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Computer Science Curriculum

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Courses in the major areas of computer science begin with the junior year. In the systems area, courses in operating systems, compiler design and construction, and software engineering are required. In addition, a student pursues courses in the theory of computing. Application areas include courses in database systems and networks. A wide range of elective courses are offered including cryptography, systems and network security, computer graphics, and information retrieval. Also, additional courses in operating systems and compilers may be taken. Free electives allow students to pursue interests in a variety of areas outside Computer Science. A degree in computer science from Kettering University provides a solid foundation for employment both in and out of the computer industry. It provides the technical skills and experience necessary for success as well as the communication and team skills needed for employment in today's world. Additionally, it provides a solid foundation for student wishing to continue their studies in a graduate program.

Two concentrations are available:

• Computer Gaming
• System and Data Security

View the official Kettering Catalog.

• Courses
• Program
• Prerequisites
• Objectives

CS 101 - Computing & Algorithms I

Prerequisite: None
Minimum Class Standing: NA
An introduction to algorithmic problem solving, with emphasis on elementary program and software engineering techniques. Syntax and semantics of a modern programming language; programming and debugging at the file level; true object-orientation; Strings, arrays, sorting, inheritance, and exception handling. Terms Offered: All

CS 102 - Computing & Algorithms II

Prerequisite: CS-101
Minimum Class Standing: NA
A second course in algorithmic problem solving. Recursion, abstract data types, dynamic data structures, comparison- based sorting, elementary algorithm analysis, design of software projects of moderate size, and continuing development of programming skills. Terms Offered: All

CS 202 - System Programming Concepts

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: SO
Fundamental system programming concepts are examined using the C programming language. Topics include: machine organization, data representation, interrupt handling, I/O, file management, dynamic structures, parameter passing, memory management, system calls, process creation, process control, interprocess communication, and language interfaces. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring

CS 203 - Computing & Algorithms III

Prerequisites: CS-102, CS-211
Minimum Class Standing: SO
The design and analysis of advanced data structures and algorithms. Algorithm design techniques, algorithm analysis techniques, advanced data structures, advanced sorting, applications to various problem domains. Terms Offered: Summer, Fall

CS 211 - Discrete Mathematics

Prerequisite: None
Minimum Class Standing: NA
Propositional and first-order logic; logical equivalence and inference. Proof techniques, mathematical induction and principle of diagonalization. Set operations, relations, functions. Introduction to graphs and trees and their applications to computer science. Lattice structures and Boolean algebras. Truth tables and minimization of Boolean expressions. Terms Offered: All

CS 291 - Comp Sci Special Topics

No Course Description Available.

CS 297 - Computer Science Free Elective

No Course Description Available.

CS 300 - The Computing Professional

Prerequisites: CE-210 or CS-102, COMM-101
Minimum Class Standing: SO
An examination of the profession of computing from historical and ethical perspectives. Overview of the history of computing, from the earliest computational devices and theoretical foundations to modern developments. Discussion of the social impact of computing on society and the ethical implications for computing professionals, including analysis of case studies. Terms Offered: Summer, Fall alternate years

CS 312 - Theory of Computation

Prerequisites: CS-102, CS-211
Minimum Class Standing: SO
Regular languages and grammars; finite-state machines and transducers; relationships between finite-state automata and regular languages. Context-free languages and grammars; language recognition with stack machines and parsers. Properties of formal languages. Computability and undecidability. Introduction to computational complexity. Terms Offered: Summer, Fall, alternate years

CS 320 - Computer Graphics

Prerequisites: CS-102, MATH 101
Minimum Class Standing: SO
An introduction to computer graphics. Rendering and curve drawing techniques, clipping algorithms, light and reflection models, object transformations. Introduction to three-dimensional graphics. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 331 - Programming Language Design

Prerequisites: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: JR
A study of the principles behind the design of programming languages. Syntactical design, control structures, data structures, naming and environments, language design tools, historical development, implementation issues. Terms Offered: As Needed

