Computer Science Major, BS in Computer Science

uTrack Requirements

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students.

Term 1

• ¹  COSC 101 - Introduction to Programming 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 101 - English Composition I 3 Credit Hours * (or equivalent)

•  

• Select one course:

• EF 142 - Introduction to Physics and Modeling for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours *
• EF 151 - Physics for Engineers I 4 Credit Hours *
• EF 157 - Honors: Physics for Engineers I 4 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• MATH 132 - Calculus 1B Infused with Precalculus 3 Credit Hours *
• MATH 141 - Calculus I 4 Credit Hours *
• MATH 147 - Honors: Calculus I 4 Credit Hours *

Term 2

• COSC 102 - Introduction to Computer Science 4 Credit Hours
• ENGL 102 - English Composition II 3 Credit Hours * (or equivalent)

•  

• Select one course:

• EF 152 - Physics for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours *
• EF 158 - Honors: Physics for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• MATH 142 - Calculus II 4 Credit Hours *
• MATH 148 - Honors: Calculus II 4 Credit Hours *

Term 3

• ² Global Citizenship – US  Elective 3 Credit Hours *

• COSC 202 - Data Structures and Algorithms I 4 Credit Hours
• COSC 230 - Computer Organization 3 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• MATH 251 - Matrix Algebra I 3 Credit Hours
• MATH 257 - Honors: Matrix Algebra I 3 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• BIOL 101 - Introduction to Biology: Cells, Genetics, and Physiology 4 Credit Hours *
• BIOL 150 - Organismal and Ecological Biology 3 Credit Hours *
• BIOL 158 - Honors: Organismal and Ecological Biology 3 Credit Hours
• PHYS 231 - Fundamentals of Physics: Electricity and Magnetism 3 Credit Hours *
• CHEM 128 - Honors: General Chemistry I 4 Credit Hours

• or
  Select one pair of courses:

• CHEM 102 - Principles of Chemistry 3 Credit Hours * and
• CHEM 103 - Principles of Chemistry Laboratory 1 Credit Hours *

• or

• CHEM 122 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours * and
• CHEM 123 - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours *

Term 4

• ² Arts and Humanities  Elective 3 Credit Hours *
• ² Social Sciences  Elective 3 Credit Hours *
   

• Select one course:

• COSC 302 - Data Structures and Algorithms II 4 Credit Hours
• COSC 307 - Honors: Data Structures and Algorithms II 4 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• COSC 311 - Discrete Structures 3 Credit Hours
• COSC 317 - Honors: Discrete Structures 3 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• ECE 313 - Probability and Random Variables 3 Credit Hours
• ECE 317 - Honors: Probability and Random Variables 3 Credit Hours

Term 5

• COSC 312 - Algorithm Analysis and Automata 3 Credit Hours
• COSC 340 - Software Engineering 3 Credit Hours
• COSC 366 - Introduction to Cybersecurity 3 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• COSC 360 - Systems Programming 4 Credit Hours
• COSC 367 - Honors: Systems Programming 4 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• ² Engaged Inquiries  Elective 3 Credit Hours *
• ³ Unrestricted Elective 3 Credit Hours

Term 6

• ³ Computer Science Upper-Division Electives 9 Credit Hours
• ² Global Citizenship – International  Elective 3 Credit Hours *

• COSC 361 - Operating Systems 3 Credit Hours
• COSC 395 - Junior Seminar 1 Credit Hours *

Term 7

• ³ Computer Science Upper-Division Electives 6 Credit Hours
• ² Expanded Perspectives  Elective 3 Credit Hours * (Students are encouraged to choose courses that meet EI also.)

• COSC 401 - Senior Design Theory 2 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• ENGL 355 - Rhetoric and Writing 3 Credit Hours *
• ENGL 360 - Technical and Professional Writing 3 Credit Hours *

Term 8

• ³ Computer Science Upper-Division Electives 6 Credit Hours
• ² Expanded Perspectives  Elective 3 Credit Hours * (Students are encouraged to choose courses that meet EI also.)

• COSC 402 - Senior Design Practicum 3 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• ² Engaged Inquiries  Elective 3 Credit Hours *
• ³ Unrestricted Elective 3 Credit Hours

Total Credit Hours 121-123

Footnotes

1. Beginning students who have had high school computer science and/or who have had significant programming experience (e.g. summer institute study, special research projects, home laboratory) are invited to apply during the summer to the head of the department for permission to take a proficiency examination for COSC 101 - Introduction to Programming , Introduction to Computer Science. If a satisfactory grade is made on the examination, credit will be allowed for COSC 101 . The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science also gives credit in COSC 101  to students who receive a score of 3 or better on the Computer Science Advanced Placement A Examination.
2. Chosen from Volunteer Core  list. Students should try to select courses that satisfy approved areas and Engaged Inquiries  category. Students must have a minimum of 9 credit hours in at least two subject areas for Engaged Inquiries .
3. The following table lists the acceptable set of electives that may be taken to satisfy the upper-division electives for the CS major. The electives have been grouped into seven suggested tracks. The tracks group related electives that a student may wish to take in order to achieve a level of expertise in the indicated area. However, it is not mandatory to take any track and students are free to mix and match courses from different tracks to fit their specific interests. COSC 494 , and COSC 493 , may be taken to satisfy the upper-division electives. Up to three COSC 5XX or ECE 5XX courses may count as upper-division elections. COSC 422  does not count as an acceptable elective.

* Meets Volunteer Core Requirements .

Areas of Emphasis

Computer Science Major – Honors Concentration

In addition to satisfying the requirements for the electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science major, candidates for the honors concentration must also complete the following requirements.

• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.4.
• Four 100- or 200-level honors courses* (14 hours minimum, at least two courses must be from Materials Science and Engineering, Engineering Fundamentals, Physics, Math, Chemistry, Biology, Statistics, or MSE 117 - Honors: Materials Chemistry  or MSE 207 ).
• Two upper-division honors courses in computer science or electrical and computer engineering (COSC 307 , COSC 317 , COSC 367 , COSC 377 , COSC 427  or ECE 317 , ECE 347 , ECE 357 , ECE 358 , ECE 417 , ECE 427 , ECE 477 , ECE 478 , ECE 487 ).
• Satisfy the Breadth Requirements for the Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program.

Computer Science Major – Five-Year BS/MS Program

The department offers a Five-Year BS-MS program for qualified students. The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for their Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Significant components of the program are: 

• Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.4 to be admitted to the program. Conditional admission may be granted after completing 64 hours of required coursework while full admission is granted after completing 96 hours of required coursework with a minimum overall GPA of 3.4.
• Students must at least have conditional admission before taking graduate courses for both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the departmental chair of the program. Students admitted to the program must request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit. 
• Students admitted to the program must also follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School. Admission of students into this program must be approved by the department and the Graduate School.
• Students will not be eligible for graduate assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.