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G:\WAPPS\MSOFFICE\TEMPLATE\NORMAL.DOT TO: Curriculum Committee Alan F. Lewit, Ph.D. Alan F. Lewit, Ph.D. TO: Curriculum Committee FROM: Dr. Teresa Turner, Chair Division of Science and Mathematics SUBJECT: Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science DATE: October 14, 1996 DIVISIONAL APPROVAL: This proposal was approved by the Division of Science and Mathematics on October 11, 1996 by a vote of 18 to 0 with 3 abstentions. REQUEST: Approval of a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science degree program at the University of the Virgin Islands on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. JUSTIFICATION/RATIONALE: 1. Computer Science as an academic discipline The Computer Dictionary (Microsoft Press, 2nd ed) defines Computer Science as "the study of computers, including their design, operation, and use in processing information. Computer Science combines both theoretical and practical aspects of engineering, electronics, information theory, mathematics, logic, and human behavior. Aspects of Computer Science range from programming and computer architecture to artificial intelligence and robotics." Computer Science is a relatively new discipline which traces it's roots back to Charles Babbage and Ada Augusta's efforts to construct an "analytical engine" in 1850. With the development of mainframe computers in the 1950s, Computer Science departments were formed at most major research universities. Then, concurrent with the development of the microcomputer in the 1970s and the growing popularity of computers, data communications and networking, Computer Science quickly became integrated into the academic programs at most colleges and universities. Today, it is rare to find an institution of higher learning that does not offer a degree in Computer Science. 2. Relationship to the A.S. degree program UVI formally approved an Associate degree in Computer Science in 1995. This proposal adds upper division courses to provide a complete undergraduate program leading to a B.S. degree. The existing Associate degree would remain as a certification of skills for students interrupting their studies or transferring to other institutions. The proposed four- year program includes depth in computer science, mathematics and science. It provides the background needed for career development and growth and prepares students for postgraduate study. 3. Student demand The results of a 1994 survey showing high interest in computer science on the part of Virgin Islands high school students were documented in the proposal for the A.S. degree in Computer Science. The survey results appear to apply to current conditions as indicated by enrollments in the first computer science programming course of 30 in 1995 and 42 in 1996. Students enrolled in the existing program have all expressed a preference for a four-year degree. Though enrollments in the A.S. are strong, they do not approach the indicated levels of high school students with an interest in computer science, and it is clear that many students leave the territory to enroll in B.S. programs. By providing these students with local availability of a four-year degree, enrollments in the lower division can be expected to grow significantly. The students who received the A.S. degree in June 1996 would like to continue their studies. Former U.V.I. students who transferred to other institutions or acquired postgraduate qualifications in computer science have strongly supported the desirability of offering a complete baccalaureate program. Practicing professionals in the field have, over the years, continuously inquired about the possible availability of more advanced courses in computer science, and UVI alumnae have indicated that there is a "big backlog" of people waiting for the university to offer a four-year degree program. The United States is recognized as a leader in the field of computing, and availability of a computer science baccalaureate program would make the University and the division of Science and Mathematics more attractive to students from the Caribbean community. 4. Employment opportunities Baccalaureate qualifications are increasingly necessary to compete in today's job market. We would like to repeat a citation from the A.S. proposal which continues to reflect current economic conditions: Professor Dan MacCracken, past president of the ACM, founding member of CSAB, the accrediting board in computer science, a widely published author of textbooks in computer science: "There have been really serious cutback by the major manufacturers and employers of computer scientists, but overall the industry is still expanding. Employment for computer science graduates is definitely better than for Electrical Engineers, far better than for Engineers in general, infinitely better than for graduates in English or the liberal arts. New graduates in any field have problems finding entry level jobs but computer science is still in the top ten for starting salaries. Within a few years computer science graduates with good fundamental skills do well." Graduates in computer science will not find local jobs in the manufacture of computers, but even on the national level such employment absorbs only a small fraction of the graduates in computer science. With its emphasis on the disciplines of mathematics and science and the fundamental theories underlying computing, computer science provides a strong foundation for career growth in the increasing variety of fields where computers have a critical role. Inclusion of internship opportunities in the degree program will help students bridge the gap between school and the workplace. The proposed program offers students the opportunity to continue, in depth, the introduction to digital communications and networks presently provided in the lower division, and the expanding use of the Internet makes skills in this area increasingly attractive to employers. The pan-Caribbean community continues to need UVI graduates with computer science degrees to work as computer professionals in the information technology arena as well as educators of computer science in the public school systems. The region will benefit from the availability of local people with skills in areas increasingly critical to the development of modern commercial activity. