The undergraduate program offers study in computer science leading to the Bachelor of Science degree.

The undergraduate curriculum provides a general education in mathematics, science, and the humanities as well as an in-depth study of both the theoretical and applied aspects of computer software and hardware. Motivated students can become involved in the department's many research specialties. In addition, courses for non-majors emphasize the use of computing systems as problem-solving tools. Undergraduates have access to an extensive computing environment that includes over 150 Unix and Windows NT workstations.

Graduate students immerse themselves in the research activities of the department, which currently include asynchronous VLSI systems, automated knowledge acquisition, compilers, computer aided geometric design, computer architecture, computer graphics, computer vision, databases, educational computing, formal methods for system design, high-speed GaAs circuits, geometric modeling, human-computer interaction, information-based complexity, natural language processing, numerical analysis, operating systems, parallel and distributed computing, programming languages, robotics, scientific computing and visualization, security, software development tools, software engineering, structured VLSI design, and virtual environments.

These research activities are funded from a variety of federal, state, and industrial sources, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Department of Energy, the Office of Naval Research, the National Institutes of Health, the Utah State Centers of Excellence Program, Silicon Graphics, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM. The department is a partner in an NSF Science and Technology Center for Computer Graphics and Visualization. Along with Brown, Caltech, Cornell, and the University of North Carolina; it recently received an NSF Research Infrastructure award to support research activities requiring high bandwidth, low-latency machine-to-machine communications; and it is a key participant in the University's $20 million ASCI grant from the Department of Energy.

Graduate students have access to hundreds of Unix and Windows NT workstations and to the more specialized equipment that resides in the various research laboratories. This equipment includes a 60 CPU SGI Origin 2000 with 8 Infinite Reality Engines; SGI Power Challenge, Power Onyx, and Origin 200 computers; robot arms, mobile robots, and image digitization and display systems; a variety of visual and non visual virtual environment interfaces; a professional-quality video editing and teleconferencing facility; advanced graphics display workstations equipped with special-purpose graphics hardware; and a collection of numerically controlled equipment used to produce physical prototypes of computer-generated designs.

Additional Sources of Information
The department publishes undergraduate and graduate handbooks, which will generally have the most up-to-date information about degree requirements and course offerings. The handbooks are available in the departmental office or from the department's Web site.

The department offers Bachelor of Science degree and a minor in Computer Science. The Computer Engineering degree is offered jointly with Electrical Engineering; its description appears under its own heading elsewhere in this section of the catalog.

Undergraduate Program

Computer Science Degree. Computer Science students must meet special departmental admissions standards, maintain specified performance levels, and complete course requirements as outlined below. This program may be completed in four years if the student is able to take CP SC 2010 (Introduction to Computer Science I), MATH 1210 (Calculus I), and PHYCS 2210 (Physics for Scientists and Engineers) during the Fall Semester of the freshman year. (Only strong training in high school will allow a student to begin at this level.) Students not able to begin at this level may require more than four years to earn the degree.

Admission. Students, including transfer students, who do not meet departmental admission requirements are placed in a premajor category by the registrar. Such students are urged to visit the departmental undergraduate counselor for additional information.

In order to register for upper-division courses (3000-level or higher) in computer science, a student must first be admitted to full major status in the department. Applications for admission are reviewed in July each year. The department determines how many new majors are admitted annually based on laboratory facilities, computer resources, and available faculty.

To be considered for admission to full major status, a student must complete the following courses with a grade of C- or better: MATH 1210, 1220; PHYCS 2210, 2220; CP SC 2010, 2020; University writing requirement. In addition, the student must have received a grade of CR in CP SC 1010 and have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher. Note: Additional requirements for admission to the Computer Science program are being considered. Please see the academic counselor for details.

Applicants are ranked according to their composite GPA in the required courses listed above. In recent years, only the top 70 students have been admitted to full major status. The GPA of the last student admitted was approximately 3.5 in 1998.

All courses used in the calculation must be taken for letter grades. CR/NC grades are not acceptable except in CP SC 1010. Courses may be repeated only once. If a course is repeated, only the second grade received is used in the calculation. If the student receives a grade of W (withdrawal), I (incomplete), or V (audit), the course is considered taken. In addition, only four courses (three if any of them are semester classes) may be repeated without penalty; for any subsequent classes that a student repeats, only 80 percent of the grade points received on the first repeat are used in the evaluation.

If credit is granted for any of the above courses based on advanced-placement test scores, grades may be assigned for use in the calculation. Check with the departmental undergraduate counselor for details.

Transfer Students. Students planning to transfer to the University of Utah from another Utah college or university can get information on course equivalences from either their current school or from the department.
Students transferring from out-of-state schools must fill out the department's course-equivalence forms and have them signed by appropriate University of Utah faculty.

Transition Students. Students who were admitted to full major status during or before the summer quarter of 1997 may choose to graduate under either the old quarter-based requirements or the new semester-based requirements. Contact the departmental office for details.

Students who were admitted to full major status during or after the summer quarter of 1998 must complete the semester-based major requirements.

