The Bachelor of Arts in Information & Computer Sciences (BA ICS) degree in allows you to combine computer science with another discipline. You might find the BA degree of interest if you are also interested in biology, entrepreneurship, game design, graphic arts, financial engineering, foreign languages, or other disciplines. Outside of the General Track, there are also tracks in Creative Computational Media and Security Science.
Students must complete the Bachelor of Arts General Education Core, which is described in the General and Graduate Information Catalog, and an advising sheet available from the College of Arts and Sciences Student Academic Services office. There is a proposal requirement and an optional Capstone Project for students seeking this degree.
General Track
Students must complete the following courses for the BA ICS degree (51 credits, total of 17 courses):
- ICS 111 : Introduction to Computer Science I
- ICS 141 : Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science I
- ICS 211 : Introduction to Computer Science II
- ICS 212 : Program Structure or ICS 215:
- ICS 241 : Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science II
- ICS 311 : Algorithms (Substitution allowed: EE 367 can be a substitution for ICS 311)
- ICS 314 : Software Engineering
- ICS 321 : Database Systems
- ICS 332 : Operating Systems
- One course in two of the following pairs:
- ICS 312 or ICS 331
- ICS 313 or ICS 361
- ICS 351 or ICS 451
- ICS 222 and ICS 355
- At least one ICS courses at the 400-level or above
- Four upper division (300-level or above) courses in some area of concentration. The area of concentration courses DO NOT have to be from the same department and they may include ICS courses as long as they meet the minimum total of 12 credit hours.
Here is a diagram illustrating some possible paths through the BA ICS degree program:
Proposal Requirement
The intent of the Bachelor of Arts degree is to allow computer science to be combined with another discipline. Students pursuing a B.A. in Information and Computer Science are required to submit a short proposal listing the courses they intend to take to complete for their ICS major. The proposal should explain how these courses form a coherent plan of study combining computer science with another field. Some examples of reasonable proposals are:
- I want to work in computer games programming, which requires 3D animation, computer graphics, and software engineering skills. ICS electives: ICS 485 Video Game Design and Development, ICS 462 Artificial Intelligence for Games, ICS 481 Intro. to Computer Graphics. Area electives: ACM 315 Narrative Game Design, ACM 316 3D Character Animation, ACM 415 Computer Game Production, ICS 414 Software Engineering II.
- I want to do machine translation of Japanese and English, which requires artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and Japanese language skills. ICS electives: ICS 461 Artificial Intelligence I, ICS 661 Artificial Intelligence II(3.0 GPA required), ICS 464 Intro. to Cognitive Science. Area electives: JPN 301 Third-Year Japanese, JPN 302 Third-Year Japanese, JPN 350 Intro. to Japanese Linguistics, JPN 425 Japanese Translation.
- I want to create web pages, which requires hypermedia, databases, and graphic design skills. ICS electives: ICS 465 Intro. to Hypermedia, ICS 665 User Interfaces & Hypermedia (3.0 GPA required), ICS 421 Database Systems. Area electives: ART 363 Design: Studio 2, ART 364 Design: Studio 3, ART 465 Design: Typography 3, ART 322 Advanced Color.
- I want to use computers to predict the stock market, which requires statistics, databases, and business skills. ICS electives: ICS 442 Analytical Models & Methods, ICS 471 Probability, Statistics, & Queuing, ICS 421 Database Systems. Area electives: BUS 310 Statistical Analysis for Business Decisions, BUS 311 Information Systems for Global Business Environment, BUS 316 Quantitative Business & Economic Analysis, BEC 389 Applied Business Economics: Forecasting.
This course proposal must be approved by an ICS undergraduate advisor and can be modified later with written approval to account for availability of courses or changes in the student’s interests (which may require a new proposal and rationale).
Creative Computational Media – Bachelor of Arts Requirements
61-62 (69 to 70 with related requirements)
Required Courses
ICS Related Requirements (7-8 credits)
- MATH 215 (Applied Calculus I) or 241 (Calculus I) or
251A (Accelerated Calculus I) (prerequisite for ICS 141 : Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science I) - MATH 216 (Applied Calculus II) or 242 (Calculus II) or 252A (Accelerated Calculus II) (prerequisite for ICS 311)
- MATH 215 or 241 or 251A is a prerequisite for MATH 242. However, students must meet the grade requirement B (not B-) in MATH 215 to enroll in MATH 242.
- MATH 241 or 251A is a prerequisite for MATH 252A. However, students must meet the grade requirement B (not B-) in MATH 241 and receive consent to enroll in MATH 252A.
ICS Core Courses (49 credits)
- ICS 110D : Introduction to Computer Programming Through Animations
- ICS 111 : Introduction to Computer Science I
- ICS 211 : Introduction to Computer Science II
- ICS 212 : Program Structure
- ICS 235 : Machine Learning Methods (Fall only)
- ICS 311 : Algorithms (Substitution allowed: EE 367 can be a substitution for ICS 311)
- ICS 314 : Software Engineering
- ICS 321 : Database Systems
- ICS 355 : Security and Trust I
- ICS 369 : Computational Media Systems
- ICS 481 : Introduction to Computer Graphics
- ICS 487 : Digital Content Creation I
- MATH 301 : Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
- MATH 307 : Linear Algebra or Math 311
- MATH 372 : Elementary Probability & Statistics
Elective Courses (12-13 Credits)
Select from among the following:
- ICS 464 : Human Computer Interaction I
- ICS 482 : Topics in Computer Graphics
- ICS 484 : Data Visualization
- ICS 485 : Video Game Design
- ICS 486 : Virtual and Augmented Reality
- ICS 488 : Digital Content Creation II
- ICS 489 : Software Techniques for Computer Visual Effects
- ICS 496 : Capstone Project
Security Science – Bachelor of Arts Requirements
51 (58 to 59 with related requirements)
Required Courses
ICS Related Requirements (7-8 credits)
- MATH 215 (Applied Calculus I) or 241 (Calculus I) or
251A (Accelerated Calculus I) (prerequisite for ICS 141 : Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science I) - MATH 216 (Applied Calculus II) or 242 (Calculus II) or 252A (Accelerated Calculus II) (prerequisite for ICS 311)
- MATH 215 or 241 or 251A is a prerequisite for MATH 242. However, students must meet the grade requirement B (not B-) in MATH 215 to enroll in MATH 242.
- MATH 241 or 251A is a prerequisite for MATH 252A. However, students must meet the grade requirement B (not B-) in MATH 241 and receive consent to enroll in MATH 252A.
ICS Core Courses (39 credits)
- ICS 111 : Introduction to Computer Science I
- ICS 141 : Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science I
- ICS 211 : Introduction to Computer Science II
- ICS 212 : Program Structure or ICS 215:
- ICS 241 : Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science II
- ICS 311 : Algorithms (Substitution allowed: EE 367 can be a substitution for ICS 311)
- ICS 314 : Software Engineering
- ICS 321 : Database Systems
- ICS 332 : Operating Systems
The following three:
- ICS 222 : Basic Concepts of Computer Science
- ICS 351 : Network Design and Management or ICS 451 : Data Networks
- ICS 355 : Security and Trust I: Resource Protections
Four electives from this list (12 Credits):
- ICS 423 : Data Security and Cryptography I
- ICS 425 : Computer Security and Ethics
- ICS 426 : Computer System Security
- ICS 428 : Digital Forensics
- ICS 455 : Security and Trust II: Information Assurance
- ICS 495 : Special Topics in Security
- ECE 406 : Introduction to Computer and Network Security