Computer Science

Description

Computer scientists enjoy some of the highest salaries and best job prospects in the country. Going to school in a major technological hub gives you an extra edge: Many of our graduates go on to jobs in software development and engineering. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Yahoo have offices in nearby Kendall Square, Cambridge.

Suffolk’s computer science program is exceptionally hands-on. From the start, you’ll get substantial experience with machine-level programming and direct exposure to computer architecture, networks, and programming for a thorough understanding of hardware and software systems.

Uniquely, our upper-level classes are taught during the late afternoon or evening. This allows you to work during the day to gain actual experience in the field. Many students also tutor on-campus at our Math/Computer Science center.

Computers continue to have an exciting and evolving influence on how we understand the world and how we communicate with one another. To this end, many Suffolk students go on to careers beyond software development. Engineering, advertising, television and film production, and video-game design are all popular choices that require computational expertise. Many students combine the major with courses in Math, Engineering, Art, and Design.

A Unique Location

Cambridge’s Kendall Square, a quick train ride across the river, is one of the world’s technological hubs. Here are just some of the top companies with offices here:

• Akamai Technologies

• Amazon

• Cambridge Innovation Center

• Computer Sciences Corporation

• Google

• ITA Software

• Yahoo

Detailed Course Facts

• USD 16265 Semester (National)

Full-time: 12-17 credits per semester $16,265

• English

Course Content

Students must complete a minimum of 126 credits for graduation.

A student majoring in computer science must successfully complete 36 credits of coursework in computer science plus 20 credits of coursework in mathematics and science distributed as follows:

Computer Science: 9 courses, 36 credits

• CMPSC-F131 Computer Science I

  Prerequisites:

  Must be taken concurrently with CMPSC R131

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  This is a rigorous introduction to computer science in Java with an emphasis on problem solving, structured programming, object-oriented programming, and graphical user interfaces. Topics include expressions, input/output, control structures, intrinsic data types, classes and methods, iteration, top-down programming, arrays, graphical user interfaces, and elements of UML. Normally offered each semester.

  Type:

  Quantitative Reasoning

• CMPSC-F132 Computer Science II

  Prerequisites:

  CMPSC F131

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Computer Science II (CSII) is the continuation of Computer Science I. The purpose of CSII is to expand students' understanding of Computer Science and computer programming, assuming that they have the basic knowledge of the Java language. The course introduce another programming language - C - and also focuses on the pure Object-Oriented features of Java, such as inheritance, polymorphism, and exceptions, as well as on simple data structures (lists, stacks, and queues) and algorithms (searching and sorting). By the end of the semester students will be able to develop sizable (several pages long) computer programs in the C and Java languages. Efficient C and Java program development requires an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) - a collection of tools that make it possible to edit, compile, and debug C and Java programs. Our IDE of choice is Eclipse. Eclipse is free and available for many operating systems, including Microsoft Windows (all flavors), Linux, Unix, and Mac OS X.

  Type:

  Quantitative Reasoning

• CMPSC-F265 Data Structures & Algorithms

  Prerequisites:

  CMPSC F132

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Includes topics such as strings, stacks, queues, lists, trees, graphs, sorting, searching, hashing, dynamic storage allocation, and analysis of algorithms. Most programming will be done in the C language. Normally offered each semester.

  Type:

  Quantitative Reasoning

• CMPSC-F331 Object Oriented Programming

  Prerequisites:

  CMPSC-F265

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Object-Oriented Programming in C++ is taught using Trolltech's multi-platform Qt library and other open-source libraries and tools. Emphasis is placed on program design and code re-use. Topics include: encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, UML, refactoring, parent-child relationships, properties, event-driven programming, test cases, regular expressions, constraints, XML, design patterns, and graphical user interfaces. We deal with some operating system and programming environment issues and also with code packaging. C++ is a very large language, so we do not attempt to cover it all. Instead we work with a carefully selected subset of language elements that permits students to exploit the powerful Qt libraries and write robust, idiomatic, and interesting code. By the end of the course, the student should have a good command of C++, facility using and building libraries, an understanding and appreciation of the design patterns that we covered, and a well-established discipline of refactoring and code reuse. Prerequisite: CMPSC F265 (which may be taken concurrently). Normally offered each semester.

  Type:

  Quantitative Reasoning

• CMPSC-F353 Architecture of Computer Systems

  Prerequisites:

  CMPSC F265.

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  This course deals with the structure and operation of the major hardware components of a computer. Topics include basic logic design, basic datapath construction, basic pipelining, I/O system design, issues in memory hierarchy and network interface design. Normally offered each fall semester.

  Type:

  Quantitative Reasoning

• CMPSC-F355 Operating Systems

  Prerequisites:

  CMPSC F353 & CMPSC F265 and Working knowledge of C++.

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  This course presents an overview of modern operating systems, from the points of view of an application developer and of a system developer. It covers process management, scheduling, concurrency management, multi-threading, memory management, and file system organization. Intensive programming assignments in the C language and in an assembly language help students to learn the POSIX application programming interface (API) and the low-level organization of a general-purpose operating system. Normally offered each spring.