CS 341 - Web Software Tools

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: NA
World Wide Web programming tools. Introduction to web programming. Web development, client-side development using HTML and its extensions, server-side development. Complete web system. Computer technologies including several computer languages. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 385 - Introduction to Game Design

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: NA
This course will study the technology, science and art involved in the creation and design of computer games. The course will emphasize hands-on development of games and will consider a variety of software technologies relevant to games. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 415 - Cryptography

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: JR
A study of modern data security. Mathematical foundations of cryptography. Classical cryptographic systems and computer attacks on these systems. Cryptographic security over unsecure communication paths: cryptographic protocols, oblivious transfers, proofs of identity, signature schemes. Modern cryptographic systems: data encryption standards, public-key systems, key generation and management. External considerations are presented and discussed: security organizations role in security, privacy considerations, import/export issues. Terms Offered: Summer, Fall alternate years

CS 420 - Intro to Virtual Reality

Prerequisite: CS-320
Minimum Class Standing: NA
This course is an introduction to virtual reality systems. It reviews the development of the virtual reality technologies in the past and discusses the characteristics of a virtual reality system, its core components such as the input devices, the output devices and the computing architectures, the object modeling, programming toolkits, as well as the current and future applications of virtual reality. Terms Offered: Summer, Fall, alternate years

CS 425 - Parallel Models & Algorithms

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: JR
An introduction to various models for parallel computation such as PRAM models, vector processors, interconnection networks, trees, meshes, hypercubes, and sorting networks. Performance measures for parallel models and for parallel algorithms. Parallel algorithms for searching, sorting, merging, trees, graphs, and the study of their efficiency, Implementation of some parallel algorithms are on a parallel machine. Terms Offered: As Needed

CS 431 - Compiler Desgn & Construction

Prerequisites: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: JR
A study of compiler design techniques; scanning, parsing, error recovery and intermediate code generation and optimization; tools for compiler construction, including scanner generators and compiler-compilers. Construction of a working compiler front-end. Terms Offered: As Needed

CS 435 - Functional Lang and Parsing

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: NA
Introduction to contemporary functional programming languages and techniques: lists, first class and higher order functions, lazy evaluation, and infinite data structures. Introduction to context free languages and parsing techniques: LL(k), LR(k). Construction of hand written parsers and use of automated tools for parser construction. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 451 - Operating Systems

Prerequisites: CE-320, CS-202
Minimum Class Standing: JR
Operating system function and implementation; process and thread management, scheduling and synchronization; deadlock; real and virtual memory management, file- system structure and implementation. Case studies of historical and modern operating systems. Terms Offered: Summer, Fall

CS 455 - Computer & Network Security

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: JR
A study of security in computing systems, including policies , audit, and protection. Physical and personnel security, security of network services, firewall construction and evaluation. Incident response. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 458 - Computer and Network Forensics

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: NA
Forensic analysis, evidence collection and data reconstruction for computing systems and networks. Document preparation for use in the legal system. Terms Offered: Summer, Fall, alternate years

CS 459 - Secure Software

Prerequisites: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: NA
Software security analysis. Construction of secure and re-engineering of insecure software. Secure code and cryptographic best practices. Operating system and compiler security interfaces. Documentation. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 461 - Database Systems

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: JR
Database design and implementation, entity-relationship model, relational model, object-oriented model, logical rules, relational algebra and logic, relational query languages, physical data organization, design theory for databases, distributed databases. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 465 - Info Retrieval & Data Mining

Prerequisite: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: JR
Information retrieval and data mining topics, including information storage and retrieval, file structures, precision and recall, probabilistic retrieval, search strategies, automatic classification, automatic text analysis, decision trees, genetic algorithms, nearest neighbor method, and rule induction. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 471 - Software Engineering

Prerequisites: CS-102
Minimum Class Standing: JR
Software life cycle including specification, design, coding, testing, and verification of a software project. Stepwise refinement and rapid prototyping. Software portability, reusability and maintenance in the team construction of a large software product. Software quality assurance. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring alternate years

