Mar 29, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science Major, BS


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Department Programs List

In order to expose computer science majors to a broad theoretical base while emphasizing the laboratory experience, students will complete the CS core courses. To add depth and flexibility to their academic programs, with major advisor, students will work out a focus area and choose the elective courses approved by the department.  A specific focus may be developed in many areas of computer science; examples include: software engineering, intelligent systems, computational science, graphics, visualization and computer vision, human-computer interaction, big data analytics cybersecurity. General university requirements ENG 101 and ENG 102.

Standards for Admission
Admission to the computer science major or minor is selective. The minimum grade for each pre-admission required course listed below is B-. Students should submit their application during the quarter in which they are completing the pre-admission requirements. Applications will be accepted through the last day of classes (i.e., the week before finals) of the fall, winter, and spring quarters for admission the following quarter. A completed application must include the standard major application form and an advisor-approved graduation plan.

Students should request admission to the computer science pre-major prior to completion of the pre-admission requirements.
Students must be accepted as a computer science major or minor prior to enrolling in computer science classes beyond CS 301 with the exception of CS 311. Students applying for admission to the major may register for courses for the following quarter but will be dropped if not admitted.

The computer science department believes that advising is one of the keys to success in an undergraduate program. To that end, majors and minors are required to meet with a faculty advisor every term in order to register. Pre-majors are also encouraged to meet with their designated faculty advisor each term. Advisors and advising times are listed with the CS office.

Pre-admission Requirements
General University Requirements
ENG 101, Composition I: Critical Reading
and Responding    4
ENG 102, Composition II: Reasoning
and Research    4
CS Core Requirements
CS 110, Programming Fundamentals I     4
CS 111, Programming Fundamentals II    4
CS 301, Data Structures    4
MATH 172, Calculus I    5
Pre-admission Total Credits: 25

CS Pre-admission Requirements Credits: 17


Electives Credits: 24


Total Credits: 106


Computer Science Department Information


College of the Sciences
Ellensburg
Hebeler Hall, room 219
Mail Stop 7520
509-963-1495
Fax: 509-963-1449
www.cwu.edu/computer-science
See website for how this program may be used for educational and career purposes.

Faculty and Staff
Chair
(Interim) Aaron Montgomery, PhD

Professors
Razvan Andonie, PhD, computational intelligence, machine learning, parallel/distributed computing, big data analytics, data mining
Boris Kovalerchuk, PhD, artificial intelligence, visual big data analytics, machine learning, data mining, computer vision, simulation, computer architecture, soft computing

Associate Professors
Donald Davendra, PhD, optimization, evolutionary algorithms, manufacturing systems, chaos control, data analytics

Assistant Professors
Szilard Vajda, PhD, machine learning, medical image processing, document analysis, data analytics

Staff
Chris Dunn, secretary senior
Zachary Geesaman, systems analyst
Megan McConnell, advisor, recruiter


Department Information
The Department of Computer Science (CS) offers a degree program leading to the Bachelor of science in computer science. The department also jointly offers a program with the industrial engineering technology (IET) department in the College of Education and Professional Studies in computer engineering technology. Information related to the computer engineering technology program can be found in the IET section of the catalog.

The field of computer science can trace its beginnings and much of its foundation to both mathematics and engineering. Because of this, studies in computer science range from theory through experimental techniques to engineering methodology. The purpose of the computer science curriculum is to expose students to aspects of each of these disciplines and foster an appreciation and understanding of them. To accomplish this, students are exposed to the broad theoretical basis of computer science as well as a strong laboratory component. The laboratory experience is more than simple programming. Rather, it is through the laboratories that students are introduced to both the experimental and the design aspects of computer science.

Using this philosophy as a base, the CS department has designed a curricular model that seeks to increase relevance to the real world. In particular, the senior project, a capstone course series- CS 480 and 481- adopts a theme that expands upon the experimental and design approach of typical computer science curricula. This capstone series addresses the creativity and productivity elements required for business and industry applications today. Students become engaged in projects that investigate each stage of transforming a creative idea into a productivity-enhancing system in a realistic context.

