Computer Science, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
The Computer Science curriculum provides both a broad and deep knowledge of the theory, design, and application of computer systems, with an emphasis on software systems. Because computing is ubiquitous, application areas involve virtually any field imaginable - from developing gene sequencing algorithms via techniques in computational biology, to designing user interfaces for mobile applications; from designing methods for high frequency trading, to creating computer generated graphics and special effects in the gaming industry; and from creating embedded real time systems to be deployed in medical devices, to analyzing social data from internet communication patterns. During the first two years the curriculum provides a strong foundation in mathematics, science, and computation. Advanced coursework both in more technical core areas and in areas of the student's choosing follows in the second two years. Graduates regularly go on to graduate study or leading positions in industry.
Both a combined B.S.-M.S. degree program and a B.S-M.C.S. degree program are available. The admission and course requirements are described on the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science website.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 128 hours.
TGPA is required for CS and Math courses. See Technical GPA to clarify requirements.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Orientation and Professional Development
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 100 | Grainger Engineering Orientation Seminar (External transfer students take ENG 300.) | 1 |
| Highly recommended, optional 1 credit hour course, CS 100 Computer Science Orientation. Credit hour counts toward free electives. | ||
| CS 210 | Ethical & Professional Issues | 2 or 3 |
| or CS 211 | Ethical and Professional Conduct | |
| Total Hours | 3-4 | |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Calculus I (MATH 220 may be substituted. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. 4 of 5 credit hours count towards degree.) | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 257 | Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | 3 |
| or MATH 415 | Applied Linear Algebra | |
| or MATH 416 | Abstract Linear Algebra | |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| One Science elective course: | 3 | |
| Students must take one course from the Natural Science & Technology (NST) list, in addition to those taken as part of the General Education requirements. The course must be a course that is allowed for credit by the Grainger College of Engineering. | ||
| Exceptions to the list are: ASTR 100, PHYS 101 and PHYS 102, and CHEM 101. | ||
| Students who select either ASTR 121, ASTR 122, or ASTR 150 to satisfy the Science Elective requirement will not receive credit for any other 100-level ASTR course as a free elective (maximum of 4 credit hours of ASTR 100-level can count towards graduation requirements for all Grainger College of Engineering Undergraduates). | ||
| Total Hours | 25 | |
Computer Science Technical Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 124 | Introduction to Computer Science I | 3 |
| CS 128 | Introduction to Computer Science II | 3 |
| CS 173 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CS 222 | Software Design Lab | 1 |
| CS 225 | Data Structures | 4 |
| CS 233 | Computer Architecture | 4 |
| CS 341 | System Programming | 4 |
| CS 357 | Numerical Methods I | 3 |
| CS 361 | Probability & Statistics for Computer Science | 3 |
| CS 374 | Introduction to Algorithms & Models of Computation | 4 |
| CS 421 | Programming Languages & Compilers | 3 |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take a minimum of (6) six additional technical electives with at least eighteen (18) cumulative credit hours and chosen from CS 397 and the CS 400-level courses, not including CS 400, CS 401, CS 402, CS 403 or CS 491. CS 500-level courses may be used as technical electives, but only with special permission from the CS Academic Office. CS 397 and CS 499 may be used with a cumulative maximum of six (6) credits from them counting as technical electives. One "CS-like" course in another department (e.g., ECE) may also be counted as a CS 400-level course with permission of the CS Academic Office. Non-CS tech electives will not be considered in focus areas. | 18 | |
