Computer Information Systems, B.S.
Admissions
Entrance Requirements
Admission requirements and processes for freshman, transfer students, and former students seeking readmission are managed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Transfer applicants from regionally accredited colleges and universities must have a cumulative 2.75 GPA on a 4.00 scale to enter the College of Engineering and Computing. In addition, transfer applicants for the Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering majors must also have completed a four semester-hour calculus course equivalent to MATH 141 with a grade of “C” or better.
Current University of South Carolina students who wish to enter the College of Engineering and Computing, and former students seeking readmission, must have an institutional GPA of 2.50 or better on at least 15 hours earned at USC. In addition, such applicants for the Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering majors must also have completed a four semester-hour calculus course equivalent to MATH 141 with a grade of “C” or better.
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
See College of Engineering and Computing for progression requirements and special academic opportunities.
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 34-41 |
| 2. College Requirements | 0 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 48-59 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 27-36 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
1. Carolina Core Requirements (34-41 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (7-8 hours)
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)
- Two 4-credit hour CC-SCI laboratory science courses
GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)
Score two or better on foreign language placement test; or complete the 109 and 110 courses in FREN, GERM, LATN or SPAN; or complete the 121 course in another foreign language.
GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)
- any CC-GHS course
GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)
- any CC-GSS course
AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)
- any CC-AIU course
CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (3 hours)
- any CC-CMS course
INF – Information Literacy1 (0 hours)
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (1 hour)
- CSCE 390 - must be passed with a grade of C or higher
- 1
Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours for this program must add up to a minimum of 34 hours.
2. College Requirements (0 hours)
No college-required courses for this program.
3. Program Requirements (48-59 hours)
Supporting Courses (30 hours)
Foundational Courses (12 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 462 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| or ENGL 463 | Business Writing | |
| MATH 174 | Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 374 | Discrete Structures | |
| STAT 509 | Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| or STAT 515 | Statistical Methods I | |
| STAT 516 | Statistical Methods II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Lower Division Computing (18 hours)
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSCE 146 | Algorithmic Design II | 4 |
| CSCE 190 | Computing in the Modern World | 1 |
| CSCE 201 | Introduction to Computer Security | 3 |
| CSCE 210 | Computer Hardware Foundations | 3 |
| CSCE 215 | UNIX/Linux Fundamentals | 1 |
| CSCE 240 | Advanced Programming Techniques | 3 |
| CSCE 247 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Minor in Business Information Management (18 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 224 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| ACCT 222 | Survey of Accounting | 3 |
| MGMT 371 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MGSC 290 | Computer Information Systems in Business | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Survey of Commercial Law | ||
| Issues in Economics | ||
| Government Policy Toward Business | ||
| Finance and Markets | ||
| Introduction to International Business | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Entrepreneurship and New Venture Opportunities | ||
| Consumer Behavior | ||
| Operations Management | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Electives (0-11 hours)
At least 120 degree applicable credits are required to complete the BS in Computer Information Systems. The CIS curriculum includes 0-11 hours of electives depending on how students fulfill the Carolina Core requirements and their choice of Concentration. Any course in the university can be used to satisfy the elective requirement, including additional electives in the major.
4. Major Requirements (27-36 hours)
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
Major Courses (24 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSCE 205 | Business Applications Programming | 3 |
| or CSCE 242 | Web Applications | |
| CSCE 350 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| CSCE 416 | Introduction to Computer Networks | 3 |
| CSCE 490 | Capstone Computing Project I | 3 |
| CSCE 492 | Capstone Computing Project II | 3 |
| CSCE 520 | Database System Design | 3 |
| CSCE 522 | Information Security Principles | 3 |
| CSCE 594 | Strategic Management of Information Systems | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
Major Elective (3 hours)
Students must complete 3 hours of Major Electives below. Students may choose to complete a concentration in Artificial Intelligence or Cybersecurity in place of the Major Electives.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Management of Information Technology | ||
| Project Management Methods | ||
Select an approved CSCE course, 510 and higher | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Concentrations
Students may choose to complete a concentration below in place of the 3 hours of Major Electives.
Artificial Intelligence Concentration (12 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSCE 580 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| Select any three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Algorithms in Bioinformatics | ||
| Visualization Tools | ||
| Robotics | ||
| Text Processing | ||
| Bayesian Networks and Decision Graphs | ||
| Machine Learning Systems | ||
| Big Data Analytics | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Cybersecurity Concentration (6 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select any two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Operating Systems | ||
| Building Secure Software | ||
| Introduction to Cryptography | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.