Bachelor of Arts: Computer Science
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant discipline 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.
Program Description
Please note that accreditation for the Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science (BACS), has not been requested.
This degree program serves to give the student excellent preparation for careers in computer science or for fields where CS is an important ingredient. Students receive a strong technical background in computer science, which is coupled with a broad, general education. The BA degree prepares for a career path where the student contributes to advancing infrastructures tailored for specific areas, often outside the core areas of computer science. Furthermore, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science as well as a minor in Computer Science are available.
Please contact the SS&C Student Services Center for more information at (816)235-2399 or sse@umkc.edu.
Educational Objectives
The undergraduate degrees in CS are designed so that graduates will attain employment and advance their careers in industry, government and academia. BA students will find employment in fields where computing is an important ingredient. Some graduates will achieve appropriate certifications and/or pursue advanced study in computer science or other graduate fields. Graduates will be engaged in lifelong learning and thereby advance in their careers.
Career Implications
Computers and processors of all sizes and descriptions appear in every area of the public and private sectors. Consequently, employment prospects for computer science degree holders remain steady. Current projections have the demand for computer science graduates exceeding the supply for many years to come. The range of opportunities open to the new graduate in computer science is impressive.
Computer science graduates are employed as members of technical staff, software engineers, programming or systems analysts, and scientific or application programmers by some of the nation's largest companies. These companies include internet based commerce and software based hi-tech industries, insurance, banks and financial institutions, computer and electronics manufacturers, the communications industry, the biomedical industry, the defense industry, and engineering firms.
Admission Requirements
High school students planning to apply to this degree program are strongly encouraged to take a college preparatory program that emphasizes mathematics, science and communication skills.
First-time college student applicants to the undergraduate program in computer science will be automatically admitted if they obtain:
- An ACT mathematics score of at least 25 and
- An ACT composite score of at least 24 and
- A 3.0 Core High School GPA
First-time college student applicants who do not meet the above criteria but do meet UMKC general admission requirements will have their applications reviewed for admission. Applicants who are not admitted to this degree program but do meet UMKC general admission requirements may be admitted to University College.
Students without the prerequisite preparation must take the needed coursework before enrolling in courses required for the bachelor's degree. Students seeking re-admission must have been in good academic standing when last enrolled. Otherwise, re-admission requires a formal review by the undergraduate program committee.
Transfer applicants must have at least 24 credits of transferable college credit, an overall 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in all coursework, which includes repeated coursework, attempted at previous institutions. Transfer applicants without a 2.0 or higher college GPA must submit a petition for admission.
Program Requirements
Curriculum requirements for both of the Computer Science degrees are categorized into several areas totaling at least 120 hours of study.
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (satisfied in major requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
A minimum grade of C- is required in all Computer Science, Math, and Stat coursework.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics (satisfies Math Pathway) | ||
| MATH 120 (Pre-Calculus; Typically not required due to ACT Admission Requirement) | ||
| MATH 210 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 220 | Calculus II | 4 |
| STAT 235 | Elementary Statistics 1 | 3 |
| or STAT 115 | Statistical Reasoning | |
| or MOTRMATH 110 | MOTR Statistical Reasoning | |
| Life and Physical Sciences | 7 | |
One Life Science course | ||
One Physical Science course | ||
With a minimum of one lab 2 | ||
| Synthesis Course Requirements | ||
| COMP-SCI 449 | Foundations of Software Engineering | 3 |
| COMP-SCI 451R | Software Engineering Capstone | 3 |
| Computer Science Requirements | ||
| COMP-SCI 101 & 101L | Problem Solving and Programming I and Problem Solving & Programming I Lab | 4 |
| COMP-SCI 191 | Discrete Structures I | 3 |
| COMP-SCI 201R & COMP-SCI 201L | Problem Solving and Programming II and Problem Solving and Programming II - Lab | 4 |
| COMP-SCI 281R | Introduction to Computer Architecture and Organization | 3 |
| COMP-SCI 291 | Discrete Structures II | 3 |
| COMP-SCI 303 | Data Structures | 3 |
| COMP-SCI 304 | Ethics and Professionalism | 3 |
| COMP-SCI 431 | Introduction to Operating Systems | 3 |
| COMP-SCI Electives (300 or 400 level) | 9 | |
Any 300- or 400-level elective not completed above | ||
| Functional Programming | ||
| Introduction to Cybersecurity | ||
| Client/Server Programming and Applications | ||
| Software Methods and Tools | ||
| Network Security | ||
| Digital Forensics | ||
| Distributed Computing Systems | ||
| Software Architecture: Requirements & Design | ||
| Software Testing and Verification | ||
| Data Compression | ||
| Blockchain Technologies | ||
| Software Security | ||
| COMP-SCI Advanced Electives (400 level) 3 | 3 | |
Any 400-level elective not completed above. | ||
| Internship (by petition) | ||
| Directed Readings (by petition) | ||
| Research Seminar (by petition) | ||
| Undergraduate Research (by petition) | ||
| Foreign Language Requirement 3 | ||
| Students must take a two course sequence of one foreign language, or have taken a two year sequence at high school. If foreign language requirement is waived due to high school credit, then students need to add up to ten (10) credit hours of General Electives to total 120 credit hours total for the BA COMP-SCI degree | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 68 | |
| 1 | Math Placement Assessment may be required. |
| 2 | A minimum of one lab in either from one of the following areas: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geosciences, or Physics. |
| 3 | To determine the correct placement in a foreign language, please visit: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/foreign-language-placement/ |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives | 22 | |
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Total Credit Hours: 120
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
