteria:

• The institution has regional or national accreditation
• The institution is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• The institution defines a credit hour equivalent to the standard set by the U.S. Department of Education

Timeframe, Grade, and Department Criteria for Transfer Credits to Fulfill MATH 162 
Transferred credits for mathematics courses completed at an eligible prior postsecondary educational institution will be evaluated to determine if the transferred course fulfills the entry requirement equivalent to MATH 162  if the course meets the following criteria:

• The course was completed within two (2) semesters prior to admission at MIU
• The course shows a final posted grade of B or better on the student’s transcript
• The course was offered and taught by a mathematics department at the prior eligible institution

A student seeking approval for transferred credits to fulfill the entry requirement equivalent to MATH 162  may also be required to provide supporting documentation requested by the mathematics department including, but not limited to, course descriptions, course syllabus, institutional catalog, course catalog, or course projects. There is no guarantee that transferred credit will be approved to fulfill the entry requirement equivalent to MATH 162 . Transferred credits to fulfill the entry requirement equivalent to MATH 162  may not be approved for courses requiring up-to-date knowledge of course topics, trends, technology, software, and/or hardware. Transferred credits will not fulfill any requirement for MATH 051 , MATH 152 , MATH 153 , or MATH 161 . If any of these courses are required, they must be fulfilled either by taking the course and passing it or by passing the Mathematics Placement Assessment at that level.

Entry-Level Mathematics Placement Assessment

Students with no transferred credits approved to fulfill the entry requirement equivalent to MATH 162  or MATH 281  must take the on-campus Mathematics Placement Assessment to determine their level of proficiency in mathematics. If the demonstrated level of proficiency is MATH 162 , the student may take any of the following courses required for their program: MATH 281 , MATH 272 , or CS 201 . If the student’s demonstrated proficiency is lower than MATH 162 , the assessment may be repeated up to 3 additional times for a higher placement. After the 4th attempt, a student placing below MATH 162  must complete designated prerequisite mathematics courses in sequential order. Successfully completing all mathematics courses required for a placement level lower than MATH 162  may add one or two semesters of prerequisite mathematics study to the program. A practice Mathematics Placement Assessment and learning preparation modules are available online on request.

Transfer Credit and Exam Waivers for Required Courses

Students may be awarded transfer credit to fulfill mathematics and/or computer science course requirements other than MATH 162  in one of two ways:

• Transferring qualified credits equivalent to the required course(s) earned at an eligible institution.
• Submitting official proof of minimum qualifying scores achieved within 3 years prior to enrollment at MIU on specified college-level, standardized exams offered by College Board Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IB HL).

Transfer Credit Policy for Mathematics Courses Required for a Major

Transferred credits for mathematics and computer science courses completed at eligible prior post-secondary educational institution(s) will be evaluated to determine if the transferred course(s) fulfills requirements for courses other required for a degree, specialization, or minor in Mathematics and/or Computer Science.

A student seeking approval for transferred credits to fulfill mathematics course requirements may also be required to provide supporting documentation requested by the mathematics department, including, but not limited to, course descriptions, course syllabus, institutional catalog, course catalog, or course projects. There is no guarantee that transferred credit will be approved to fulfill MIU mathematics course requirements. Transferred credits to fulfill these requirements may not be approved for courses requiring up-to-date knowledge of course topics, trends, technology, software, and/or hardware.

Definition of an Eligible Institution for Transfer Credit
Transferred credits will only be evaluated for eligibility to fulfill the requirements of the BS in Mathematics and/or Computer Science if the transferred course was completed at a post-secondary institution that meets the following criteria:

• The institution has regional or national accreditation
• The institution is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• The institution defines a credit hour equivalent to the standard set by the U.S. Department of Education

Timeframe, Grade, and Department Criteria for Transfer Credits
Transferred credits for a course completed at an eligible prior post-secondary educational institution will be evaluated for equivalency with a required mathematics and computer science course other than MATH 162  if the transferred course meets the following criteria:

• The course was completed within three years prior to admission at MIU.
• The course shows a final posted grade of B or better on the student’s transcript.
• The course was offered and taught by a mathematics, physics, computer science, or business department, respectively, at the prior eligible institution

Transfer Credits for CS Courses
Transferred credits for computer science courses will be evaluated for equivalency with CS 201  and/or CS 203  if the transferred course meets the following criteria:

• The course was taught using JAVA (not another language)
• The course was completed within three years prior to admission at MIU.
• The course shows a final posted grade of B or better on the student’s transcript.
• The course was offered and taught by a computer science department at the prior eligible institution

Transfer Credit Limits
Approved transfer credits may fulfill a maximum of 50% of the credits required for the BS in Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science Track. Students who have taken equivalent courses at a prior institution and applied the credits to an earned bachelor’s degree will not be awarded transfer credit. If qualified, some courses may be approved to fulfill the equivalent major requirements.

