May 09, 2024  
General Catalog 2023-2024 
    
General Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science


About the Department

Shih-Hsi “Alex” Liu, Department Chair
Science II Building, Room C255
559.278.4373
csm.fresnostate.edu/csci/

Computer science is applied reasoning using both art and science. It requires the ability to communicate ideas through a combination of language and powerful technology. It is concerned with the interaction of humans and computers, as well as the application of computers to a myriad of specialized problems.

Program Description

The goal of the department is to offer programs to a diverse audience: (1) students interested primarily in computing, (2) students interested primarily in applying computing to some other field of study, and (3) students who wish to include computing as part of their general education. 

For the computer science major, courses are offered that represent both the core of study considered essential to all aspects of computing and advanced study sequences in particular fields of interest. The core classes introduce all majors to the spectrum of thought represented in computing. The advanced sequences allow the individual student to pursue concentrated work within such areas as computer architecture, artificial intelligence, databases, compilers, operating systems, computer science theory, computer graphics, software engineering, programming languages, networking, distributed systems, and parallel processing. The department also offers topics courses to keep students informed of current advances and methods in computing.

In addition to courses designed for majors, the department offers courses intended to introduce computing to nonmajors. These courses will benefit any major who wishes to include computing in their undergraduate study.

Interesting Classes You Might Take

  • Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving
  • Structures of Programming Languages
  • Web Programming
  • Artificial Intelligence Programming
  • Bioinformatics Computing
  • Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing
  • Game Development
  • Machine Learning
  • Big Data Analytics
  • Computer Security
  • Software Engineering
  • Database Systems
  • Computer Graphics
  • Design and Analysis of Algorithms
  • Parallel Processing
  • Simulation
  • Reinforcement Learning 

What You Can Learn

  • Computing knowledge based on the most recent ACM computing curricula recommendations.
  • Modern topics courses covering current advances and methods in computing.

Facilities

The department maintains three laboratories for use by students taking computer science classes. Individual faculty members possess high-end workstations/servers, cloud service credits and licensed software for teaching and research.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Computer Science program find job opportunities in software industry and other industries that require computing.

What You Can Earn

  • Programmer, $63,904 (in our region)
  • Software Engineer, $80,239 (in our region)
  • Application System Architect, $112,126 (in our region)

Source: HR reported data from salary.com glassdoor.com and salary.com as of Janurary 2022

Programs

    CertificatesBachelorMasterMinor