Mar 03, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Computer Science (B.A.)

Program: B.A.
Department of Computer Science
College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science

Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Building 125 ~ 260-481-6803

The Bachelor of the Arts in Computer Science (BA CS) provides a degree path for students who want to combine a solid degree in Computer Science with an in-depth focus on a second area of interest. Consequently, the BA CS degree reduces the number of credit hours of specific supporting courses as required by the current Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BS CS) degree in order to make these hours available for an approved Second Discipline. Both BA CS and BS CS programs have similar CS core and concentration area requirements. As a consequence, the BA CS will offer interested students an interdisciplinary degree which will form a solid foundation for a secure career path. This program would more efficiently serve our students in achieving their academic goals as well as in developing skills that the global society needs.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The graduates from the Computer Science program are expected to know and gain the ability to:

Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

Program Delivery:

The Computer Science program is mainly delivered through on-campus courses. However, limited number of courses are available as hybrid courses.

Declaring This Major:

Students interested in declaring Computer Science as their major may do so in one of two ways:

On their application when they first apply to Purdue University Fort Wayne
After meeting with a CS faculty advisor, a change of major can be declared.

General Requirements:

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs. The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings. Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program. That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=1107&fos_credential=3

Program Requirements:

Computer Science B.A. 4-Yr Plan:

In addition to satisfying the requirements of Purdue Fort Wayne (Regulations ) and the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science (Colleges ), you must complete the following courses.

General Education: Credits 30

Effective Fall 2025, the General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better:

Category A. Foundational Intellectual Skills (Foundational Intellectual Skills Course Lists)
- One course in A1. Written Communication Cr. 3.
- One course in A2. Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.
- One course in A3. Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.
Category B. Ways of Knowing (Ways of Knowing Course Lists)
- One course in B4. Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B5. Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B6. Humanistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B7. Artistic Ways or Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B8. Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
Six additional credits from any Foundational Skills (A1-A3) or Ways of Knowing (B4-B8) categories
At least one Ways of Knowing course that is designated as having a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or global awareness

Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes. You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements .

General Education Recommendation

It is recommended that you complete the following general education course, CS 11200 , to fulfill Category B.8.

Supporting Courses: Credits 21-22

ENGL 13100 - Reading, Writing, And Inquiry I Cr. 3. (also fulfills General Education A.1 requirement)
ENGL 23401 - Technical Report Writing Cr. 3. (also fulfills General Education A.1 requirement)
COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication Cr. 3. (also fulfills General Education A.2 requirement)
Select 1 of the following:
MA 16500 - Analytic Geometry And Calculus I Cr. 4. (also fulfills General Education A.3 requirement)
MA 22900 - Calculus For The Managerial, Social, And Biological Sciences I Cr. 3. (also fulfills General Education A.3 requirement)
MA 17500 - Introduction To Discrete Mathematics Cr. 3.

Modeling or Statistics: Credits 3

Select 1 of the following:

MA 31400 - Introduction To Mathematical Modeling Cr. 3.
STAT 30100 - Elementary Statistical Methods Cr. 3.
STAT 51100 - Statistical Methods Cr. 3.

Advanced Communication: Credits 3

The Advanced Communication requirement may be satisfied by any COM or ENGL course with a prerequisite of COM 11400 or ENGL 13100. Any of ENGL 23301, COM 32300, 30300, 31000, 31800, or 32000 is recommended. Students may want to select a course that also meets general education requirements.

Computer Science Core Courses: Credits 45

CS 10500 - Computer Science Success Seminar Cr. 1.
CS 16000 - Introduction To Computer Science I Cr. 4.
CS 16100 - Introduction To Computer Science II Cr. 4.
CS 23200 - Introduction To C And Unix Cr. 3.
CS 26000 - Data Structures Cr. 3.
CS 27100 - Computer Architecture Cr. 3.
CS 35000 - Programming Language Design Cr. 3.
CS 36000 - Software Engineering Cr. 3.
CS 36400 - Introduction To Database Systems Cr. 3.
CS 37400 - Computer Networks Cr. 3.
CS 44500 - Computer Security Cr. 3.
CS 46000 - Senior Capstone Project I Cr. 3.
CS 46500 - Senior Capstone Project II Cr. 3.
CS 47200 - Operating Systems Design Cr. 3.
Any 3 credit hour CS course at the 30000/40000 level except CS 30600. The following course is recommended: CS 48600 - Analysis Of Algorithms Cr. 3.

Areas of Concentrations: Credits 12

To satisfy the Concentration Area requirement, at least six credit hours must be chosen from one area. The remaining credits may be distributed among the other areas. With departmental approval, up to six hours may be chosen from CS 49200 , CS 49400 or CS 49500 .

Software Engineering

CS 33100 - Introduction To C++ And Object-Oriented Programming Cr. 3.
CS 36800 - Human-Computer Interaction Cr. 3.
CS 46700 - Project Management Cr. 3.

Intelligent Systems and Security

May also select CS 38300 Cr. 3

CS 37200 - Web Application Development Cr. 3.
CS 38000 - Artificial Intelligence Cr. 3.

Data Science and Visual Computing

CS 32100 - Introduction To Computer Graphics Cr. 3.
CS 36500 - Advanced Database Systems Cr. 3.
CS 42100 - Advanced Computer Graphics Cr. 3.
CS 45700 - Introduction To Data Mining Cr. 3.

Advanced Computing

CS 38400 - Numerical Analysis Cr. 3.
CS 47400 - Compiler Construction Cr. 3.
CS 48600 - Analysis Of Algorithms Cr. 3.
CS 48800 - Theory Of Computation Cr. 3.

Second Discipline: Credits 21

Approved elective courses from a discipline other than CS. It is recommended that these courses are from a minor in the discipline. At least 12 credit hours courses must be at 20000 level or above. If a course in the discipline has been applied to other BA CS requirements, another course needs to be taken from this discipline to fulfill 21 credit hours of the second discipline requirement. If a discipline department does not offer a minor, it is expected that the student will contact the discipline department to obtain a list of appropriate courses in writing.

GPA Requirement

You must satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne and the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Cumulative GPA requirement for graduation.

Academic Regulations Specific to the Program

Only Computer Science Courses in which you have earned a grade of C or better can be applied to the degree or used to satisfy prerequisites.
A maximum of 10 credits with a grade of D will be accepted in non-CS courses.
No credit toward graduation will be given for courses or sequences with overlapping content.

Approved Electives

Sufficient additional courses approved by advisor to bring the total to 120.

Total Credits Required: 120

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.