Bachelor of Science in
Computer Science
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree program at Embry-Riddle prepares students to emerge with a solid foundation in computer science basics, advanced computer science topics, and software engineering practices. Led by dedicated faculty who bring real-world experience and provide one-on-one interaction with students, the Computer Science program at ERAU is highly regarded.
The bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Embry-Riddle allows students to choose either a standard computer science track or select one of four areas of concentration — Cyber Security Engineering, Business Administration, Homeland Security, or Human Factors.
Typically ranked in many top career or opportunity lists, the availability of jobs in Computer Science continues to grow as society’s dependence on computers and computer systems continues to increase. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, positions in Computer Science are expected to grow by 15 percent between 2012 and 2022, characterized as a “faster than average” rate among all professions.
The Computer Science degree generalizes to areas outside of aviation more so than many other degrees offered by ERAU.
Computer Science students at ERAU benefit from the high-tech atmosphere featuring state-of-the-art computer facilities, team software development and real-time hardware laboratories, and a wide range of cutting-edge tools and resources. Some examples include the Electrical, Computer, Software, and Systems Engineering Capstone Design Labs.
Qualified students have opportunities to participate in research projects that integrate software engineering with actual simulation and flight systems.
DEGREE DETAILS
About Computer Science at the Daytona Beach, FL Campus
Part of the Electrical, Computer, Software, and Systems Engineering Department of the College of Engineering, the B.S. in Computer Science degree program blends theory and applications to prepare students for many different commercial or government computer science and software engineering positions, while simultaneously laying a foundation for graduate studies in computer science or software engineering.
- First-year curriculum includes courses in general education, math, science, and computing, such as computing fundamentals, applied computing, and other courses depending on the student’s area of concentration.
- The program integrates computing with mathematical modeling and data visualization to create solutions to problems that arise in nature, business, human behavior, security, and other areas where computing can be used to address complex situations.
- The aerospace industry is always evolving; students get to work with the latest electronics and digital systems.
- The program offers four areas of concentration where students can practice their technical proficiency in an application domain: Business administration, cybersecurity engineering, homeland security, or human factors. The program can also be taken without specification.
- Computer Science is one of four undergraduate degrees in the ECSSE department, with each involving a high degree of systems thinking: understanding how the individual parts of a complex system fit together to make a working whole. Students don’t just work within their own discipline; they interact with other disciplines, too, just like real-world engineers.
The curriculum for the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science includes courses in software development, computer organization, database systems, and software engineering. The program provides a blend of theory and applications that prepare students for a variety of computer science and software engineering positions in scientific and business fields, and lays the foundation for graduate studies in computer science and software engineering. The Computer Science program allows students interested in this area of computing to complement their computing knowledge with one other application area chosen from the different areas of concentration.
The Program Educational Objectives of the Computer Science program as offered at the Daytona Beach Campus are that our graduates:
- Employ sound principles and practices to effectively design, implement and evaluate computer-based systems or components in their chosen areas of concentrated study, as they relate to aerospace, aviation and related fields.
- Demonstrate professionalism, including continued learning and professional activities.
- Contribute to society by behaving ethically and responsibly.
- Communicate effectively in oral, written and newly developing modes and media.
- Successfully assume a variety of roles in teams of diverse membership.
There are four Areas of Concentration (AOC) to choose from: Business Administration, Cybersecurity Engineering, Homeland Security, and Human Factors. The courses in the AOC allow students to broaden their general education or pursue specific interests. Upper-level courses involve students in team projects that emphasize industrial processes and practices.
Standard Track
The Computer Science degree may be attained without selecting an Area of Concentration. This option is designed to fulfill the requirements of a traditional computer science program while producing graduates who are able to succeed in a wide range of employment situations.
Business Administration Area of Concentration
The Computer Science degree with an Area of Concentration in Business Administration is designed to produce graduates who can operate at the intersection of business administration, management, computer science, and software engineering. This program provides students with an in-depth knowledge associated with computing and management fundamentals. Graduates of this program have an opportunity to pursue graduate studies in computing or management, or careers in the computing industry, management, or entrepreneurship
Cybersecurity Engineering Area of Concentration
The Computer Science degree with an Area of Concentration in Cybersecurity Engineering produces graduates who have solid knowledge of computer science and cybersecurity. The curriculum emphasizes securing and defending networks and communications through secure system design and implementation. Graduates will have a very strong computer science core followed by a strong core in cybersecurity engineering and will be ready to work in a wide range of institutions belonging to government or industry.
Homeland Security Area of Concentration
The Computer Science degree with an Area of Concentration in Homeland Security produces graduates who operate at the intersection of homeland security, computer and data network security, computer science, and software engineering. Graduates will have a very strong core composed of elements from homeland security, computer science, and software engineering, and will be ready to work in government or industry in the homeland security or other security-related careers.
Human Factors Area of Concentration
Human Factors is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates aspects of psychology, systems engineering, and computer science toward the improvement of the interface between operator and equipment. The intention is to improve designs to make them safer, more reliable, and easier to use for the system operator by understanding the capabilities and limitations of the operator.
The Computer Science degree with Area of Concentration in Human Factors is designed to produce graduates who can operate at the intersection of human factors, computer science, and the quality assurance area. This degree program integrates computing, human factors, and software engineering. Students will have a very strong core of computing, as well as exposure to in-depth human factors and quality assurance.
Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Science degree can be earned in eight semesters assuming appropriate background and full-time enrollment. Successful completion of a minimum of 120 - 122 credit hours is required, depending on Area of Concentration. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is needed for all required CEC, CS, EE, SE and EGR courses that fulfill any degree requirement.
