Computer Science (BS)

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The undergraduate program in computer science is an interdisciplinary program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The program is designed to provide both an academic and professional orientation.

General admission requirements for the undergraduate program are the same as those of the university and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and include 3 to 5 units of mathematics and one unit of science (biology, chemistry or physics) together with satisfactory scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and Achievement Tests. The minimum requirement for the degree is 128 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as all upper division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. Candidates must complete general education requirements; see The USC Core and the General Education Program.

Composition/Writing Requirements (7 Units)

WRIT 150 Writing and Critical Reasoning–Thematic Approaches Units: 4
WRIT 340 Advanced Writing Units: 3, 4 ^*

General Education (24 Units)

General Education Units: 24

Pre-Major Requirements (29-30 Units)

Basic Science (8 units)

One of the following science area course sequences:

Biology:

BISC 120Lg General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution Units: 4 ^** and
BISC 220Lg General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology Units: 4 or
BISC 121Lg Advanced General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution Units: 4 ^** and
BISC 221Lg Advanced General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology Units: 4

Chemistry:

CHEM 105aLg General Chemistry Units: 4 ^** and
CHEM 105bL General Chemistry Units: 4 ^** or
CHEM 115aLg Advanced General Chemistry Units: 4 ^** and
CHEM 115bL Advanced General Chemistry Units: 4 ^**

Physics:

PHYS 151Lg Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics Units: 4 ^** and
PHYS 152L Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism Units: 4 or
PHYS 161Lg Advanced Principles of Physics I Units: 4 and
PHYS 162L Advanced Principles of Physics II Units: 4

Major Requirements (68 Units)

Computer Science (38 units)

CSCI 103L Introduction to Programming Units: 3
CSCI 104L Data Structures and Object Oriented Design Units: 4
CSCI 109 Introduction to Computing Units: 3
CSCI 170 Discrete Methods in Computer Science Units: 4
CSCI 201L Principles of Software Development Units: 4
CSCI 270 Introduction to Algorithms and Theory of Computing Units: 4
CSCI 310 Software Engineering Units: 4
CSCI 350 Introduction to Operating Systems Units: 4
CSCI 360L Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Units: 4
CSCI 477a Design and Construction of Large Software Systems Units: 2
CSCI 477b Design and Construction of Large Software Systems Units: 2

Electrical Engineering (6 units)

EE 101 Introduction to Digital Logic Units: 3
EE 352L Computer Organization and Architecture Units: 3
Technical electives++ (at least four courses for a minimum of 14 units) Units: 14
Free electives Units: 10

Total units: 128

^* WRIT 340 Advanced Writing (Communication for Engineers) is strongly recommended for CSCI majors

**Courses selected to meet the general education life science and physical science requirements must be approved by the CSCI department to ensure that students achieve the required level of basic science content in their programs.
^***Satisfies General Education requirement.

++Applicable courses include:

CSCI 300 Introduction to Intelligent Agents Using Science Fiction Units: 3
CSCI 351 Programming and Multimedia on the World Wide Web Units: 3
CSCI 352L Computer Organization and Architecture Units: 3
CSCI 353 Introduction to Internetworking Units: 4
CSCI 420 Computer Graphics Units: 4
CSCI 445L Introduction to Robotics Units: 4
CSCI 459 Computer Systems and Applications Modeling Fundamentals Units: 3
CSCI 464 Foundations of Exotic Computation Units: 3
CSCI 485 File and Database Management Units: 4
CSCI 490x Directed Research Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
CSCI 499 Special Topics Units: 2, 3, 4
EE 450 Introduction to Computer Networks Units: 3
EE 454L Introduction to System-on-Chip Units: 4
EE 459Lx Embedded Systems Design Laboratory Units: 3
EE 477L MOS VLSI Circuit Design Units: 4
EE 490x Directed Research Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
EE 499 Special Topics Units: 2, 3, 4
MATH 458 Numerical Methods Units: 4

Note:

Students may also choose one adviser-approved course from the 300- and 400-level ITP offerings. Other courses may be applicable; please see an adviser for approval.