Dec 03, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025 
    
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Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025

Computer Science, B.S.

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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

Please note: The third year of the program varies depending upon which semester the student chooses to take away following The Arch Summer Semester classes. Please note the following differences in curriculum:

  • If students are going to be away during the Fall semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Fall Away Track for year three of their program.
     
  • If students are going to be away during the Spring semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Spring Away Track for year three of their program.

The Arch Summer Semester*

*For more information on the ARCH process, please click here: The Arch 

  • CSCI 4000-level Track Course Credit Hours: 4 5
  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Fall or Spring

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

Fall or Spring

Fourth Year

Fall

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

Spring

  • CSCI 4000-level Track Course Credit Hours 4
  • CSCI 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

Mathematics Option II

Must be a 4000-level MATH/MATP course

CSCI 4000-level Requirements

Choose one course from each option:

Option 1
Option 2

CSCI 4000-level Depth Electives

Choose two courses:

4000-level Breadth Electives

Satisfy both of the following:
 

  • Take one 4000-level MATH/MATP course
     
  • Take one 4000-level CSCI course or UCC-approved non-CSCI 4000-level course

Systems and Software

Mathematics Option I:

Choose one MATH course: 

Mathematics Option II

Must be a 2000-level or higher MATH/MATP course

CSCI 4000-level Requirements

Satisfy the following courses:

CSCI 4000-level Depth Electives

Choose two of the following:

4000-level Breadth Electives

Satisfy the following:

  • Choose two: any 4000-level CSCI courses or UCC-approved non-CSCI 4000-level courses

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

Mathematics Option I

must be:

Required Core Course:

CSCI 4000-level Requirements:

Satisfy each of the following:

Choose One Course:
Choose One Course:
Choose One Course:

CSCI 4000 Depth Electives (choose two):

4000-level Breadth Electives :

  • Choose one: any 4000-level CSCI course or UCC-approved non-CSCI 4000-level course

Vision, Graphics, Robotics, and Visualization

Mathematics Option I

Satify the following:

Mathematics Option II

Must be a 2000-level or higher MATH/MATP course

CSCI 4000-level Requirements

Satisfy two of the following:

CSCI 4000-level Depth Elective

Choose two courses from the following:

4000-level Breadth Elective

Satisfy two courses from the following:
 

  • 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  counts as CSCI 2500  ).

Footnotes

  1. Students with extensive background in computer science may decide to start with CSCI 1200  and skip CSCI 1100 , though this requires CSCI 1200 instructor approval; in such cases, CSCI 1100 must be replaced 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  or PHYS 1110  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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