Because some or all of these students' premajor classes may have been completed under quarters, special requirements may apply. Contact the departmental office for details.

Requirements. Students must complete a minimum of 122 semester hours of course work including the requirements listed below:

General Education. Although this requirement is described in the Undergraduate Studies section of this catalog, Computer Science majors must satisfy more stringent requirements. The six classes taken to satisfy the intellectual explorations requirement must include one class numbered 3000 or higher, two classes that form an approved concentration, and either another class numbered 3000 or higher or another two-class concentration. A list of class pairs that form approved concentrations is available from the department.

Writing. WRTG 3400 (Professional Writing) is required.

Mathematics and Science. Required are MATH 1210 and 1220 (Calculus) and PHYCS 2210 and 2220 (Physics for Scientists and Engineers). In addition, students must take three additional math, science, and/or engineering courses, including at least two math courses. Each course must carry at least 3 semester hours. Students may choose BIOL 1000, CHEM 1210, or any math, science, or engineering course with a prerequisite of MATH 1220. Students typically choose courses that are prerequisites for their computer science electives.

Computer Science.
The following 7 computer science courses are required:
CP SC 1010, Introduction to Unix
CP SC 2010, Introduction to Computer Science I
CP SC 2020, Introduction to Computer Science II
CP SC 3100, Models of Computation
CP SC 3500, Software Practice
CP SC 3510, Algorithms and Data Structures
CP SC 3810, Computer Architecture
At least 4 of the following 5 courses must be taken:
CP SC 3200, Scientific Computation
CP SC 3520, Programming Languages
CP SC 3700, Digital Design
CP SC 5460, Operating Systems
CP SC 5470, Compilers
One of the following two courses must be taken:
CP SC 4500, Software Engineering Laboratory
CP SC 4970, Bachelor's Thesis
In addition, four elective computer science courses, totaling at least 12 semester hours, must be taken. Any computer science course at the 3000-level or above may be used, with the exception of CP SC 5010, CP SC 5020, and computer science seminars. No more than one CS elective may be an independent study class.

Duplication of Credit. No single course may be counted toward more than one of the requirements for the major.

Continuing Performance. In order to remain in good standing and graduate, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher and a GPA of 2.25 or higher in computer science courses. Each course taken to satisfy departmental requirements listed above must be passed with a grade of C- or better. A student may repeat upper division courses (3000-level or above) only once. All computer science classes taken to satisfy degree requirements must be taken for a letter grade; they may not be taken for CR/NC.

Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within four years of acceptance to full major status. Students not making satisfactory progress may be dropped from the department and declared inactive. Unsatisfactory progress is determined in one of two ways: (1) the student does not complete a computer science course for one year, or (2) there is no reasonable way the student can complete all degree requirements within the required time.

If personal circumstances prevent adequate progress, the student may request an extension of a specific duration and submit a revised schedule of completion. To be reinstated from inactive status, students must petition the Computer Science Undergraduate Committee. Reinstated students proceed under the latest graduation requirements.

Probation. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.25, or whose average grade in University of Utah computer science classes falls below 2.25, are placed on academic probation and given conditions for a return to good standing. Normally, these conditions must be met during the next two semesters, excluding summer. Students who fail to meet probationary conditions are dropped from department rolls.

All students admitted as full majors are automatically given probationary status. If a student's GPA in either of the above categories is below 2.25 at the end of the first academic year during which they take upper-level CS classes, the student is dropped from the department rolls.

Reinstatement requires a petition to the undergraduate committee. Reinstated students proceed under the latest graduation requirements.

Scholarships. The department, in cooperation with the College of Engineering, awards cash scholarships and tuition waivers each spring to deserving new and continuing computer science and computer engineering majors. Contact the department office for details.

Model Program of Study (for students working 20 hours or less/week)

First Year
Fall Semester (15.5)
MATH 1210 Calculus I (4)
CP SC 1010 Introduction to Unix (.5)
CP SC 2010 Computer Science I (4)
PHYCS 2210 Physics I (4)
WRTG 2010 Writing (3)
Spring Semester (15)
MATH 1220 Calculus II (4)
CP SC 2020 Computer Science II (4)
PHYCS 2220 Physics II (4)
General Education (3)

Second Year
Fall Semester (15)
CP SC 3500 Software Practice (4)
CP SC 3810 Computer Architecture (4)
Math/science elective (4)
General Education (3)
Spring Semester (16)
CP SC 3100 Models of Computation (3)
CP SC 3510 Algorithms/Data Strs (3)
Math/science elective (4)
General Education (3)
WRTG 3400 Professional Writing (3)

Third Year
Fall Semester (16)
CS restricted elective (3)
CS restricted elective (3)
Math/science elective (4)
General Education (3)
Free elective (3)
Spring Semester (15)
CS restricted elective (3)
CS restricted elective (3)
CS elective (3)
General Education (3)
Free elective (3)

Fourth Year
Fall Semester (15)
CS elective (3)
CS elective (3)
General Education (3)
Free Elective (3)
Free Elective (3)
Spring Semester (15)
Capstone Experience (3)
CS elective (3)
General Education (3)
Free elective (3)
Free elective (3)
Grand Total Hours: 122.5

Computer Science Minor. The department offers a minor for students who need a background sufficient to use and program computers in another field.