Credit for Standardized Exam Scores in Mathematics or Calculus

Credit for MATH 281  Calculus 1 can be earned if the student officially submits minimum scores on one of the following exams taken within 3 years prior to enrolling at MIU:

• College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB score of 4 or higher
• College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus BC score of 4 or higher
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) score of 60 or higher
• International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IB HL) Mathematics Applications & Interpretation or Analysis & Approaches grade of 5 or higher

Credit for both MATH 281 - Calculus 1  and MATH 282 - Calculus 2  can be earned if the student officially submits an official AP Calculus BC score of 4 or higher. To be eligible for credit, the student must take the official AP Calculus AB and/or BC exam within 3 years prior to enrollment. At the time of the AP Calculus AB and/or BC exam, student must designate MIU’s school code as an automatic recipient of the official score report. A student who has already completed an AP exam within the past 3 years must go to apscore.collegeboard.org to request that scores be sent directly to MIU from College Board. Official AP, CLEP, and/or IB HL scores and transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing organization to MIU in a sealed envelope. Copies made and/or sent by the student will not be accepted.

Satisfying Course Requirements Through Examination Alone

A student may request to take an examination in order to fulfill mathematics, computer science, or physics courses required for a major, minor, or specialization in the following cases:

• Transferred credit was evaluated and failed to meet a criterion for Timeframe, Grade, or Department.
• The student has no prior academic credits but has demonstrated prior experience in the topics of a required course.

If their request to fulfill a program requirement by examination is approved, the student may attempt the examination one time only. If a student successfully passes the examination, the required course will appear on the student’s transcript with a letter grade of PW, indicating the requirement to take the required course is waived. A PW grade has no impact on the student’s CGPA, completion rate, or maximum time frame for the purposes of calculating SAP.

Entry into Ms Computer Science from BS Mathematics Computer Science Track

Satisfactory completion of either the BS in Computer Science or BS in Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science Track allows students to apply for the MS in Computer Science.

In the BS Computer Science and BS Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science Track programs, satisfactory academic completion is defined as:

• The student received a grade of C- or higher for each mathematics course.
• The student maintained a Cumulative GPA of 3.30 (B+) or higher for all Computer Science courses.
• The student maintained an overall CGPA of at least 2.50 or higher and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 (B+) for the CS courses alone.

Note that these are not the only requirements for entry into the MS in Computer Science. Results of additional tests, work experience in programming, English proficiency, and many other factors may be considered in determining acceptance to the MS in Computer Science. Students with a bachelor’s degree from a postsecondary institution outside of the U.S. who have earned 120 or more US-equivalent credits of courses with grades C or above, are deemed to have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Students who have already been awarded a 4-year U.S. or U.S.-equivalent bachelor’s degree and wish to enter the MS in Computer Science, may or may not be accepted to the MS in Computer Science. Those who do not yet qualify to enter the MS in Computer Science may choose to enroll for the Computer Science Track of the BS in Mathematics as a second bachelor’s degree (if otherwise qualified by the usual MIU standards) and re-apply to the MS in Computer Science after completing the following path.

Fast Path from BS Mathematics, Computer Science Track to MS Computer Science

After satisfactorily completing the courses below while enrolled in the Computer Science and Mathematics Track of the BS in Mathematics as a second bachelor’s degree, students may qualify to re-apply to the MS in Computer Science and, if accepted, do not need to complete the Computer Science Track of the BS in Mathematics. If accepted and they do not complete the Computer Science Track of the BS in Mathematics, they are not awarded the BS in Mathematics at MIU. If they do not qualify to re-apply to the MS in Computer Science, or qualify and are not accepted, and have a 3.0 GPA in the courses CS 201 , CS 203 , and CS 221 , they may continue and complete the Computer Science Track of the BS in Mathematics.

Satisfactory completion requires that the student attains a grade of at least C- for all mathematics courses and a CS GPA of at least 3.3 (B+) for the computer science courses alone. Qualifying to re-apply for the MS in Computer Science does not guarantee acceptance. Results of additional tests, work experience in programming, English proficiency, and many other factors are considered in determining acceptance. Students may even be required to take additional computer science courses and re-apply for the MS in Computer Science later.

The following courses must be successfully completed before re-applying to the MS in Computer Science:

• Entry-Level Mathematics Requirement courses
• STC 108 - Exploring Consciousness  
• CS 201 - Procedural Programming  
• CS 203 - Object Oriented Programming  
• CS 221 - Data Structures  
• CS 321 - Introduction To Algorithms 
• CS 363 - Computer Organization And Architecture 
• CS 390 - Fundamental Programming Practices  
• MATH 272 - Discrete Mathematics  
• MATH 281 - Calculus 1 
• MATH 282 - Calculus 2 
• One Forest Academy course per full-time semester

If a student is missing only MATH 282 - Calculus 2  when entering the MS CS from this path, they must take it when it is offered as an extra course during the MS CS, lengthening their MS in Computer Science by at least one Block.

International Student Requirements

A student with a prior bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the U.S. who has earned less than 120 U.S.-equivalent credits of courses with grade C or above, does not have the equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree. The student will be admitted to MIU (if otherwise qualified by the usual MIU standards) as an undergraduate student with a maximum of 90 transfer credits (for courses with a grade of C or above). In this case, provided the student is awarded no less than 90 U.S.-equivalent transfer credits, the student is eligible to follow the fast path to the MS in Computer Science described above.