| At least one (1) of the CS courses used for technical electives must be chosen from the list below of CS courses satisfying the team project requirement. | ||
| Team Project Course List: | ||
| CS 411 | Database Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 415 | Game Development | 3 or 4 |
| CS 417 | Virtual Reality | 3 |
| CS 425 | Distributed Systems (4 hour section only) | 4 |
| CS 427 | Software Engineering I | 3 or 4 |
| CS 428 | Software Engineering II | 3 or 4 |
| CS 429 | Software Engineering II, ACP | 3 |
| CS 437 | Topics in Internet of Things | 3 |
| CS 465 | User Interface Design | 4 |
| CS 467 | Social Visualization | 3 or 4 |
| CS 493 | Senior Project II, ACP | 3 |
| CS 494 | Senior Project II | 3 |
| CS 497 | CS Team Project | 1 to 3 |
| At least three (3) of the CS courses used for technical electives must be chosen from a single focus area, from among the list of focus areas listed below. The team project course may be used as one of them. | ||
| CS 498 Special Topics and CS 598 Special Topics classes may be included in a focus area by department approval. | ||
Software Foundations: | ||
| CS 407 | Cryptography | 3 or 4 |
| CS 409 | The Art of Web Programming | 3 |
| CS 422 | Programming Language Design | 3 or 4 |
| CS 426 | Compiler Construction | 3 or 4 |
| CS 427 | Software Engineering I | 3 or 4 |
| CS 428 | Software Engineering II | 3 or 4 |
| CS 429 | Software Engineering II, ACP | 3 |
| CS 474 | Logic in Computer Science | 3 or 4 |
| CS 476 | Program Verification | 3 or 4 |
| CS 477 | Formal Software Development Methods | 3 or 4 |
| CS 492 | Senior Project I | 3 |
| CS 493 | Senior Project II, ACP | 3 |
| CS 494 | Senior Project II | 3 |
| CS 521 | Advanced Topics in Programming Systems | 4 |
| CS 522 | Programming Language Semantics | 4 |
| CS 524 | Concurrent Progrmg Languages | 4 |
| CS 526 | Advanced Compiler Construction | 4 |
| CS 527 | Topics in Software Engineering | 4 |
| CS 576 | Topics in Automated Deduction | 2 to 4 |
Algorithms and Models of Computation: | ||
| CS 407 | Cryptography | 3 or 4 |
| CS 413 | Intro to Combinatorics | 3 or 4 |
| CS 473 | Algorithms | 4 |
| CS 474 | Logic in Computer Science | 3 or 4 |
| CS 475 | Formal Models of Computation | 3 or 4 |
| CS 476 | Program Verification | 3 or 4 |
| CS 477 | Formal Software Development Methods | 3 or 4 |
| CS 481 | Advanced Topics in Stochastic Processes & Applications | 3 or 4 |
| CS 482 | Simulation | 3 or 4 |
| CS 539 | Distributed Algorithms | 4 |
| CS 571 | Combinatorial Mathematics | 4 |
| CS 572 | Extremal Graph Theory | 4 |
| CS 574 | Randomized Algorithms | 4 |
| CS 575 | Methods of Combinatorics | 4 |
| CS 576 | Topics in Automated Deduction | 2 to 4 |
| CS 579 | Computational Complexity | 4 |
| CS 580 | Topics in Algorithmic Game Theory | 4 |
| CS 581 | Algorithmic Genomic Biology | 4 |
| CS 583 | Approximation Algorithms | 4 |
| CS 584 | Embedded System Verification | 4 |
| CS 586 | Combinatorial Optimization | 4 |
Intelligence and Big Data: | ||
| CS 410 | Text Information Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 411 | Database Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 412 | Introduction to Data Mining | 3 or 4 |
| CS 414 | Multimedia Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 416 | Data Visualization | 3 or 4 |
| CS 434 | Real World Algorithms for IoT and Data Science | 3 or 4 |
| CS 440 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 or 4 |
| CS 441 | Applied Machine Learning | 3 or 4 |
| CS 442 | Trustworthy Machine Learning | 3 or 4 |
| CS 443 | Reinforcement Learning | 3 or 4 |
| CS 444 | Deep Learning for Computer Vision | 3 or 4 |
| CS 445 | Computational Photography | 3 or 4 |
| CS 446 | Machine Learning | 3 or 4 |
| CS 447 | Natural Language Processing | 3 or 4 |
| CS 448 | Audio Computing Laboratory | 3 or 4 |
| CS 464 | Topics in Societal and Ethical Impacts of Computer Technology | 3 |
| CS 466 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 or 4 |
| CS 467 | Social Visualization | 3 or 4 |
| CS 469 | Computational Advertising Infrastructure | 3 |
| CS 470 | Social and Information Networks | 3 |
