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Department of Computer Science

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Undergraduate ProgramGraduate ProgramCourse DescriptionsFaculty

 

About the Program

The Computer Science department offers the following degree program and certificate:

          • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
          • Master of Science in Computer Science
          • Master of Science in Software Engineering
          • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
          • Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering

Dual-Degree/Joint Programs

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science / Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science / Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

The computer science curriculum places a strong emphasis on writing, communications, professional skills, and ethical concerns. The objectives of our programs are to give students a broad-based understanding of the computing discipline and to prepare them for a productive professional career and/or for pursuing advanced degrees in the field. Students are expected to be involved in an exciting learning experience involving both course and lab work to develop problem-solving skills and logical reasoning that can be successfullStudents on computers.y applied to areas of computer science that involve computational theory, intelligent systems design, and applications.

At the completion of an undergraduate degree, computer science graduates should be familiar with the mathematical foundations of computation, have the ability to apply design techniques and programming practices in the solution of challenging problems, have an under-standing of how computer science theory relates to the fundamental workings of contemporary computing, and have a breadth of knowledge in the theory and practice of computer science.

At the completion of a graduate degree, computer science graduates also should have the ability to work in multidisciplinary environments with cross-functional teams, perform modeling and experimental analysis on challenging research problems, and investigate current advances in computing research for the purpose of making innovative contributions that are particularly expected at the Ph.D. level.Back to Top


Undergraduate Program

All students entering the computer science degree program are expected to follow the sequence of courses shown in the curriculum table in this section and must satisfy the requirements of the Dynamic Enrollment Management Plan (DEMP) for computer science and the College of Engineering. DEMP details are available from the department. Students demonstrating satisfactory performance may deviate from the specified sequence of courses only with the express approval of a computer science undergraduate advisor and only when such deviation is required to obtain a normal load of coursework for the student. Students may take a course no more than three times unless they have written permission from the computer science chairperson.

Computer science majors are not required to have a minor field. However, many students choose to pursue a minor. Minors can be pursued in virtually any field of study offered at Texas Tech. The minor must consist of a minimum of 18 hours, with at least six of those hours at the 3000 or 4000 level. A minor may require additional hours of study, depending on the particular minor field.

Minors in Computer Science. A minor in computer science consists of CS 1411, 1412, 2413 and three of the following courses: CS 1382, 3361, 3364, 3383.

Dual Degrees.Computer science is part of three dual-degree programs in which Bachelor of Science degrees can be earned in both computer science and another field. The electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) and chemical engineering and computer science (CHCS) dual-degree curriculum tables can be found under the listings for electrical engineering and chemical engineering, respectively. The mathematics and computer science (MACS) dual-degree curriculum table is listed below. This degree is administered through the College of Arts and Sciences and follows all requirements mandated for the Bachelor of Science degrees for both the Whitacre College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences. EECS and CHCS students are advised through the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, respectively; MACS students can choose to be advised in either the mathematics or computer science department.

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs. The department offers two combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science curricula. In both cases, completion of the degree requirements leads to the awarding of two degrees. In one curriculum, the degrees awarded are the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and the Master of Science in Computer Science; in the other, the degrees are the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and the Master of Science in Software Engineering. Students choosing the combined degree program would be initially admitted as pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The graduate component of the program would be added upon admission to the Master’s degree by the Graduate School during the student’s third year of study. Students must meet the university requirement to take the Graduate Record Examination as well as other graduate admission requirements of the department before enrolling in graduate-level courses.

Curriculum Tables

 

Graduate Program

The Department of Computer Sciences offers a number of graduate programs ranging from a Certificate in Software Engineering to a Doctorate of Philosophy. The department has an excellent graduate faculty with research specialties in a variety of areas, including programming language design, logic programming, artificial intelligence, distributed computing, software engineering, computer graphics, data mining, robotics, bioinformatics, and image compression. Further information is provided below and students also should refer to the Graduate School section of the catalog and general rules/regulations for graduate degrees.

