The computer science program is designed to provide students with the educational background required for a professional career in the computing industry and for further study at the graduate level. The program includes a core of required courses and an elective program of courses over a wide range of topics. Seniors work in teams to carry out community-based projects during the two-term capstone course in software engineering.
The computer science curriculum at Portland State University is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - Telephone: (410) 347-7700. This national organization sets standards for computer science education defined in terms of curricular content, quality of faculty, and adequacy of facilities.
Admission requirements
Students who are intending to graduate with an undergraduate degree in computer science must be admitted to Portland State University and file the Application to the Computer Science Program with the Department of Computer Science after completing the lower-division requirements. Students should check with the Computer Science Department for deadlines and other details. No more than 8 upper-division computer science credits (including any approved upper-division transfer credits) taken prior to admission to the program will be counted toward the student’s departmental requirement of 48 upper-division computer science credits (CS 300, CS 305, CS 311, CS 321, CS 322, CS 333, CS 350, CS 486, CS 469, CS 470 and 12 credits of upper-division computer science electives). Students also must be in admitted status during the term they intend to graduate.
Eligibility for Admission
To be eligible for initial undergraduate admission, each student should meet the following requirements:
- Have completed each of the following core Computer Science courses: CS 162, CS 163, CS 201, CS 202, CS 250, and CS 251 with a grade of C or better.
- Have an overall average grade point of 2.0 or better in all required CS courses, computed over all graded attempts to take these courses. For example, if a student receives a D in CS 250, retakes it and receives a C, the student average grade point over these two attempts would be 1.5. However, a B in another required CS course, such as CS 202, would raise the average grade point to 2.0 over these three graded attempts. X’s and W’s are not counted as graded attempts.
- Have successfully completed a programming proficiency demonstration (consult with the CS Department for details and schedules).
- Have completed these required courses from outside the Computer Science Department with a grade of C- or better: Mth 251; Mth 252; an approved laboratory science sequence; Wr 227; Comm 220; and Freshman Inquiry or Wr 121.
- Have completed a minimum of 90 credits.
- Be in Good Academic Standing.
Students not meeting these requirements may petition the CS Appeals Committee for special admission.
Continuation Criteria
Admitted CS undergraduate students who are not making acceptable progress towards their degree requirements will be dropped from the program and required to reapply for admission. Acceptable progress is defined as completion of at least 8 credits of coursework with acceptable grades (C or better for required CS courses, C- or better for required non-CS courses), satisfying departmental requirements, over the preceding 12 months. Readmission will be determined by the CS Appeals Committee.
Prerequisite policy
Before enrolling in any Computer Science course, students should read the course description and ensure that they have completed all prerequisites with a grade of C or better for undergraduate courses, or a grade of B or better for graduate courses. Students who have not met this requirement may be administratively dropped from the course.