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Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS)

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Computer Science / Majors & Programs / Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS)

Degree Overview

Join a challenging, distinguished program that gives you both breadth and depth in computer science.

In intense classes, you’ll explore areas like software engineering, computer architecture, digital security, and 2D and 3D design. You’ll learn from—and do research alongside—professors with industry experience in fields like artificial intelligence and supercomputing.

On top of that, our BCS degree is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. It’s a distinction we share with a small number of significant programs around the country, such as MIT and the University of Michigan.

The result? Calvin BCS students go on to succeed at these and other graduate schools. They work for major technology firms internationally and locally, such as Google, Microsoft, Steelcase, Spectrum Health, and other business enterprises. And so can you.

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Program Distinctives

 
A Christian mindset - Your professors are committed Christians who are passionate about making technology not just powerful, but also just. You’ll join that pursuit in local outreach programs and even study-abroad opportunities, where you’ll see firsthand how technology can improve lives.
 
The right skills - Gaining an edge in graduate school and your career requires that you be a good communicator on top of your mastery of programming and technical skills. Calvin’s BCS makes sure you pick up those critical “soft” skills.
 
Abundant resources - You’ll work with facilities and equipment normally found at big research school. That includes four class labs and three research facilities, including a Beowolf-class supercomputing lab that you might even use for your own research.

Degree Information

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  • Overview

    The BCS degree is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://abet.org, a distinction we share with a small number of significant programs around the country (e.g., MIT and the University of Michigan).

  • Courses
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  • Suggested Course Schedule

    The following course schedule provides a suggested framework for students pursuing the BCS degree. Any exemptions a student can bring from high school would increase the flexibility of this schedule. Students planning for the shift to 2 & 4-hour courses starting in Fall, 2023 should note that:

    • CS 212, 214, 232, and 262 will all become 4-hour courses (rather than 3-hour courses).
    • Math 251 and 252 will become 2-hour courses scheduled in Fall 1 & 2 (rather than 3-hour courses).
    • The new requirement for upper-level electives will become 10 hours (rather than four courses).
    • Some advanced electives will be split and/or have modified hours. Also, some will be renumbered:
      • CS 338 & CS 339 - System Administration: Infrastructure & Cloud Services (formerly CS 338)
      • CS 354 - Database Management Systems (formerly CS 342)
      • CS 372 - Computer Graphics (formerly CS 352)
      • CS 375 & CS 376 - Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (formerly CS 344)
    • The required oral rhetoric course, CAS 100, will become 4 hours (rather than 3). However, IDIS 102 (Oral Rhetoric for Engineers), a 2-hour course, could be an option pending approval from the Engineering Department.
    • The lab science requirement will remain at six hours, but there will now be some 2-hour options (e.g., PHYS 130) pending the plans of the natural science departments.
    • Note that the ABET accreditation for the BCS requires students to have >=40 hours in CS, including ENGR 220 and CS 384, 396, 398.

    bcs_sample_schedule_4hr_2.png

    Schedule Notes:

    1. CS 108 is common here, but CS 106 or 104 can work as well.
    2. The core categories for the Mathematical Sciences & the Natural Sciences are covered by the BCS cognate requirements provided that the BCS student chooses their science electives carefully.
    3. This schedule assumes that BCS students opt out of World Languages II but fail to exempt out of World Languages I. Students can choose to opt out of a different Knowledge & Understanding category.
    4. BCS students must take either oral rhetoric (COMM 101) or oral rhetoric for Engineers (IDIS 102) for one of the Arts & Rhetoric category courses.
    5. BCS students must either take tagged courses in the core or add tagged elective courses.
    6. This assumes that students cannot find a ABET-compatible natural science course that is only 2 credit hours. Finding one would reduce hours in this schedule.
    7. This can be any K & U course, not including Math and Science.
    8. Student needs 124 total hours to graduate.

    Students who started before 2021 and are using the old core curriculum should pursue this older suggested schedule, this older BCS reduced core curriculum, and this older, 3-credit sample schedule.

Degree Information

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Women in Computing

Connect with other women studying computer science. Build the confidence to become a leader in your field. Learn more »

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Abstraction

Learn, hack, network, and serve in a student group that will help you connect your love of technology to real-world needs and opportunities. Learn more »

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