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  • Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing

    The Computing and Information Science Program

    • “The only STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) area in which job openings are projected to exceed the number of college graduates is in Computing and Information Technology.” -CSTA Voice.
    • Most CIS department students enter directly into the job market and succeed in obtaining a job within the field.
    • Thanks to a grant from the Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation, students acquire valuable hands-on networking experience from up-to-date equipment in the new IT projects lab.
    • Students can get CIS course credit for internships and gain valuable real-world experience.
    • Recent internships held by students include the Department of Defense, a defense contractor, and software development internships within the Latrobe area.
    • Two students recently participated in summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU’s) at major universities and presented their results at local and national conferences.
    • Our graduates have acquired positions in the following organizations:   
    • The CIS graduate should demonstrate the ability to manage the complexity of a technical problem through the use of good problem solving and technical skills, as well as sound, ethical decision-making.  
    • Equally important are communications and information literacy skills.  Graduates should be able to make presentations, write a variety of business and technical documents, and be able to contribute meaningfully in team environments. 
    • The CIS graduate should have a broad knowledge of the field of computing and information technology as well as being competent in a number of current technological skills. 
    • With a solid conceptual background and current skill set, the CIS graduate should be able ability to continue their learning process independently. 

    Computer Science Concentration (CS)
    Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computing and Information Science
    A minor in another field such as mathematics is recommended. A statistics course such as MA 208 or BA 350 is recommended, especially for those considering graduate school. PL 120 is recommended as one of the courses chosen for the philosophy core requirement.

    Major Requirements (50 credits):
    CIS Core Courses (30 credits):
    CS 110 Computing and Information Science I - 3 credits
    CS 111 Computing and Information Science II - 3 credits
    CS 170 Discrete Structures I - 3 credits
    CS 171 Discrete Structures II - 3 credits
    CS 221 Data Structures - 3 credits
    CS 310 Programming Languages - 3 credits
    CS 330 Computer Architecture and Operating Systems - 3 credits
    CS 350 Database Concepts and Information Structures - 3 credits
    CS 355 Software Engineering - 3 credits
    CS 357 Computing Science Project I - 1 credit
    CS 358 Computing Science Project II - 2 credits
    (in a computer science area)

    CIS Electives (15 credits):
    Any CIS department courses numbered 200 or above may be included. One approved computer course from another department (such as BA 265, BA 420, CA 235, and CA 309) may be included, subject to the approval of the CIS department chairperson.

    CIS Mathematics Requirement (5 credits):
    MA 111, 112 Calculus I and II - 8 credits
    or
    MA 109, 110 Calculus I and II - 8 credits
    Either choice gives an 8-credit sequence, 3 credits of which can be used to fulfill the Core Curriculum mathematics requirement.

    Information Technology Concentration (IT)
    Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computing and Information Science
    A minor in another field such as business or communication is recommended. A statistics course such as MA 208 or BA 350 is recommended, especially for those considering graduate school. PL 120 is recommended as one of the courses chosen for the philosophy core requirement. Industry certifications are a valuable addition.

    Major Requirements (50 credits):

    CIS Core Courses (33 credits):
    CS 110 Computing and Information Science I - 3 credits
    CS 111 Computing and Information Science II - 3 credits
    CS 170 Discrete Structures I - 3 credits
    CS 221 Data Structures - 3 credits
    CS 310 Programming Languages - 3 credits
    CS 321 Data Communications and Network Security - 3 credits
    CS 330 Computer Architecture and Operating Systems - 3 credits
    CS 350 Database Concepts and Information Structures - 3 credits
    CS 351 Information Systems Analysis and Design - 3 credits
    CS 357 Computing Science Project I - 1 credit
    CS 358 Computing Science Project II - 2 credits
    (in an information technology area)
    CS 465 Information Systems Management - 3 credits

    CIS Electives (12 credits):
    Any CIS department courses numbered 200 or above may be included. One approved computer course from another department (such as BA 265, BA 420, CA 235, and CA 309) may be included, subject to the approval of the CIS department chairperson.

    CIS Mathematics Requirement (5 credits):
    MA 111, 112 Calculus I and II - 8 credits
    or
    MA 109, 110 Calculus I and II - 8 credits
    Either choice gives an 8-credit sequence, 3 credits of which can be used to fulfill the Core Curriculum mathematics requirement.