Students who do not have a background in computer science are required to take a short series of courses to provide the necessary background knowledge for graduate study in computer science. These courses are required for leveling only; they cannot be counted in satisfying the required hours for graduation. Students in other departments at Texas Tech who wish to transfer to computer science must first complete all leveling courses or show that they have taken the equivalent courses at another university before their application will be considered.

Please see the Computer Science Department Web site for additional details and requirements of the Graduate Program and admissions (www.cs.ttu.edu).

 

Certificate in Software Engineering

The Certificate in Software Engineering is intended for those who do not need or wish to have a full graduate degree in software engineering or computer science. In particular, the certificate is directed towards working professionals and graduate students in non-computer science majors who are interested in systematic software development. In addition to any leveling requirements, coursework for the certificate requires 12 hours consisting of CS 5373 and 5374 plus two courses from the following list: CS 5332, 5355, 5363, 5377, 5379, 5380, and IE 5320.

 

Master’s Degree Program

Two general plans are available for the Master of Science degree: a 30-hour thesis plan and a 36-hour nonthesis plan. The 30-hour thesis plan requires 6 hours of CS 6000 and allows the application of 3 hours of CS 7000 credit as a CS elective. The 36-hour non-thesis plan allows students to choose among three options: a project, a report, or an exam. The nonthesis project/report option requires 3 hours of CS 6001/6002 and allows the application of 3 hours of CS 7000 credit as a CS elective. The nonthesis exam option requires a comprehensive exam near the end of the student’s studies and does not allow the application of CS 6000, 6001, 6002, or 7000 for credit. The CS 5301, 5302, and 5303 leveling courses may not be applied for credit towards the thesis or nonthesis plan. The thesis or nonthesis degree plan must be filed with the approval of the departmental graduate advisor within the student’s first semester of study.

Master of Science in Computer Science. The degree plan for students pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science must include two theory courses chosen from CS 5381, 5383, and 5384 as well as two systems courses chosen from CS 5352, 5375, and 5368. The thesis plan requires an additional four CS graduate elective courses (one of which may be CS 7000) and 6 hours of CS 6000. The nonthesis project/report option requires an additional seven CS graduate elective courses (one of which may be CS 7000) and 3 hours of CS 6001/6002. The nonthesis exam option requires an additional eight CS graduate elective courses; however, CS 6000, 6001, 6002, or 7000 may not be used as elective credit.

Master of Science in Software Engineering. The degree plan for students pursuing a Master of Science in Software Engineering (M.S.S.E.) must include CS 5363, 5373, and 5374 as well as SE electives (chosen from CS 5332, 5355, 5377, 5379, 5380; IE 5320) and CS electives (chosen from CS graduate courses). The thesis plan requires 6 hours of CS 6000 as well as three SE elective courses and two CS elective courses (one of which may be CS 7000). The nonthesis project/report option requires five SE elective courses, three CS elective courses (one of which may be CS 7000), and 3 hours of CS 6001/6002. The nonthesis exam option requires five SE elective courses and four CS elective courses; however, CS 6000, 6001, 6002, or 7000 may not be used as elective credit. The M.S.S.E. thesis option is not available for distance education students.

 

Doctoral Program

For the Ph.D. degree, students are required to demonstrate general knowledge in several areas of computer science and proficiency in a single research area. Certification of research proficiency will be based on a record of accomplished research. The record must be substantiated by published articles, technical reports, and papers presented at meetings, workshops, and conferences. The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 60 hours of graduate coursework, 12 hours of CS 8000 (Doctor’s Dissertation), and candidacy exam.Back to Top

 

Course Descriptions

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Faculty

Click here to view alphabetical listing of all TTU faculty and their academic credentials.

Joseph E. Urban, Ph.D., Chairperson

Horn Professor: Cooke
Professors: Gelfond, Hewett, J. Urban, S. Urban
Associate Professors: Lakhani, Lopez‑Benitez, Mengel, Pyeatt, Rushton, Shin, Sinzinger, Temkin, Watson, Zhuang
Assistant Professors: Andersen, Siami Namin, Sridharan, Youn, Zhang
Instructors: Pitalua, Rees, SrisinroongruangBack to Top

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