| CS 510 | Advanced Information Retrieval | 4 |
| CS 511 | Advanced Data Management | 4 |
| CS 512 | Data Mining Principles | 4 |
| CS 514 | Advanced Topics in Network Science | 4 |
| CS 540 | Deep Learning Theory | 4 |
| CS 542 | Statistical Reinforcement Learning | 4 |
| CS 543 | Computer Vision | 4 |
| CS 544 | Optimiz in Computer Vision | 4 |
| CS 545 | Machine Learning for Signal Processing | 4 |
| CS 546 | Advanced Topics in Natural Language Processing | 4 |
| CS 562 | Advanced Topics in Security, Privacy, and Machine Learning | 4 |
| CS 567 | Social Signals and Social Media | 4 |
| CS 576 | Topics in Automated Deduction | 2 to 4 |
| CS 582 | Machine Learning for Bioinformatics | 4 |
Human and Social Impact: | ||
| CS 409 | The Art of Web Programming | 3 or 4 |
| CS 415 | Game Development | 3 or 4 |
| CS 416 | Data Visualization | 3 or 4 |
| CS 417 | Virtual Reality | 3 or 4 |
| CS 441 | Applied Machine Learning | 3 or 4 |
| CS 442 | Trustworthy Machine Learning | 3 or 4 |
| CS 460 | Security Laboratory | 3 or 4 |
| CS 461 | Computer Security I | 4 |
| CS 463 | Computer Security II | 3 or 4 |
| CS 464 | Topics in Societal and Ethical Impacts of Computer Technology | 3 |
| CS 465 | User Interface Design | 4 |
| CS 467 | Social Visualization | 3 or 4 |
| CS 468 | Tech and Advertising Campaigns | 3 |
| CS 469 | Computational Advertising Infrastructure | 3 |
| CS 470 | Social and Information Networks | 3 |
| CS 500 | Current Topics in Computing Education Research | 4 |
| CS 514 | Advanced Topics in Network Science | 4 |
| CS 562 | Advanced Topics in Security, Privacy, and Machine Learning | 4 |
| CS 563 | Advanced Computer Security | 4 |
| CS 565 | Human-Computer Interaction | 4 |
| CS 567 | Social Signals and Social Media | 4 |
Media: | ||
| CS 409 | The Art of Web Programming | 3 or 4 |
| CS 414 | Multimedia Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 415 | Game Development | 3 or 4 |
| CS 416 | Data Visualization | 3 or 4 |
| CS 417 | Virtual Reality | 3 or 4 |
| CS 418 | Interactive Computer Graphics | 3 or 4 |
| CS 419 | Production Computer Graphics | 3 or 4 |
| CS 445 | Computational Photography | 3 or 4 |
| CS 448 | Audio Computing Laboratory | 3 or 4 |
| CS 465 | User Interface Design | 4 |
| CS 467 | Social Visualization | 3 or 4 |
| CS 468 | Tech and Advertising Campaigns | 3 |
| CS 469 | Computational Advertising Infrastructure | 3 or 4 |
| CS 519 | Scientific Visualization | 4 |
| CS 545 | Machine Learning for Signal Processing | 4 |
| CS 565 | Human-Computer Interaction | 4 |
| CS 567 | Social Signals and Social Media | 4 |
Scientific, Parallel, and High Perfomance Computing: | ||
| CS 419 | Production Computer Graphics | 3 or 4 |
| CS 435 | Cloud Networking | 3 or 4 |
| CS 450 | Numerical Analysis | 3 or 4 |
| CS 466 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 or 4 |
| CS 482 | Simulation | 3 or 4 |
| CS 483 | Applied Parallel Programming | 4 |
| CS 484 | Parallel Programming | 3 or 4 |
| CS 519 | Scientific Visualization | 4 |
| CS 554 | Parallel Numerical Algorithms | 4 |
| CS 555 | Numerical Methods for PDEs | 4 |
| CS 556 | Iterative & Multigrid Methods | 4 |
| CS 558 | Topics in Numerical Analysis | 4 |
Distributed Systems, Networking, and Security: | ||
| CS 407 | Cryptography | 3 or 4 |
| CS 423 | Operating Systems Design | 3 or 4 |
| CS 424 | Real-Time Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 425 | Distributed Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 431 | Embedded Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 435 | Cloud Networking | 3 or 4 |
| CS 436 | Computer Networking Laboratory | 3 or 4 |
| CS 437 | Topics in Internet of Things | 3 or 4 |
| CS 438 | Communication Networks | 3 or 4 |
| CS 439 | Wireless Networks | 3 or 4 |
| CS 460 | Security Laboratory | 3 or 4 |
| CS 461 | Computer Security I | 4 |
| CS 463 | Computer Security II | 3 or 4 |
| CS 483 | Applied Parallel Programming | 4 |
| CS 484 | Parallel Programming | 3 or 4 |
| CS 523 | Advanced Operating Systems | 4 |
| CS 524 | Concurrent Progrmg Languages | 4 |
| CS 525 | Advanced Distributed Systems | 4 |
| CS 537 | Advanced Topics in Internet of Things (IoT) | 4 |
| CS 538 | Advanced Computer Networks | 4 |
| CS 539 | Distributed Algorithms | 4 |
