Welcome to the Computer Science program at Missouri Baptist University!

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Mission Statement: In accordance with the mission of Missouri Baptist University and the academic program, the mission of the Computer Science discipline is to equip students to enter the competitive field of Information Technology and to develop a life-long career in this field. Students should also be equipped to enter graduate school and complete an advanced degree in a related field.

One curriculum is offered with two tracks: Computer Science and Information Systems. These two tracks allow the student to pursue those courses of study most applicable to the student’s particular career/educational aspirations. The Computer Science Track focuses on traditional Computer Science, giving students a more rigorous mathematical background, and a basic knowledge of physics, and preparing students equally for a career in Information Technology related disciplines or for graduate level study in Computer Science. The Information Systems track focuses on systems analysis and traditional MIS activities, preparing students for careers in business and industry in critical CIS/MIS roles. These two tracks are based on IS2000 model curriculum and CC2001 model curriculum. IS2000 model curriculum is the collaborative curricular effort of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) (formerly DPMA) societies, and is supported by other interested organizations. CC2001 model curriculum for small departments is designed by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

MAJOR: (includes Business Administration Minor)

Business Division Core Requirements

Computer Science Core Requirements, CS and CIS

Required Computer Science (BCSC) Courses

COMPUTER SCIENCE TRACK (CS)

Required Mathematics (MATH) and Physics (PHYS) Courses

Required Computer Science (BCSC) Courses

Plus electives necessary to complete a 128 hour degree program.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS TRACK (CIS)

Required Mathematics (MATH) Courses

Required Information Systems (BCIS) Courses

Plus electives necessary to complete a 128 hour degree program.

MINOR: Computer Science (for All Majors)

Required Computer Science (BCSC) Courses:

MINOR: Information Systems (for All Majors)

Required Computer Science (BCSC) Courses:

Required Information Systems (BCIS) Courses:

Computer Science (BCSC) Courses

BCSC 133 PROGRAMMING I

This course is an introduction to programming using a high-level language.  Topics include basic control structures, input/output, functions, arrays, text files, introduction to software engineering, and ethics of computing.

Three hours, Fall

BCSC 143 PROGRAMMING II
This course is a continuation of BCSC 133. This course emphasizes object-oriented concepts and techniques and looks at the development and use of data structures.  Topics include pointer variables, linked lists, stacks, queues, binary trees, tree traversal algorithms, binary search and its complexity, recursion, sorting algorithms and their complexity, binary files and file organization.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 133.                                                                             

Three hours, Spring

BCSC 203 DISCRETE STRUCTURES
Introduction to topics in discrete structures for computer science majors. Topics include propositional and predicate logic, sets, induction, recursion, relations, functions, combinatorial enumeration, Boolean algebra, and finite state machines. Applications of these topics to computer science are discussed.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 133 and MATH 133 or equivalent HS math background. 

Three hours, Spring

BCSC 333 SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE
This course provides an introduction to digital logic and the fundamentals of computer architecture, examines the basic building blocks of a computer system and studies various computer architectures, hardware and software trends, and includes a discussion of assembly programming.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 133. 

Three hours, Spring

BCSC 343 ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMS
Topics include analysis of algorithms; design techniques for efficient algorithms; induction; recursion; divide and conquer; greedy algorithms; dynamic programming; probabilistic algorithms; examples of geometric, combinatorial, and graph algorithms; pattern matching; fast Fourier transform; introduction to NP-completeness.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 143 and BCSC 203. 

Three hours, Spring, Even Years

BCSC 353 DATABASE CONCEPTS
This course examines principles of database design and implementation, including physical representation, and data modeling.  Students will learn to develop relational databases using a DBMS.  Students will also learn the fundamentals of SQL, and database development techniques.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 143.

Three hours, Fall

BCSC 373 OPERATING SYSTEMS
This course examines the principles of operating system design and function.  System programming is also considered.  Students are presented with various common operating systems, including UNIX/Linux, and Windows.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 143, and BCSC 333. 

Three hours, Fall, Even Years

BCSC 413 INTERNET PROGRAMMING

This course gives advanced CS/CIS students a look at the fundamental protocols in use on the Internet, through programming exercises.  Students will implement clients and/or servers for selected well-known protocols. Covers Internet formats such as HTML and MIME, major protocols for Internet applications such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and POP.  Also covers server-side scripting, security issues, and encryption-based security mechanisms.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 143 and BCIS 303.

Three hours, Fall, Odd Years

BCSC 433 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
Study of principles of programming languages.  Emphasizes language paradigms and important features, structures, and characteristics of modern high-level programming languages.  Examples of languages in each paradigm will be studied, including procedural programming, logic programming, and object-oriented programming.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 143. 

Three hours, Fall, Odd Years

BCSC 453 THEORY OF COMPUTATION
This course introduces students to mathematical logic; alphabets and languages; finite automata, regular and non-regular languages, Kleene's theorem; regular grammars; pushdown automata and context-free grammars; Turing and Post machines; recursive and recursively enumerable languages; the Chomsky Hierarchy.

Prerequisite(s): BCIS 143, BCSC 203, and BCSC 433. 

