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2023-2024 UMaine Undergraduate Catalog
Computer Science
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 Return to: Majors and Minors
OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0
Minimum number of credits required to complete the major: BS: 88; BA: 71
Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: C or better in COS 125, COS 140, COS 225, MAT 126, and ENG 101.
Other GPA requirements to graduate: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all COS courses credited toward the major.
Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: either the two-course sequence of COS 397 and COS 497 or the CIS Research Capstone sequence of COS 501, INT 601, COS 503,
COS 504, followed by COS 498 (2 credit hours).
Courses satisfying the writing intensive requirement within the major: COS 397 and COS 497 or COS 490
Residency requirement: Majors in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences require a minimum of 15 institutional credits in the major.
Contact Information: School of Computing and Information Science, Undergraduate Coordinators Christopher Dufour, 134 Boardman Hall, christopher.dufour@maine.edu and Roy Turner, 240 Boardman Hall, rturner@maine.edu
The requirements listed on this page are specific to this particular major. Students are also responsible for meeting any graduation requirements set out by their college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) should make sure to review those requirements as stated on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences page of the catalog.
For more information about our undergraduate and graduate programs, program learning outcomes, internships, special resources and programs, and research and career opportunities, see our web site at https://umaine.edu/cs/.
Information about the Computer Science major
The School of Computing and Information Science (SCIS) offers two degrees for our majors. The B.S. degree provides a comprehensive foundation in computer science and prepares the student for a rewarding career in industry, business, government, or anywhere else that computing knowledge and skill is needed. It also provides solid foundation for graduate work in computer science and computing-related fields. The B.S. degree is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The B.A. degree gives the student a strong foundation in computer science while providing more flexibility for coursework outside the major. Like the B.S., it also prepares the student for a rewarding career in computing or for graduate work. Note that the B.S. does not require a minor, but the B.A. does.
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Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science
Computer Science Courses - 53 credit hours
Mathematics Courses - 15-16 credit hours
Capstone Experience:
To meet the capstone requirement for the B.S., students must use their accumulated knowledge of the field in addressing a particular problem. Students may meet the capstone requirement through completing COS 397 and COS 497. Alternately, students may meet the capstone requirement through completing the CIS Research Capstone sequence of COS 501, INT 601, COS 503, COS 504, followed by COS 498 - Topics in Computer Science (2 credit hours).
Science - 14 credit hours
This must include a two-semester laboratory science sequence from either BIO 100/200 or BIO 100/208 or CHY 121/123 and CHY 122/124, ERS 101/102 or PHY 121/122 for a total of 8 hours, and an additional 6 hours of science courses. Courses fulfilling this requirement may be from any of the following areas:
- Astronomy (AST; except AST 114)
- Biological Sciences (BIO)
- Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology (BMB; BMB 280 and above)
- Chemistry (CHY; CHY 121 and above)
- Earth Sciences (ERS)
- Marine Science (SMS)
- Physics (PHY; PHY 111 and above)**
- Wildlife Ecology (WLE; WLE 200 and above)
*A student must complete these courses with a grade of C or higher in each.
**A student cannot count both PHY 111/112 and PHY 121/122
Model Curricula for the B.S. in Computer Science
We provide here two model curricula, one for students who are calculus-ready and one for students who are not. Calculus-readiness is assessed by the student having achieved a grade of C or better in MAT 122 Pre-Calculus; or no grade record in MAT 122 and a passing score on Part 3 of the Math Placement Exam (a score of 76 or higher on the ALEK exam) to allow you to enter MAT 126 or higher. If you are calculus-ready, Model A is the model curriculum that applies to you; if not, then see Model B.
Most students will not follow the model curriculum exactly. Electives may be moved around and some adjustments might need to be made based on credit hours of courses taken (e.g., if you take a 4 credit statistics course instead of a 3 credit course). Please be aware: (1) that certain students on financial aid must take a minimum of 15 credits per semester; (2) that sufficient hours must be included to reach the University degree minimum of 120; and (3) all School, College, and University requirements must be met. You should discuss your planned schedule and progress with your assigned academic advisor during registration times each semester.
The term “General education” below should be interpreted to mean a course helping to satisfy the Human Values and Social Context portion of the General Education requirements. The other portions are satisfied by our own requirements for the degree.
NOTE: All courses required by the Computer Science Program must be taken for a grade; courses taken pass/fail will not count. (An exception to this policy may be in effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic; see umaine.edu/return for further information.) Courses marked with an asterisk (*) below must be completed with a grade of “C” or better in each. A grade of C- is insufficient.
Model A: Suggested four-year plan for the B.S.students taking Calculus I or higher in their first semester)
First Year - First Semester (15 Credits)
First Year - Second Semester (16 Credits)
Second Year - First Semester (16 Credits)
Second Year - Second Semester (15 Credits)
Three Year - First Semester (16 Credits)
Third Year - Second Semester (16 Credits)
Fourth Year - First Semester (15 Credits)
Fourth Year - Second Semester (12 Credits)
Model B: Suggested four-year plan for the B.S. students NOT taking Calculus I or higher in their first semester
First Year - First Semester (14 Credits)
First Year - Second Semester (17 Credits)
Second Year - First Semester (17 Credits)
Second Year - Second Semester (16 Credits)
Third Year- First Semester (16 Credits)
Third Year - Second Semester (16 Credits)
Fourth Year - First Semester (15 Credits)
Fourth Year - Second Semester (15 Credits)
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Computer Science
Computer Science Courses - 50 credit hours
Mathematics Courses - 15-16 hours
Capstone Experience:
To meet the capstone requirement for the B.A., students must use their accumulated knowledge of the field in addressing a particular problem. Students may meet the capstone requirement through completing COS 397 and COS 497. Alternately, students may meet the capstone requirement through completing the CIS Research Capstone sequence of COS 501, INT 601, COS 503, COS 504, followed by COS 498 - Topics in Computer Science (2 credit hours).
Minor
Students must complete an approved minor in some department outside of Computer Science.
Model Curricula: See umaine.edu/cis.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
The School of Computing and Information Science has many research laboratories focusing on such areas as artificial intelligence, computer vision, software engineering and privacy, computer science education, data science, high-performance computing, database systems, data visualization, spatial informatics, and new media. Most of these laboratories routinely include undergraduates who assist the professors and the graduate students in their research. Students are mentored by the professors and graduate students, and they get a good idea of what research and graduate school is like. In addition to the interesting and valuable experience gained, the students are often paid and/or co-author research papers.
Career Opportunities
Computer Science graduates are well-positioned to secure rewarding, high-paying jobs in the computer industry that are relatively immune to outsourcing. In addition, graduates can also apply their knowledge wherever computers are used, including industry and business, research institutions, educational institutions, and government laboratories and agencies. The B.S. and B.A. degrees both provide a rigorous emphasis on computer science along with a strong liberal arts education. Graduates of the School of Computing and Information Science are also well prepared to enter graduate school for further study in computer science or other related fields or, with some additional preparation, to enter a professional school.
Graduate Work
The School offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science, the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Spatial Information Science and Engineering, the Master of Science in Spatial Informatics, and the Master of Science (M.S.) in Information Systems, and a 4+1 (B.S. + M.S.) in Computer Science. Please see the graduate catalog and umaine.edu/cis page for more information.
4+1 BS/MS Degree Program in Computer Science
SCIS, in conjunction with the University of Maine Graduate School, offers the opportunity for Computer Science majors to begin taking graduate courses during their senior year, double-counting up to 9 credits toward the BS and the MS. Enterprising students will then be able to get a non-thesis MS by staying one extra year during which they will complete the remaining 21 credits required by the MS.
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