At the heart of every college and every
department is its curriculum, which is the set of courses that it
offers and recommends to its students. These courses are carefully
planned and tailored to meet specific educational objectives. For
a particular major, such as Computer Science, these objectives
include getting skills to survive in the marketplace as well as
instilling a sense of wonder and awe for the marvelous machines we
call computers. The College as a whole has other educational
objectives which are partly met through the "core curriculum"
courses. These include instilling appreciation for our heritage,
tolerance of diverse peoples and cultures, learning how to learn
in the future, and practicing informational literacy skills.
Please note! Information
provided in these web pages is for your convenience and is not
meant to be the final authority. The College Catalog is the final
authority on all matters dealing with curriculum, grades, and
tuition. A printed paper copy of the catalog is available for free
from the Registrar's office and is available on-line by clicking
here.
The focus in these web pages is on the Computer Science
curriculum at Canisius College. We offer two bachelor's
degrees (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Bachelor of
Arts in Computer Science), two Computer Science minors, and a
Certificate in Computer Science.
Here are some rough guidelines to help you decide which one is right for you.
- Bachelor's (BS): if you want to be a professional in the
field of Computer Science, especially if you will be working
with other scientists, mathematicians, and if you are likely
to go on to do a Masters or Ph.D.
- Bachelor's (BA): if you want to be a professional in the
field of Computer Science but do not fit the BS profile above.
This is particularly useful for those who will be working with
professionals in another area.
- Minor: if you are interested in programming or
computers but do not want to major in it and are not going to
seek full-time employment in the field.
- Certificate: if you want to be a professional in the
field of Computer Science or in some other (non-science) field
that heavily uses computers, or want to combine computers and
another field in unique ways.
While you may be able to find answers to many of your questions
in these web pages or in the College Catalog, we invite you to
stop by and converse with us in person. To make an appointment,
call (716) 888-2430 or send email to
mfoster@canisius.edu. A
professor would be happy to chat with you and give you advice and
suggestions.
From time to time, changes are made in the curriculum of any
major. While most of these are minor, a few are major and
represent a growth process whereby the department keeps up with
trends in the field and other educational institutions. The
Computer Science Department at Canisius College has always strived
to provide top quality and up to date courses, emphasizing topics
and skills that are currently needed by industry.
The most recent change to the CSC curriculum was made in 2005:
adding CSC 365 ("Intelligent Systems") to both BS and BA,
removing MAT 112 from the BA degree,
removing PHY 226 from the BS degree,
and allowing BIO 101-102 or CHM 111-112 to replace PHY 223-224 of
the BS degree.
The curriculum in
these web pages reflects this change. If you entered Canisius as a
transfer or first-year student (freshman) in the Fall of 2005,
this curriculum applies to you.
Starting Fall 2009, the college as a whole will be governed by a
new core curriculum.
If you entered Canisius before that date, read the link on that page
"Transision from Old to New Core."
Note: this change of the core curriculum does not affect the CSC, MAT
and auxiliary courses that you need to take to complete the major or
minor in Computer Science.
If you have attended another college before coming to Canisius,
you are considered a transfer student and should consult with
Dr. Hertz,
chair of the Department, for an evaluation of your transcript and
an outline of what courses you still need to take. Generally, you
are governed by the curriculum and regulations of the catalog that
is in effect during the semester you enter Canisius, regardless of
whether you were a sophomore, junior, or senior at your other
college. You may still receive credit for many of the classes you
took at your other college, but you will have to satisfy the
requirements that are in effect at Canisius during the semester
you enter. This applies both to the specific Computer Science
curriculum as well as the general core curriculum of the college.
Finally, we would like to emphasize that we are here to help
and guide you as you plan your career at Canisius College. Though
the curriculum may seem quite complicated, we are able to guide
you through the maze and enable you to meet your educational
objectives. Give us a call or send email, and better yet, set up
an appointment to see us in person. Call (716) 888-2430 or send
email to
mfoster@canisius.edu.
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