Nov 08, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2023-2024 
    
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Rensselaer Catalog 2023-2024 [Archived Catalog]

Computer Science

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All computer science students are assigned a School of Science Hub adviser and subsequently a Faculty adviser to assist them with their interests and goals throughout their academic career. As shown below in the 128-credit-hour B.S. curriculum leading to the B.S. degree in computer science, flexibility is one of the hallmarks of the Rensselaer computer science program. After completing a core set of 1000- and 2000-level courses, students focus on specific tracks within computer science. Further, students are encouraged to explore related areas and pursue minors and/or dual or double majors in such fields as mathematics, electrical and computer systems engineering, information technology and web science, games and simulation arts and sciences, business and management, economics, physics, psychology, electronic media, arts, and communication, and most other disciplines at Rensselaer.

First Year

Fall

  • HASS Core Elective  Credit Hours: 4

Spring

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4

Second Year

Fall

  • Mathematics Option I Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring

  • Mathematics Option II Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4

Third Year

The Arch Summer Semester*

*For students who have applied for and been granted an exception, The Arch Summer courses would be taken during the fall or spring semester. For listing of the exception process go to: http://info.rpi.edu/arch/students/#ExceptionProcess.

  • Computer Science 4000-level Track Course Credit Hours: 4 (See footnote 5 below)
  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Fall OR Spring

  • Computer Science 4000-level Track Course Credit Hours: 4
  • Science Option Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Fourth Year

Fall

  • Computer Science 4000-level Track Course Credit Hours: 4
  • Computer Science 4000-level Track Course Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring

  • Computer Science 4000-level Track Course Credit Hours 4
  • Computer Science 4000-level Track Course Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Science Option

One or more courses totaling 4 credits chosen from the following: astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth and environmental science, and physics. The P/NC option cannot be used for this course. The course ERTH 1030  cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. Reading and independent study courses cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

Computer Science Tracks

The four Tracks in computer science are: (a) Theory and Algorithms; (b) Systems and Software; (c) Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Data Science; and (d) Vision, Graphics, Robotics, and Visualization.

Each specific Track in computer science requires eight courses, which must total at least 30 credits; any “missing” credits due to 3-credit courses can be made up as free elective credits. A course can only be used to meet one Track requirement. For any 4000-level course, the corresponding co-listed 6000-level course can also be used to meet a Track requirement.

Independent study and research credits (i.e., 294x/494x/694x course numbers) cannot be used to satisfy any Track credits. Further, the P/NC option cannot be used for any Track courses.

Each of the four Tracks are detailed below.

Theory and Algorithms

  • Mathematics Option I must be MATH 2010  
  • Mathematics Option II must be a 4000-level MATH/MATP course
  • CSCI 4000-level Requirements (two courses):
  • CSCI 4000-level Depth Electives (two courses):
  • 4000-level Breadth Electives (two courses):
    • Choose one: any 4000-level MATH/MATP course
    • Choose one: any 4000-level CSCI course or UCC-approved non-CSCI 4000-level course

Systems and Software

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Data Science

Vision, Graphics, Robotics, and Visualization

  • Mathematics Option I must be MATH 2010 
  • Mathematics Option II must be a 2000-level or higher MATH/MATP course
  • CSCI 4000-level Requirements (choose two):
  • CSCI 4000-level Depth Elective (choose two):
  • 4000-level Breadth Elective (choose two):
    • Choose two: any 4000-level CSCI courses or UCC-approved non-CSCI 4000-level courses

Transfer Credit Policy

To ensure computer science majors take a majority of their named required courses at RPI, the following items describe the transfer credit policy:

  • All computer science majors must take five of their eight named required CSCI courses at RPI. Regardless, the total required CSCI credits earned at RPI must be 32.
  • If more than three named required CSCI courses are transferred in or the total required CSCI credits earned is less than 32, the difference in credits must be made up by taking additional CSCI credits.  These additional CSCI credits must be at the 2000-level or higher and consist of a combination of CSCI courses, CSCI independent study credits, and/or CSCI mentoring credits.
  • Transfer students and students participating in a Study Abroad program can seek approval for exceptions via the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) or at Student Orientation (SO).
  • If a course transfers in as a non-CSCI course, it might still count as a named required CSCI course (e.g., ECSE 2660  CANOS counts as CSCI 2500  Computer Organization).

Footnotes

  1. Students with sufficient background in computer science may skip CSCI 1100  and replace it with 4 credits of other CSCI course(s) at the 2000 level or above.
  2. If no prior experience in MATH 1010 , taking BIOL 1010  and BIOL 1015  or BIOL 1016  in the fall semester of the first year is recommended; otherwise, taking PHYS 1100  in the fall semester of the first year is recommended. 
  3. Students may not receive credit for both CSCI 2200  and MATH 2800.
  4. Students may replace CSCI 2500  with ECSE 2660 ; students should take only one of these courses.
  5. Pending availability of instructors.

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