Fulfilling Requirements of the MS in Computer Science with Courses Taken During the Computer Science Track of the BS in Mathematics

Up to two CS courses plus CS 401 , taken at MIU while enrolled in the Computer Science Track of the BS in Mathematics and passed with grade at least B, that were not applied to a completed major or minor nor applied to the 128 credits required for a completed BS degree, may be applied to fulfill specific course requirements of the MS in Computer Science and thus reduce the number of courses required for the MS in Computer Science. More such courses may be applied to fulfill specific course requirements of the MS in Computer Science, but not to reduce the number of courses required for the MS in Computer Science.

Double Major with BS Mathematics, Computer Science Track

It is not possible to take a double major in the Computer Science Track of the BS in Mathematics and the BS in Computer Science as there is too much overlap. However, students may obtain a Major in Computer Science with a Secondary Major in Mathematics by taking additional mathematics courses at the 300 and/or 400 levels, if offered, to bring the total up to 24 credits of mathematics courses outside the requirements of the BS in Computer Science. This means students must take and pass 6 mathematics courses at the 300 and/or 400 level.

Entry into MS Computer Science from BS in Computer Science

Students Graduating from MIU with Bs Computer Science

Satisfactory completion of the BS in Computer Science allows students to apply for the MS in Computer Science. Satisfactory completion means the student attains a grade of at least C- for the mathematics courses, an overall GPA of at least 2.5, and an overall CGPA of at least 3.3 (B+) for the CS courses alone.

This is not the only requirement for entry into the MS in Computer Science. Results of additional tests, work experience in programming, English proficiency, and many other factors may be considered in determining acceptance to the MS in Computer Science.

Students with a 4-Year U.S. Or U.S.-Equivalent Bachelor’s Degree from a Prior University

Students with a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university or an institution outside of the U.S. who have 120 or more U.S.-equivalent credits of courses with grades C or above, are deemed to have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree but may or may not be accepted to the MS in Computer Science.

Those who do not yet qualify to enter the MS in Computer Science may choose to enroll for the BS in Computer Science as a second bachelor’s degree (if otherwise qualified by the usual MIU standards) and re-apply to the MS in Computer Science after completing the following path.

Fast Path from BS Computer Science to Ms Computer Science

After satisfactorily completing the courses below while enrolled in the BS in Computer as a second bachelor’s degree, students may qualify to re-apply to the MS in Computer Science and, if accepted, do not need to complete the BS in Computer Science. If accepted and they do not complete the BS in Computer Science, they are not awarded the BS in Computer Science at MIU. If they do not qualify to re-apply to the MS in Computer Science, or qualify and are not accepted, and have a 3.0 GPA in the courses CS 201 , CS 203 , and CS 221 , they may continue and complete the BS in Computer Science. Satisfactory completion requires that the student attains a grade of at least C- for all mathematics courses and a CS GPA of at least 3.3 (B+) for the computer science courses alone.

Qualifying to re-apply for the MS in Computer Science does not guarantee acceptance. Results of additional tests, work experience in programming, English proficiency, and many other factors are considered in determining acceptance. Students may even be required to take additional computer science courses and re-apply for the MS in Computer Science later.

The following courses must be successfully completed before re-applying to the MS in Computer Science:

• Entry-Level Mathematics Requirement courses
• STC 108 - Exploring Consciousness  
• CS 201 - Procedural Programming  
• CS 203 - Object Oriented Programming  
• CS 221 - Data Structures  
• CS 321 - Introduction To Algorithms  
• CS 363 - Computer Organization And Architecture  
• CS 390 - Fundamental Programming Practices  
• MATH 272 - Discrete Mathematics  
• MATH 281 - Calculus 1  
• MATH 282 - Calculus 2  
• One Forest Academy course per full-time semester

If a student is missing only MATH 282 Calculus 2 when entering the MS CS from this path, they must take it when it is offered as an extra course during the MS CS, lengthening their MS in Computer Science by at least one block.

International Student Requirements

A student with a prior bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the U.S. who has earned less than 120 U.S.-equivalent credits of courses with grade C or above, does not have the equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree. The student will be admitted to MIU (if otherwise qualified by the usual MIU standards) as an undergraduate student with a maximum of 90 transfer credits (for courses with a grade of C or above). In this case, provided the student is awarded no less than 90 U.S.-equivalent transfer credits, the student is eligible to follow the fast path to the MS in Computer Science described above.

Fulfilling Requirements of MS Computer Science with Courses Taken During BS Computer Science

Up to two CS courses plus CS 401 , taken at MIU while enrolled in the BS in Computer Science and passed with grade at least B, that were not applied to a completed major or minor nor applied to the 128 credits required for a completed BS degree, may be applied to fulfill specific course requirements of the MS in Computer Science and thus reduce the number of courses required for the MS in Computer Science.

More such courses may be applied to fulfill specific course requirements of the MS in Computer Science, but not to reduce the number of courses required for the MS in Computer Science.

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