Computer Science

Minors and Certifications

Computer Science as a Minor

A student may choose Computer Science as a minor to satisfy bachelor degree programs with majors in other fields. This program requires a total of 20 semester hours of Computer Science. Courses required are:

COSC 1336 Programming Fundamentals
COSC 1136 Programming Fundamentals (Lab)
COSC 1337 The Object-Oriented Paradigm
COSC 1137 The Object-Oriented Paradigm (Lab)
COSC 2336 Data Structures and Algorithms
COSC 2315 Computer Organization

Six additional hours of upper-division COSC courses.

Computer Information Systems as a Minor

A student may choose Computer Information Systems as a minor to satisfy bachelor degree programs with majors in other fields. This program requires a total of 22 semester hours of Computer Information Systems. Courses required are:

COSC 1310 Advanced Information Systems Software
COSC 1336 Programming Fundamentals
COSC 1136 Programming Fundamentals Laboratory
COSC 2325 Foundations of Computer Information Science
COSC 3310 Internet and Web Applications
COSC 3365 Programming with Data, File and Object Structures
COSC 3375 Analysis and Logical Design
COSC 3385 Database Design

CNSS Computer Security Certifications

The Department of Computer Science has been approved by the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) and the National Security Agency (NSA) as meeting the requirements of the CNSS 4011 and CNSS 4012 security standards. This accreditation confirms compliance with Federal Security Standards through the year 2014. Any UT Tyler student awarded these certificates will automatically meet federal employment requirements for the CNSS 4011 or 4012 certification. CNSS is a federal government entity under the U.S. Department of Defense that provides procedures and guidance for the protection of national security systems.

The CNSS 4011 standard consists of the fundamental security knowledge needed by an Information Systems Security professional. Students who successfully complete the following courses in their degree program will receive the CNSS 4011 certificate:

COSC 2315 Computer Organization
COSC 4360 Net-Centric Computing
COSC 4361 Computer Security Management
COSC 4362 Computer Security

The CNSS 4012 standard consists of the security knowledge needed by a Chief Information Officer (Senior Systems Manager) in authorizing systems certified as security by a security manager. Students who successfully complete the following courses in their degree program will receive the CNSS 4012 certificate:

COSC 4360 Net-Centric Computing
COSC 4361 Computer Security Management
COSC 4362 Computer Security

Teacher Certification in Computer Science

Candidates for secondary teaching certification (grades 8-12) should pursue a major in computer science and consult with an advisor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. In addition to the required professional education course sequence, requirements for secondary certification in computer science are outlined below:

A candidate for certification must:

Complete a minimum of twelve upper-division semester hours of computer science at UT Tyler.

Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all upper-division computer science courses attempted and a grade of C or better in each of the computer science or math courses below.

Non-degreed, non-certified students should complete requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science including: COSC 4340 Comparative Study of Programming Languages.

Students who have already completed a baccalaureate degree, hold a secondary teaching certificate in another academic field, and/or seek a second teaching field should minimally complete the following courses or their equivalents:

COSC 1336 Programming Fundamentals 3 hours
COSC 1136 Programming Fundamentals (Lab) 1 hour
COSC 1337 The Object Oriented Paradigm 3 hours
COSC 1137 The Object Oriented Paradigm (Lab) 1 hour
COSC 2315 Computer Organization 3 hours
COSC 2336 Data Structures and Algorithms 3 hours
COSC 3315 Social and Professional Issues 3 hours
COSC 3325 Algorithm Design and Analysis 3 hours
COSC 3345 Computer Architecture 3 hours
COSC 3145 Computer Architecture (Lab) 1 hour
COSC 4340 Comparative Study of Programming Languages 3 hours
MATH 2330 Discrete Structures 3 hours

Computer Science Cooperative (co-op) Program

The Computer Science cooperative (co-op) program is offered as an educational enhancement to the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. To complete the computer science co-op program, a student works full-time in an approved computing or information technology environment for three semesters, before the student’s senior year. Students may fulfill their three semester requirement by working during three 12 week summer semesters.

To participate in the computer science co-op program, a student must have completed at least one semester at UT Tyler with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on all course work completed at UT Tyler; and the student must have completed COSC 1336/1136 and COSC 1337/1137 (or their equivalents) with a grade of “C” or better. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA to continue their participation in the co-op program. The student, an assigned computer science faculty member, and an official representative of the host company will develop a written plan of activities that constitute the goals for each semester of the co-op. The student, in cooperation with an official representative of the host company, will provide periodic reports to the assigned computer science faculty member to demonstrate satisfactory progress toward the goals of the written plan. A summary report/performance evaluation of the work of the student at the end of the semester is also required.

During the student’s co-op semesters he/she will be considered a full-time student at UT Tyler and will register for the appropriate one semester hour co-op course selected from COSC 3191, 3192, or 3193.

Students may apply to participate in the computer science co-op program by submitting a coop application form to the chair of the department at least six weeks prior to the semester in which the student plans to start the co-op.