Admission. In order to be admitted, a student must have a declared major in another department and be making progress in that major. The maximum number of students accepted into the minor is determined by the faculty on an annual basis and is currently about 10. Priority is given to students who wish to pursue a teaching minor.

To be considered for admission as a minor, a student must complete the following courses: MATH 1210; CP SC 1010, 2010, 2020; University writing requirement. The GPA in those classes must exceed the cutoff for students admitted to full major status that year. The admission process is carried out in July.

Computer science minors are guaranteed admission into only the 3000-level computer science courses that comprise the minor and must add those courses through the departmental office. Minors may not take computer science classes numbered 4000 or above.

Computer science minors who wish to apply for full major status may do so by fulfilling the normal premajor requirements and following the admission procedures described under Admission to Major Status above.

Requirements. The minor consists of a minimum of 18.5 semester hours of computer science classes.
The following 4 computer science courses are required:
CP SC 1010, Introduction to UNIX
CP SC 2010, Introduction to Computer Science I
CP SC 2020, Introduction to Computer Science II
CP SC 3500, Software Practice
In addition, students must complete two additional 3000-level computer science courses.

Teaching Minor and Certification. Please refer to Education in the Colleges section for information on teaching minor course requirements and state secondary teacher certification.

Graduate Program

Degrees. M.S., Ph.D., M.Phil.
Director of Graduate Studies: Charles Hansen, 3458 MEB, hansen@cs.utah.edu, 581-3154; Graduate Secretary, Colleen Hoopes, 3190 MEB, hoopes@cs.utah.edu, 581-8224

Admission. The graduate program is open to students from all backgrounds. However, students entering graduate study from outside the computer science area may require additional preparation. Required are three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and scores from the aptitude and advanced computer science portion of the GRE.

Credit Limitations. Students may not count more than 8 semester hours of nonmatriculated graduate work toward any graduate degree without prior approval. Candidates for graduate degrees are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher with no grade below B- accepted for credit toward degrees. For more detailed information, see the Graduate Information section of this catalog.

M.S. Degree. The M.S. degree is a research degree offered through the Graduate School.

Admission to Candidacy. A student who has been accepted by the Graduate School is formally admitted to candidacy for the M.S. degree at the recommendation of the student's supervisory committee. Admission to candidacy occurs after the student forms a supervisory committee, files an approved Program of Study form, passes the comprehensive examination, and submits an approved thesis proposal.

Requirements. An application for candidacy must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the last day preceding the semester of graduation.

For the degree to be conferred, the approved Program of Study form must be completed and the thesis completed and publicly defended.

Course work listed on the approved Program of Study form must consist of at least 30 hours of graduate course work and thesis research. At least 24 hours must be completed in resident study at the University of Utah. A minimum of 20 hours in course work and at least 6 hours in thesis research is required. Students must maintain a B average or higher in course work listed on the Program of Study form; grades less than B-are not acceptable; all courses must be at the 5000 level or higher.
The following five courses are required:
CP SC 6100, Foundations of Computer Science
CP SC 6520, Programming Languages and Semantics
CP SC 5460, Operating Systems
CP SC 5470, Compiler Principles and Techniques
CP SC 6810, Advanced Computer Architecture

Ph.D. Degree. The Ph.D. is a research degree offered through the Graduate School.

Admission to Candidacy. A student who has been accepted by the Graduate School is formally admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. at the recommendation of the student's supervisory committee. Admission to candidacy occurs after the student forms a supervisory committee, files an approved Program of Study form, passes the comprehensive examinations, passes the oral qualifying examination, and submits an approved dissertation proposal.

Requirements. An application for candidacy must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the last day preceding the semester of graduation.

For the degree to be conferred, the approved Program of Study form must be completed and the thesis completed and publicly defended.

Course work listed on the approved Program of Study form must consist of at least 50 hours of graduate course work and dissertation research, exclusive of independent study. One year of study must be spent in full-time residency at the University. A minimum of 27 hours of course work and at least 14 hours of dissertation research is required. Students must maintain a B average or higher in course work listed on the Program of Study form; grades less than B- are not acceptable; all courses must be at the 5000 level or higher, except for CS courses, which must be at the 6000 level or higher.

M. Phil. Degree. This degree requires the same qualifications for admission and scholarly achievement as the Ph.D. However, it does not require a doctoral dissertation, and requires 54 hours of course work. All regulations covering the Ph.D. degree apply to the M.Phil. degree.

The department currently considers applications for admission to the M.Phil. program only from students already matriculated in the Ph.D. program.

Financial Aid
The department has attracted a large amount of external research funding in recent years, which means that all M.S. and Ph.D. students in good standing who have desired support have received it in the form of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. The department does not, however, guarantee support for all graduate students.

CP SC Course Descriptions
Computer Science Teaching Minor