| CS 562 | Advanced Topics in Security, Privacy, and Machine Learning | 4 |
| CS 563 | Advanced Computer Security | 4 |
Machines: | ||
| CS 423 | Operating Systems Design | 3 or 4 |
| CS 424 | Real-Time Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 426 | Compiler Construction | 3 or 4 |
| CS 431 | Embedded Systems | 3 or 4 |
| CS 433 | Computer System Organization | 3 or 4 |
| CS 434 | Real World Algorithms for IoT and Data Science | 3 or 4 |
| CS 437 | Topics in Internet of Things | 3 or 4 |
| CS 484 | Parallel Programming | 3 or 4 |
| CS 523 | Advanced Operating Systems | 4 |
| CS 526 | Advanced Compiler Construction | 4 |
| CS 533 | Parallel Computer Architecture | 4 |
| CS 534 | Advanced Topics in Computer Architecture | 4 |
| CS 536 | Fault-Tolerant Dig Syst Design | 4 |
| CS 541 | Computer Systems Analysis | 4 |
| CS 584 | Embedded System Verification | 4 |
| CS 588 | Autonomous Vehicle System Engineering | 4 |
Advanced Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take for a letter grade a minimum of two (2) advanced elective courses comprising at least six (6) credit hours. These advanced elective courses must be distinct from courses used to satisfy the technical electives. They may be chosen from CS 397 Individual Study and the 400-level coursework offered for letter grade in ANY area offered at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It is expected that students will select these additional advanced courses in a way that best augments their program of study. Consultation with a faculty mentors is highly encouraged. A maximum of six (6) credit hours of CS 397 may be used in the combination of technical electives and advanced electives. | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Free Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional course work,subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives,so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. | 24-25 | |
| Total Hours of Curriculum to Graduate | 128 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence. The curriculum sequence can also be viewed via dynamic and static curricular maps, which include prerequisite sequencing.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements. If the option of CS 211 is chosen, it will satisfy a core course requirement and the Campus General Education Advanced Composition requirement.
Free Electives: Additional course work, subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 100 (Optional course, highly recommended, free elective) | 1 | CS 128 | 3 |
| CS 124 | 3 | CS 173 | 3 |
| MATH 221 (MATH 220 may be substituted) | 4 | MATH 231 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 1 | General Education course (Choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 |
| Science elective course | 3 | General Education (Choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course) or Composition I course | 3-4 |
| Composition I or General Education (Choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course) | 4-3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 222 | 1 | CS 233 | 4 |
| CS 225 | 4 | CS 361 | 3 |
| MATH 241 | 4 | MATH 257 | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | 4 | PHYS 212 | 4 |
| General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 210 (CS 211 may be substituted) | 2 | CS 374 | 4 |
| CS 341 | 4 | CS Technical elective course | 3 |
| CS 357 | 3 | CS Technical elective course | 3 |
| CS Technical elective course | 3 | General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) course | 4 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 421 | 3 | CS Technical elective course | 3 |
| CS Advanced elective course | 3 | CS Technical elective course | 3 |
| CS Advanced elective course | 3 | CS Technical elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 4 |
| Free elective course | 4 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours 128 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Computer Science
By the time of graduation, students will have the ability to:
- Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
- Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Siebel School of Computing and Data Science
Siebel School of Computing and Data Science Faculty