The demand for computer scientists is at an all-time high as AI, machine learning, big data, and cybersecurity dominate nearly every modern industry. Since 2001, Western has offered a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with several emphases to choose from. WCU boasts small, 100% in-person classes and faculty that bring both significant industry and research experience into the classroom. Students at WCU can optionally focus their learning experience on several subfields of computer science, including Information Security, Software Engineering, or Scientific Computing.
Program Overview
Become a leader in digital discovery and analysis.
At Western Colorado University, the Computer Science program focuses on software development, information security and data science. You’ll have the opportunity to learn fundamental concepts, languages, tools and techniques in the new, state-of-the-art Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering. This experience will prepare you with the skills and expertise you’ll need to thrive in a career in software development, systems engineering or information technology. Each track within the Computer Science program is built on a core of programming in current languages such as Python, C++ and Java, while focusing on skills such as database management, GUI design, web development and software engineering.
To put your knowledge to practice, you’ll execute difficult projects in software development, learn state-of-the-art security methods and become proficient with leading industry hardware and software systems. You can get hands-on experience in competitive internships with Fortune 500 companies and work on original research projects developing facial recognition software, machine learning and more.
An in-demand career path
The growing demand for high-tech professionals is driven by a broad and expanding need for computer specializations in software engineering, artificial intelligence, big data applications and the “internet of things.”
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.
A minimum of 45 credits is required, including the 33-credit Computer Science Core:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Computer Science Core | ||
CS 190 | Computer Science I | 3 |
CS 191 | Computer Science II | 3 |
CS 195 | Database Management Systems | 3 |
CS 250 | Web Applications Development I | 3 |
CS 280 | Data Structures | 3 |
CS 330 | Operating Systems and Architecture | 3 |
CS 370 | Systems Programming in C | 3 |
CS 412 | Software Engineering | 3 |
CS 470 | Algorithms | 3 |
CS 495 | Senior Project | 3 |
MATH 200 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
Total Credits | 33 |
And the following:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
or MATH 141 | Precalculus (GT-MA1) | |
or MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | |
AND | 9 | |
At least 3 upper division CS courses (including CS 220, CS 235 or ENG 302 and excluding any core courses included in the standard program) | ||
OR | ||
At least 2 upper division CS courses (including CS 220, CS 235 or ENG 302 and excluding any core courses included in the standard program) and one math course from MATH 252, MATH 275, MATH 300, MATH 313, MATH 358, MATH 360 and MATH 380 | ||
Total Credits | 12 |
Capstone Course Requirement
The following course fulfills the capstone course requirement in the Computer Science Major: CS 495 SENIOR PROJECT.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
CS 190 | Computer Science I | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
Gen Ed | Arts & Humanities | 3 |
HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
MATH 140 or MATH 141 or MATH 151 |
College Algebra (GT-MA1) or Precalculus (GT-MA1) or Calculus I (GT-MA1) |
3 |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
CS 191 | Computer Science II | 3 |
CS 195 | Database Management Systems | 3 |
ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
Gen Ed | Social Sciences | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
CS 280 | Data Structures | 3 |
CS 330 or CS 250 |
Operating Systems and Architecture or Web Applications Development I |
3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
Gen Ed | Natural Sciences w/lab | 4 |
Gen Ed | Social Sciences | 3 |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
CS 412 | Software Engineering | 3 |
MATH 200 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 6 |
Gen Ed | Arts & Humanities | |
Gen Ed | Natural Sciences w/lab | 4 |
Credits | 16 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
CS 250 or CS 330 |
Web Applications Development I or Operating Systems and Architecture |
3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
Elective | Upper division elective or minor course | 6 |
Gen Ed | Social Sciences | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
CS 370 | Systems Programming in C | 3 |
CS | Upper division CS elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
Elective | Upper division elective or minor course | 3 |
Gen Ed | Arts & Humanities | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
CS 470 | Algorithms | 3 |
CS | Upper division CS elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
Elective | Upper division elective or minor course | 6 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
CS 495 | Senior Project | 3 |
CS | Upper division CS elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
Elective | Upper division elective or minor course | 6 |
Credits | 15 | |
Total Credits | 123 |
Spotlight
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Make your education a life changing experience.
A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.
- Independent Projects: Students have worked on projects such as facial recognition software, a gesture-controlled quadcopter, machine learning, Android apps, an online guided tour, commercial websites, and self-guiding vehicles.
- Information Technology Services: Many computer science students work for the Western IT Department, keeping student and university computers and networks running smoothly.
- Internships: Students have gotten internships with Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Raytheon, Dell, Northrop Grumman and other companies large and small. Computer science internships pay well and very often lead directly to a permanent job.
- Lambda Learning Center (LLC): The LLC exists to provide academic support for math, computer science, and engineering, as well as to facilitate student learning beyond the classroom. Students, tutors, and professors get together and create a culture centered not only around understanding and mastering STEM-related coursework, but also exploring new ideas in STEM and building community.
- Tutoring Jobs: Available to students interested in teaching others and mastering basic principles.
- Seminars: Faculty at Western provide a variety of different seminars series: industry experts in the Gunnison/Crested Butte valley come to discuss their companies and experience with the students, faculty present what they have been working on, students present their research projects, and faculty provide professionalism topics to help students update and increase their professional brand.
Understanding the “internet of things”
Computer Science plays an increasingly critical role as technology becomes integral to everyone and everything. As a Computer Scientist, you can be an architect of the foundation upon which we build our future.
News & Research
Department Information
Math & Computer Science Department
Department Chairperson
Jeremy Muskat, Ph.D.Chair of Mathematics and Computer Science, Professor of Mathematics
Rady Building Administrative Assistant
Kelley JonesAdministrative Assistant III
Campus Location
Rady Building 272