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION: 1. Relationship to the University and to other programs Expansion of the computer science program will capitalize on the university's investment in information infrastructure and will improve the perception by the community of the breadth of technical and scientific programs offered at UVI. A baccalaureate program will improve the university's ability to attract and retain faculty who have played a leadership role in computer literacy now required of all UVI students. Computer science faculty and the Division of Science and Mathematics supported the recent change from Data Processing to Computer Information Systems. CIS is obviously related to computer science, as attested by requirements for CIS250 and the inclusion of CIS electives in the proposed program. Computer science faculty will continue to work with their colleagues in CIS to identify opportunities for reinforcement and cross teaching between these programs. The A.A. in CIS and the concentration on the use of computers in the B.A. degree are, however, distinct from the computer science program in both course content and approach. While both programs will draw from the large pool of students with an interest in computing, the extensive computer science requirements in mathematics and the emphasis on programming and computer hardware define student competencies and interests which are clearly distinct from Business Administration and the use of computers in business applications. 2. Accreditation with the Association for Computing Machinery, ACM The ACM, the established professional organization in computer science, has developed curriculum guidelines and an accreditation system for undergraduate programs. By adhering to these guidelines, the proposed curriculum makes it possible for UVI to consider a future accreditation application, insures that the national developments in pedagogy and pedagogical resources in computer science are relevant and accessible to the University, and facilitates enrollment by UVI graduates in postgraduate programs. 3. Sample Paradigm An example paradigm of courses taken over a four year period in order to fullfill the requirements of the proposed degree program is presented in Attachment 2. The student load is consistently heavy, averaging 16 credits per semester, but does not reach 17 in any semester which would require special permission. Given the high proportion of students who must enroll in some remedial work before taking courses in their degree program, it is unlikely that many UVI students will be able to complete this program in four years. Given the heavy loads and difficulty of some of the courses, many students might wish to enroll in summer courses and reduce their loads during regular semester sessions. Students might take general education courses in the Summer session and arrangements for internships/field studies would be particularly appropriate, but it is probable that there will also be a demand for other courses in computer science. CATALOG CHANGES: 1. The following must be added to the catalog descriptions of majors within the Science and Mathematics Division on page 94 of the UVI catalog: Computer Science Major In addition to fulfilling the general education requirements for a bachelor of science degree, the following courses are required: A. Required courses in Computer Science and CIS CSC 117 Introduction to Programming I CSC 118 Introduction to Programming II CSC 119 Computer Graphics CSC 197,198 Computer Science Seminar CSC 239 Scientific Computer Applications CSC 240 Human-Computer Interface Design CIS 250 Operating Systems CSC 241 Introduction to Computer Architecture and Digital Systems CSC 242 Data Structures CSC 243 Digital Communications and Networks CSC 333 Programming Languages CSC 3xx Programming III CSC 3xx Databases and Information Retrieval CSC 3xx Analysis of Algorithms and Complex Problems CSC 3xx Documentation and Technical Communication CSC 397/398 Junior Science Seminar I,II 1/2 , 1/2 CSC 4xx Issues in the Computer Science Profession CSC 4xx Software Engineering CSC 497/498 Senior Science Seminar I,II 1, 1 A minimum of two credits in either CSC 495 Directed Independent Research in Computer Science 1 - 4 or CSC 496 Internship/Field Studies 1 - 4 B. An additional 6 credits in 300 or 400 level courses in Computer Science are required. MAT465 - Selected Topics: Numerical Analysis may also be used in satisfaction of this requirement. C. Required courses in Mathematics: MAT 143 Precalculus Algebra* MAT 142 College Trigonometry* MAT 241 Introduction to Calculus and Analytical Geometry I MAT 242 Introduction to Calculus and Analytical Geometry II One of the following courses is required: MAT 233 Discrete Mathematics