  Type:

  Quantitative Reasoning

• CMPSC-F363 Intro to Database Systems

  Prerequisites:

  CMPSC 265 and MATH 285

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  This is an introduction to the design and use of database systems --- systems that manage very large amounts of data. Topics covered include Entity-Relationship (E/R) data model, Relational data model, object-oriented model, and the conversion of E/R and relational models. We shall also learn some database languages, both concrete and abstract, including Structured Query Language (SQL), Object Query Language (OQL), relational algebra, etc. We will introduce the semistructured data, such as the popular Extensible Markup Language (XML), and their usage in database systems as well. The course is intended for computer science students who need to have an in-depth understanding of modern database systems. Normally offered each fall semester.

  Type:

  Quantitative Reasoning

One 4-credit computer science elective course at or above the 300 level

Complementary Major Requirements

Mathematics: 3 courses, 12 credits

• MATH-165 Calculus I

  Prerequisites:

  Math Placement score or MATH 121 with a grade of C or better

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Functions, limits and continuity; instantaneous rate of change, tangent slopes, and the definition of the derivative of a function; power, product, and quotient rules, trig derivatives, chain rule, implicit differentiation; higher order derivatives; applications(curve sketching, limits at infinity, optimization, differentials); other transcendental functions (inverse trig functions, exponential and log functions, hyperbolic trig functions); anti-derivatives; indefinite integrals; applications (net change). 4 lecture hours plus 1 recitation session each week. Normally offered each semester.

• MATH-255 Probability and Statistics

  Prerequisites:

  MATH-165 with a grade of C or better

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Topics include: random variable and distribution; expectation and variance; special discrete/continuous distributions (uniform, binomial, negative binomial, geometric, hypergeometric, Poisson, normal, and exponential distributions); joint distribution, marginal distribution and conditional distribution; covariance; limit theorems (law of large numbers and central limit theorem); introduction to confidence interval and hypothesis testing; regression analysis. Offered as needed.

• MATH-285 Discrete Mathematics

  Prerequisites:

  MATH-165 with a grade of C or better

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Topics mostly selected from the following list: Logic and set theory, elementary number theory, relations and functions and their properties (equivalence relations, partial order relations, recurrence relations and their solutions); computational complexity of algorithms (big O notation); graphs and their properties (isomorphisms of graphs, Euler and Hamilton paths, shortest path problem, graph coloring) trees (tree traversal, minimum spanning trees); finite state machines; methods of proof (proof by induction, proof by contradiction). Prerequisite: MATH 220 or permission of instructor. 1 term - 4 credits (4 lecture hours per week). Normally offered at least once each year.

Physics: 2 courses plus corresponding laboratory classes, 8 credits

• PHYS-151 University Physics I

  Prerequisites:

  Take MATH-121 or MATH 165. PHYS L151 concurrently

  Credits:

  3.00

  Description:

  Introduction to the fundamental principles of physics using calculus. The course includes the study of vectors, Newton's laws, rotations, rigid body statics and dynamics, simple harmonic motion, heat and temperature.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

  Type:

  NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS,SCI TECH ENGNR

• PHYS-152 University Physics II

  Prerequisites:

  PHYS 151, PHYS L152 concurrently

  Credits:

  3.00

  Description:

  This calculus based course begins with topics in kinetic theory and the laws of thermodynamics. It then covers electric charge and field, Gauss' law, electrical potential and capacitance, electric currents and DC circuits. Next magnetism, electromagnetic induction, Faraday's law and AC circuits are discussed. This is followed by Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, and properties of light.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

  Type:

  NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS,SCI TECH ENGNR

• PHYS-L151 University Physics Lab I

  Prerequisites:

  PHYS 151 concurrently

  Credits:

  1.00

  Description:

  The laboratory consists of experiments to illustrate the basic concepts studied in the course: measurements, propagation of errors, vectors, Newton's laws, work and energy, momentum, rotations, oscillations, simple harmonic motion, fluid. Knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, differentiation and integration required.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

  Type:

  NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS,SCI TECH ENGNR

• PHYS-L152 University Physics Lab II

  Prerequisites:

  PHYS 151 and L151 and PHYS 152 must be taken concurrently

  Credits:

  1.00

  Description:

  The laboratory consists of experiments to illustrate the basic concepts studied in the course: heat, gas laws, electric forces, field, and potential, DC and AC circuits, magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, Faraday's law, optics. Calculus, algebra, trigonometry are required. Error propagation, use of Excel, laboratory notebooks, and formal reports required.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

  Type:

  NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS,SCI TECH ENGNR

For a suggested course sequence, visit the Computer Science Department page.

English Language Requirements

TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test : 77

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

We do not use specific minimums for scores or grades in the decision process, but weigh all factors together to gain a whole view of you and your potential for success as a Suffolk University student:

• Level and range of high school courses selected
• Grades achieved (official high school transcript with senior year grades)
• SAT or ACT scores (our code is 3771)
• Recommendations (two required; one from a guidance counselor, one from a teacher)
• The essay
• Other required forms
• Admission interview (optional)
• Transfer students should view the transfer requirements page for more details.

In high school, you should have completed:

• Four units of English
• Three units of mathematics (algebra I and II and geometry)
• Two units of science (at least one with a lab)
• Two units of language
• One unit of American history
• Four units distributed among other college preparatory electives

We may also consider other factors in the review process, such as:

• Class rank
• Honors courses
• AP courses

We are also very interested in personal qualities that will offer us further insights into you as an applicant, including:

• Admission interview
• Extracurricular involvement
• Community service
• Special interests

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Suffolk University.