CS 481 - Artificial Intelligence

Prerequisites: CS-203
Minimum Class Standing: NA
Types of intelligence, knowledge representation, cognitive models. Goal-based systems, heuristic search and games, learning systems. Language understanding, robotics, theorem providing and deductive systems. Terms Offered: Winter, Spring, alternate years

CS 485 - Advanced Game Development

Prerequisites: CS-385, CS-481
Minimum Class Standing: NA
This course contains essentials of developing a meaningful game play and its implementation. The contents include game-play design and its implementation using GUI elements, sound, terrains and rendering the end game. Terms Offered: Summer, Fall, alternate years

CS 490 - Special Topics in Comp Science

Topics of current interest selected by the faculty. Topics will vary with each offering of the course. May be repeated for credit.

CS 491 - Comp Sci Special Topics

No Course Description Available.

CS 497 - Computer Science Free Elective

No Course Description Available.

CS 498 - Computer Sci Study Abroad

No Course Description Available.

CS 499 - CS Independent Study

Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor
A self-directed study project in an area of compute science selected by an individual student in conjunction with a faculty member. May be repeated for credit. Terms Offered: As Decided

Computer Science Representative Schedule

Freshman	Term 1
	CHEM-135	Principles of Chemistry
	and CHEM-136	Principles of Chemistry
	or CHEM-137	General Chemistry I
	and CHEM-138	General Chemistry I Lab
	COMM-101	Written & Oral Communication I
	MATH-101	Calculus I
	CS-101	Computing & Algorithms I
	ORTN-101	Learning, Success, and Teamwork
	Term 2
	CS-102	Computing & Algorithms II
	CS-211	Discrete Mathematics
	MATH-102	Calculus II
	SSCI-201	Introduction to the Social Sciences
Sophomore	Term 1
	CS-203	Computing & Algorithms III
	HUMN-201	Introduction to Humanities
	MATH-203	Multivariate Calculus
	PHYS-114	Newtonian Mechanics
	PHYS-115	Newtonian Mechanics Lab
	Term 2
	CE-210	Digital Systems I
	CS-202	System Programming Concepts
	ECON-201	Economic Principles
	PHYS-224	Electricity & Magnetism
	PHYS-225	Electricity & Magnetism Lab
Junior	Term 1
	CE-320	Microcomputers I
	COMM-301	Written & Oral Communication II
	CS-312	Theory of Computation
	CS-461	Database Systems
	Term 2
	CE-422	Computer Architecture
	CS-471	Software Engineering
	MATH-408	Probability & Statistics
	-	Advanced Humanities Elective
Senior	Term 1
	CE-480	Computer Networks
	CS-451	Operating Systems I
	-	Advanced Social Science Elective
	-	CS Technical Elective
	-	Free Elective
	Term 2
	CS-431	Compiler Design & Construction
	LS-489	Senior Seminar
	-	CS Technical Elective
	-	Liberal Studies Elective
	-	Mathematics Elective
	Term 3
	-	CS Technical Elective
	-	Free Elective
	-	Free Elective
	-	Liberal Studies Elective
	-	Science Elective

Prerequisites At a Glance

CS = Computer Science
CE = Computer Engineering

The Computer Science faculty have established, in support of the stated mission, the following educational objectives:

1. Computer Science graduates will have a broad, mathematically rigorous program in the fundamental areas of computer science that will allow them to continue their professional development and sustain a lifelong career in computer science either through graduate study or self-directed learning and development activities.
2. Computer Science graduates will have developed a sufficient depth of understanding in computer science, and the skills, confidence, professionalism and experience necessary for successful careers in computer science and related fields.
3. Computer Science graduates will have the teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills to enable them to work effectively with interdisciplinary teams in industry, government, and academia.
4. The Computer Science faculty will provide its degree majors with an excellent education experience through the incorporation of current pedagogical techniques, understanding of contemporary trends in technology and research, and hands-on laboratory experiences that enhance the educational experience.

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