MAT 215 Introduction to Number Theory MAT 261 Linear Algebra MAT 465 Selected Topics: Numerical Analysis** *Partially satisfies the general education requirement in Mathematics and Science. ** Can not be used to satisfy both sections B and C. (It is recommended that students wishing to prepare for careers with an emphasis on mathematical and scientific applications take all of the MAT courses listed above as electives under sections B and E). D. One of the following Science sequences is required* Biology 141-142 General Biology I/II 4 - 4 Chemistry 151-152 General Chemistry I/II 5 - 5 Physics 241-242 General Physics I/II 5 - 5 *Partially satisfies the general education requirement in Mathematics and Science (It is recommended that students with an interest in computer engineering or robotics take the Physics 241/242 sequence, and that students with an interest in medical technology and computing take the Biology 141/142 sequence.) E. An additional 9 credits are required in a supporting discipline area. Courses taken in satisfaction of this requirement may be selected from 300 level or above courses in Mathematics, Computer Science or CIS, or 200 level and above courses within the division of Science and Mathematics in an area other than Computer Science or Mathematics. Course combinations must be approved by the Computer Science Area Coordinator. OTHER CATALOG CHANGES: 1. Course descriptions for the following new courses must be added to page 121 of the UVI Catalog. (These course descriptions are included in syllabi in attachments 1.1 through 1.10 ) Attachment Course code Course title CSC 3xx Databases and Information Retrieval CSC 3xx Analysis of Algorithms and Complex Problems CSC 3xx Documentation and Technical Communication CSC 3XX Programming III CSC 397/398 Junior Science Seminar I/II CSC 4xx Issues in the Computer Science Profession CSC 4xx Software Engineering CSC 4xx Knowledge Engineering and Expert Systems CSC 4xx Communications Systems and Networks 1.10 CSC 4xx Programming Language Translation 1.11 CSC 465, 466 Selected Topics in Computer Science 1.12 CSC 497/498 Senior Science Seminar I/II 1.13 CSC 495 Directed Independent Research in Computer Science 1.14 CSC 496 Internship/Field Studies 2. On page 5 of the UVI catalog add "Bachelor of Science Majors" as a category listed after "Vocational Education, and add "Computer Science" as the only entry under this category. 3. On page 9 of the UVI catalog, add "Computer Science" after "Chemistry with Physics". 4. On page 89 of the UVI catalog, add "Computer Science" after "Chemistry with Physics", and add the following after "Marine Biology": "Students enrolling a bachelor of science degree program on the St. Croix campus may currently select Computer Science as a major field of study under the Science and Mathematics Division." 5. On Page 92 of the UVI catalog add the following paragraph after the third paragraph which concludes with "...chemistry, physics, or engineering.": "A bachelor of science degree is offered in computer science for students who plan on starting a professional career in computer science immediately after graduation or for students who intend to pursue graduate studies. The program provides a strong professional foundation in computer science, mathematics and science, and includes electives which can be selected to provide exposure to an application area in science or computer information systems. It is suitable for students seeking employment in the computing industry and for students seeking an understanding of how computers work in order to adapt to new career opportunities as computers and their applications evolve." 6. On Page 92 of the UVI catalog change the introduction of paragraph four "All three degree programs" to read "The bachelor of science in programs in biology, chemistry with physics or marine biology are good preparations...". 7. On Page 182 of the UVI catalog, add the category "Computer Science, B.S. Major in, 94". 8. On page 119 of the UVI catalog delete the course description for CSC 114 PROGRAMMING IN C. Programming instruction is now provided in CSC117 and CSC118 and references to specific programming languages are no longer used in course descriptions in order to avoid frequent revisions to the catalog as the industry evolves. 9. In order to make computer science course descriptions correspond with the general pattern used elsewhere in the catalog, the description of course sessions should be removed from the following course descriptions: a) on page 119 of the UVI catalog remove "One hour of lecture per week and three 2-hour labs per semester" from the discription of CSC 111 USE OF COMPUTERS, b) on page 119 of the UVI catalog remove "Three 50-minute lectures and one 3-hour supervised laboratory per week" from the discription of CSC 117 INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING I, c) on page 120 of the UVI catalog remove "Three 50-minute lectures and a 3-hour supervised laboratory per week" from the discription of CSC 118 INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING II, d) on page 120 of the UVI catalog remove "Three hours of lab per week" from the description of CSC 119 COMPUTER GRAPHICS APPLICATIONS, e) on page 120 of the UVI catalog remove "Two 50-minute lectures per week" from the description of CSC 239 SCIENTIFIC COMPUTER APPLICATIONS. Normal Default Paragraph Font Alan F. Lewit, Ph.D. O:\DATA\CURRIC\LATEST\INTRO.DOCÿ@HP LaserJet 4/4M LPT1: HPPCL5E HP LaserJet 4/4M HP LaserJet 4/4M Symbol TO: Curriculum Committee Alan F. Lewit, Ph.D. Alan F. Lewit, Ph.D.