Computer Science

About the Department

Computer science is more than writing code and building apps. It is the blending of computational principles and human creativity with the application of computing technologies. Since its inception, computer science has revolutionized the way we compute, communicate, find information, and conduct business. Problem solving and logical reasoning are at the core of computer science, making it one of the most applicable areas of study.

The demand for graduates well-versed in computing is expected to grow as society becomes more technologically advanced. Increasingly, computer science graduates are able to use the skills they’ve learned to pursue careers in various disciplines such as medicine, social sciences, humanities, law, education, and physical and life sciences.

In the computer science department, you will be challenged and supported by excellent faculty who are focused on preparing you for a successful future. We pride ourselves on our small class sizes, individual attention, and our focus on undergraduate education. Interdisciplinary connections and applications are emphasized in our computer science programs keeping with the liberal arts tradition at the College of Charleston. At the same time, we provide a sound foundation for those students who major in computer science and opt to either work in industry or pursue advanced degrees.

The bachelor of science in computer science is designed to prepare students for graduate study in computer science and for professional careers in industry, organizations, and governments that rely on software or develop software for profit.

NOTE: The bachelor of science in computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

The bachelor of science in computer information systems is designed to prepare students for computing positions in business and industry from the IT shop to the boardroom while keeping open the option for continuing study in graduate school.

The bachelor of arts in computer science is designed to provide students with solid foundations in the fundamental areas of computer science, but permits a greater variety of elective courses to be taken outside of the discipline than do the other BS programs.

The bachelor of arts in computing in the arts (CITA) is designed to offer students an interdisciplinary experience in computer science and the arts, with concentrations in music, theatre, visual arts, digital media, and game development and interaction. CITA combines creativity, problem solving, and computational thinking to prepare students for graduate school or for careers in the information and arts industries and in all organizations that need creative software developers to break free of silo-based problem solving.”

The bachelor of science in data science offers a balanced curriculum of math, statistics, data mining, analytics, and artificial intelligence preparing students for careers as data analysts or graduate school in analytics.

The bachelor of science in software engineering focuses on software development coursework with a required languages or culture minor priming students to be globally fluent software developers.

Additionally, the department supports three minors to introduce students to computer science, data science, or computer information systems.  The computer information systems minor is particularly well suited for business majors.

Majors 

• Computing in the Arts, Art Concentration, B.A.  
• Computing in the Arts, Digital Media Concentration, B.A.  
• Computing in the Arts, Game Development and Interaction Concentration, B.A.  
• Computing in the Arts, Music Concentration, B.A.  
• Computing in the Arts, Theatre Concentration, B.A.  
• Computer Information Systems, B.S.  
• Computer Science, B.A.  
• Computer Science, B.S.  
• Data Science, B.S.  
• Software Engineering, B.S  

Minors 

• Computing in the Arts Minor  
• Computer Information Systems Minor  
• Computer Science Minor  
• Data Science Minor