Three hours, Spring, Odd Years

BCSC 473/BCIS 473 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING I – ANALYSIS & DESIGN
This course provides an understanding of the software engineering process. It introduces structured analysis and design, object-oriented analysis and design, the use of data modeling and CASE tools, and development and adherence to life-cycle standards.  This course also examines software testing principles, process and product metrics.  This course provides a foundation for advanced study in CIS.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 143, BCSC 353 and Junior or Senior standing. 

Three hours, Fall

BCSC 483/BCIS 483 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING II – PROJECT MANAGEMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

This course is a continuation of BCSC 473/BCIS 473.  Advanced Computer Science and Information Systems majors, operating as a high-performance team, will engage in, and complete, the design and implementation of a significant information system.  Project management, management of the IS function, and systems integration will be components of the project experience. Student teams will carry their project begun in BCSC 473/BCIS 473 through implementation, testing, and delivery, the traditional “downstream” phases of the development process. 

Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior standing and completion of BCSC 473/BCIS 473 with a grade of C or better.

Three hours, Spring

Information Systems (BCIS) Courses

BCIS 103 SURVEY OF COMPUTING
This course is an introductory survey of the field of computing, with emphasis on personal computing, and the Microsoft Windows environment.  Students are introduced to a wide range of computer topics, with the purpose of giving them an elementary understanding of computers as they impact everyday life.  Topics include computers and their uses, the Internet, computer hardware and architecture, input/output devices, storage concepts, and other relevant subject matter.  Hands-on instruction is provided to train students in the use of the Microsoft Office software suite. This course satisfies the computer literacy requirement for all baccalaureate degree programs.

Prerequisite(s): None.

Three hours, Fall, Spring, Summer

BCIS 111, 211, 311 INFORMATION SCIENCE SEMINAR

One-hour seminar course offered in the Winterim or May-term covering current topics in Information Science.  Topics will be announced prior to each term.  Credit may be earned once at each level.  Credit may not be earned for the same topic at more than one level.

Prerequisite(s): None.

One-hour, May, Winterim

BCIS 123 ADVANCED PERSONAL COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Students will improve their skills as knowledge workers through efficient and effective use of commercial productivity software, with particular emphasis placed on Spreadsheet and DBMS programs.  Office integration and Web features are also examined.

Prerequisite(s): BCIS 103

Three hours, Spring, Summer

BCIS 303 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THEORY AND PRACTICE

This course provides an understanding of organizational information technology, including new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, object oriented programming and enterprise operating systems. It covers an introduction to quality and decision theory, information theory, and practice essential for providing viable information to the organization. It outlines the concepts of IT for competitive advantage, data as a resource, IS, and IT planning and implementation.

Prerequisite(s): BCIS 103 or equivalent.

Three hours, Fall

BCIS 313 NETWORKS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

This course provided students with knowledge of telecommunications fundamentals, voice-video-data for LANs, MANs, and WANs, which include switched network systems.  Data communication and telecommunication models and standards, concepts, and standard organizations will be studied.

Prerequisite(s): BCIS 303 and BCSC 333.

Three hours, Fall

BCIS 323 WEB DESIGN AND PROGRAMMING

This course introduces Java as a powerful object-oriented language for developing dynamic Web content.  Other programming and development tools are also explored.  Students are required to develop their own Web presence.

Prerequisite(s): BCIS 143 or instructor consent.

Three hours, Spring, Odd Years

BCIS 363 INTERMEDIATE TOPICS IN CIS
This course is a self-directed study course, which allows students to pursue study at an intermediate level in areas not typically covered in the curriculum.  Proposed topics of study must receive prior approval from the division chair, and the CIS faculty.

Prerequisite(s): BCIS 223, Junior standing, and approval of the division chair and course advisor.

Three hours, On Demand

BCIS 403 DATABASE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
This course introduces students to database-driven application development.  Students will draw upon the knowledge and skills learned in previous courses, and extend that knowledge through the development of applications which use databases.  This course covers physical design, programming, testing, and implementation of the system. Implementation of object-oriented, client-server designs using a programming environment is explored.  A high-level programming language will be used to interface with a database.

Prerequisite(s): BCSC 143 and BCSC 353.

Three hours, Spring

BCIS 413 ADVANCED NETWORKING APPLICATIONS

This course continues the study of networking and telecommunications by presenting topics that include principles and specific implementation of local area network systems including predominant networking products and methodologies. Includes supervised structured laboratory exercises.

Prerequisite(s): BCIS 313.

Three hours, Fall, Even Years

BCIS 423 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

This course explores the principles and concepts involved in the management of organizational information system resources. Students’ familiarity with the fundamental terminology is assumed, as is a basic understanding of essential management practices. Topics include enterprise-wide issues, security considerations, and the ethical and social challenges faced in the Information Age.

Prerequisite(s): BCIS 303 AND MGMT 303.

Three hours, Spring, Odd Years

BCIS 463 ADVANCED TOPICS IN CIS
This course is a self-directed study course, which allows students to pursue study at an advanced level in areas not typically covered in the curriculum.  Proposed topics of study must receive prior approval from the division chair, and the CIS faculty.  Topics of study must not duplicate material for which the student has already received credit in BCIS 363.

Prerequisite: Senior standing, a strong background in CIS, and approval of the division chair and course advisor.

Three hours, On Demand