Students entering this program should have demonstrated a competence in Mathematics and Science (preferably Physics). They should be prepared to enter Calculus I, having demonstrated proficiency in Algebra and Trigonometry. Students can prepare for this program by taking MA 140 and MA 142, or MA 143 prior to taking MA 241.
The Computer Science program is designed to prepare students to work as part of a team on the development of software systems. Software engineering concepts are integrated through the curriculum. The curriculum includes courses in general education, math, science, and computing. The latter is divided into computing fundamentals, advanced concepts, applied computing, and software engineering. In addition, a student is may select an area of concentration in a domain area of interest.
Students should be aware that several courses in each academic year may have prerequisites and/or corequisites (check the course descriptions before registering for classes to ensure requisite sequencing).
See the Common Year One outline in the Engineering Fundamentals Program Introduction. CS 223 is a required course for this degree program.
Computer Science Core
| CEC 220 | Digital Circuit Design | 3 |
| CEC 470 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| COM 122 | English Composition | 3 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| CS 222 | Introduction to Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CS 223 | Scientific Programming in C | 3 |
| CS 225 | Computer Science II | 4 |
| CS 315 | Data Structures and Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 332 | Organization of Programming Languages | 3 |
| CS 344 | C Programming and UNIX | 3 |
| CS 420 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS 490 | Computer Science Capstone Design I | 3 |
| CS 491 | Computer Science Capstone Design II | 3 |
| EGR 101 | Introduction to Engineering | 2 |
| MA 241 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry I | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry II | 4 |
| SE 300 | Software Engineering Practices | 4 |
| Humanities Lower-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Lower-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Social Sciences Lower-Level Elective | 3 | |
| UNIV 101 | College Success | 1 |
| Total Credits | 70 | |
Standard Track
| CS 317 | Files and Database Systems | 3 |
| MA 348 | Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| MA 412 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| or MA 222 | Business Statistics | |
| SE 320 | Software Construction | 3 |
| SE 420 | Software Quality Assurance | 3 |
| PS Science I * | 3 | |
| PS Science II * | 3 | |
| PS Science III * | 4 | |
| MA 300/400 Electives | 9 | |
| CEC/CS/EE/SE Upper-Level Elective | 6 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Specified Electives | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
Business Administration Area of Concentration
| BA 201 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BA 210 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| BA 220 | Marketing | 3 |
| BA 225 | Business Law | 3 |
| BA 317 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| BA 325 | Social Responsibility and Ethics in Management | 3 |
| BA 422 | Life Cycle Analysis for Systems and Programs in Aviation/Aerospace | 3 |
| CS 317 | Files and Database Systems | 3 |
| MA 222 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| MA 348 | Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| PS Science I * | 3 | |
| PS Science II * | 3 | |
| PS Science III with Laboratory * | 4 | |
| BA 400 Level Elective | 3 | |
| CE/CS/EE/SE Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| MA 300/400 Level Elective | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
Cybersecurity Engineering Area of Concentration
| CEC 320 | Microprocessor Systems | 3 |
| CEC 322 | Microprocessor Systems Laboratory | 1 |
| CS 303 | Network Security | 3 |
| CS 426 | Digital Forensics | 3 |
| CS 427 | System Exploitation and Penetration Testing | 3 |
| CS 428 | Applied Cryptography | 3 |
| CS 432 | Information and Computer Security | 3 |
| CYB 155 | Foundations of Information Security | 3 |
| CYB 465 | Cybercrime and Cyberlaw | 3 |
| MA 412 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| or MA 222 | Business Statistics | |
| 300/400 Electives ** | 6 | |
| MA 300/400 Level Electives | 6 | |
| PS Science I * | 3 | |
| PS Science II * | 3 | |
| PS Science III with Laboratory * | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
Homeland Security Area of Concentration
| CEC 460 | Telecommunications Systems | 3 |
| CS 303 | Network Security | 3 |
| CS 432 | Information and Computer Security | 3 |
| HS 110 | Introduction to Homeland Security | 3 |
| HS 215 | Introduction to Industrial Security | 3 |
| HS 280 | Professional Skills in Homeland Security | 3 |
| HS 310 | Fundamentals of Emergency Management | 3 |
| HS 315 | Critical Infrastructure Security, Resilience, and Risk Analysis | 3 |
| HS 320 | Homeland Security Law and Policy | 3 |
| HS 325 | Terrorism: Origin, Ideologies, and Goals | 3 |
| MA 412 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| or MA 222 | Business Statistics | |
| PS 150 | Physics for Engineers I | 3 |
| PS 160 | Physics for Engineers II | 3 |
| PS 250 | Physics for Engineers III | 3 |
| PS 253 | Physics Laboratory for Engineers | 1 |
| MA 300/400 Level Electives | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
Human Factors Area of Concentration
| HF 300 | Human Factors I: Principles and Fundamentals | 3 |
| HF 302 | Human Factors II: Analytic Methods and Techniques | 4 |
| HF 306 | Human Factors III: Performance Processes | 4 |
| HF 310 | Human-Computer Interaction | 3 |
| HF 400 | Human Factors IV: System Design | 4 |
| MA 222 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| or MA 412 | Probability and Statistics | |
| MA 348 | Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 312 | Research Analysis in Psychology | 4 |
| or PSY 322 | Research Design | |
| PS Science I * | 3 | |
| PS Science II * | 3 | |
| PS Science III with Laboratory * | 4 | |
| CEC/CS/SE/SYS Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| HF/PSY Elective | 3 | |
| MA 300/400 Level Electives | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
| Total Degree Requirements | 120-122 | |
| * | Students may satisfy the science requirements by choosing one of the course sequences identified below. |
| ** | 300/400 level elective courses with the approval of the program coordinator. |
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Degree Summary
120-122 Credits
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