    Required Social Science Courses (0 credits):
    This concentration also requires 6 credits chosen from business and/or economics. These credits can be included under the Core Curriculum social science requirement.

    Security Concentration (SEC)
    Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computing and Information Science
    A minor in another field such as criminal justice or business is recommended. A statistics course such as MA 208 or BA 350 is recommended, especially for those considering graduate school. PL 120 is recommended as one of the courses chosen for the philosophy core requirement. Industry certifications are a valuable addition.

    Major Requirements (50 credits):

    CIS Core Courses (39 credits):
    CS 110 Computing and Information Science I - 3 credits
    CS 111 Computing and Information Science II - 3 credits
    CS 170 Discrete Structures I - 3 credits
    CS 221 Data Structures - 3 credits
    CS 225 Computer Security - 3 credits
    CS 310 Programming Languages - 3 credits
    CS 321 Data Communications and Network Security - 3 credits
    CS 325 Advanced Topics in Security - 3 credits
    CS 330 Computer Architecture and Operating Systems - 3 credits
    CS 350 Database Concepts and Information Structures - 3 credits
    CS 351 Information Systems Analysis and Design - 3 credits
    or
    CS 355 Software Engineering - 3 credits
    CS 357 Computing Science Project I - 1 credit
    CS 358 Computing Science Project II - 2 credits
    (in a computer security area)
    CS 465 Information Systems Management - 3 credits

    CIS Electives (6 credits):
    Any CIS department courses numbered 200 or above may be included. One approved computer course from another department (such as BA 265, BA 420, CA 235, and CA 309) may be included, subject to the approval of the CIS department chairperson.

    CIS Mathematics Requirement     (5 credits):
    MA 111, 112 Calculus I and II - 8 credits
    or
    MA 109, 110 Calculus I and II - 8 credits
    Either choice gives an 8-credit sequence, 3 credits of which can be used to fulfill the Core Curriculum mathematics requirement.

    Bioinformatics Concentration (BIN)
    Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computing and Information Science
    A minor in another field such as biology or mathematics is recommended. BL 260 (Biostatistics) is recommended. PL 120 is recommended as one of the courses chosen for the philosophy Core requirement.

    Major Requirements (50 credits):

    CIS Core Courses (36 credits):
    CS 110 Computing and Information Science I - 3 credits
    CS 111 Computing and Information Science II - 3 credits
    CS 170 Discrete Structures I - 3 credits
    CS 205 Web Site Design and Programming or CS 305 Web Technologies - 3 credits
    CS 221 Data Structures - 3 credits
    CS 310 Programming Languages - 3 credits
    CS 330 Computer Architecture and Operating Systems - 3 credits
    CS 350 Database Concepts and Information Structures - 3 credits
    CS 355 Software Engineering - 3 credits
    BIN 218 Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics - 3 credits
    BIN 219 Biomedical Informatics - 3 credits
    BIN 358 Bioinformatics Senior Research - 2 credits
    BIN 359 Bioinformatics Senior Seminar - 1 credit

    CIS Electives (9 credits):
    Any CIS department courses numbered 200 or above may be included.

    CIS Mathematics Requirement (5 credits):
    MA 111, 112 Calculus I and II - 8 credits
    This is an 8-credit sequence, 3 credits of which can be used to fulfill the Core Curriculum mathematics requirement.

    Required Natural Science Courses (0 credits):
    BIN 110, 111 Genes, Cells, and Computers - 4 credits
    A lecture and lab course from Biology - 4 credits
    This concentration also requires the above 8 credits of lecture and lab courses from Bioinformatics and Biology. These credits can be used to fulfill the Core Curriculum natural science requirement and so add no additional credits here.

    Although there are no formal course prerequisites for this major, the following more general skills are important to student success: 

    • Good, logical thinking skills 
    • Ability to deal with both low-level detail and high-level abstraction 
    • Enthusiasm for producing solutions to problems utilizing computer technology 
    • Interest in learning valuable teamwork and communications skills  
    • Proficiency in mathematics and the sciences are generally good predictors of the ability to succeed in this field