College of the Sciences Information


Administration and Organization

Dean
Tim Englund, PhD (Dean Hall, room 130)

Associate Dean
Mike Harrod (Dean Hall, room 130)

Associate Dean
Martha Kurtz, PhD (Dean Hall, room 130)

Staff
Brad Weekly, development officer
Velma Henry, administrative assistant
Cindy Klein, fiscal specialist
Janis Orthmann, administrative assistant
Colleen Falconer, program coordinator
Dannica Price, event coordinator

Mail Stop 7519
509-963-1866
Fax: 509-963-1977
www.cwu.edu/sciences

The College of the Sciences (COTS) is comprised of 13 departments and 12 interdisciplinary programs representing disciplines in the behavioral, natural, and social sciences, and mathematics. The departments and programs of the college offer undergraduate baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees, minors that supplement other degree programs, and a comprehensive range of service coursework. As an essential part of its mission, the college offers an extensive general education curriculum. The departments play a major role in Central’s Teacher Certification Programs, offering bachelors and master’s degrees for students preparing to be secondary teachers and providing coursework in educational foundations and discipline-specific content and methods.

Departments within the college are committed to teaching excellence, active engagement by faculty in research, scholarship and professional service activities, student involvement in research, community service, and employing practical applications of academic specializations.
 

Departments
All departments offer baccalaureate degree programs and, in some cases, minors, educational specialist degrees and master’s degrees. In addition to consulting department/program headings in this catalog, students are encouraged to contact individual departments and program offices directly.

Anthropology and Museum Studies: Kathleen Barlow, PhD, Dean Hall, room 356, 509-963-3201
Biological Sciences: James Johnson, PhD, Science Building, room 338, 509-963-2731
Chemistry: Levente Fabry-Asztalos, PhD, Science Building, room 302, 509-963-2811
Computer Science: Aaron Montgomery, PhD, Hebeler Hall, room 219, 509-963-1495
Geography: John Bowen, PhD, Dean Hall, room 301, 509-963-1188
Geological Sciences: Carey Gazis, PhD, Lind Hall, room 108B, 509-963-2701
Law and Justice: James Huckabay, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 300, 509-963-3208
Mathematics: Stuart Boersma, PhD, Bouillon Hall, room 108, 509-963-2103
Physics: Bruce Palmquist, PhD, Lind Hall, room 201A, 509-963-2727
Political Science: Todd Schaefer, PhD, Psychology Building, room 415, 509-963-2408
Psychology: Stephanie Stein, PhD, Psychology Building, room 421, 509-963-2381
Science Education: Bruce Palmquist, PhD, Science Building, room 107, 509-963-2929
Sociology: Delores Cleary, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 409, 509-963-1305

Interdisciplinary Programs
These programs offer specialized coursework, interdisciplinary baccalaureate majors or minors, master’s degrees or research, and public service functions.

American Indian Studies: Toni Culjak, PhD, Language and Literature, room 408D, 509-963-1531
Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education: Martha Kurtz, PhD, Dean Hall, room 130, 509-963-2135
Environmental Studies: Carey Gazis, PhD, Lind Hall, room 108B, 509-963-2701
or Pam McMullin-Messier, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 441, 509-963-2222
Ethnic Studies: Nelson Pichardo, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 440, 509-963-1348
Interdisciplinary Studies - Social Sciences: Steve Schepman, PhD, Psychology Building, room 429, 509-963-2389
Museum of Culture and Environment: Mark Auslander, PhD, Dean Hall, room 334, 509-963-3209
Primate Behavior and Ecology Program: Lori Sheeran, PhD, Dean Hall, room 335, 509-963-1434
Resource Management Program: Karl Lillquist, PhD, Dean Hall, room 319, 509-963-1184
or Steve Hackenberger, PhD, Dean Hall, room 349, 509-963-3224
Science Talent Expansion Program (STEP): Lucinda Carnell, PhD, Science, room 338G, 509-963-2821
Women’s and Gender Studies: Judith Hennessey, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 436, 509-963-1574

Affiliated Centers and Institutes
Center for Spatial Information and Research: Anthony Gabriel, PhD, Dean Hall, room 320, 509-963-1166
Center for the Environment: Anne Johnasen, PhD, Science, room 207D, 509-963-2164
Central Washington Archaeological Survey, Anthropology: Patrick McCutcheon, PhD, Dean Hall, room 340, 509-963-2075
or Steve Hackenberger, PhD, Dean Hall, room 349, 509-963-3224
Community Counseling and Psychological Assessment Center: Heath Marrs, PhD, Psychology Building, room 346, 509-963-2349
or Elizabeth Haviland, PhD, Psychology Building, room 118, 509-963-2371
Geodesy Laboratory and Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array (PANGA) Data Analysis Facility: Tim Melbourne, PhD, Hebeler Hall, room 110A, 509-963-2799
Health Career Resources: Keith Monosky, PhD, Dorothy Purser Hall, room 108, 509-963-1145

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Department Programs List