Bachelor's in Computer Science | Clarkson University

Build the Software That Drives Society

Software touches every part of our lives. Computer scientists create that software and solve problems to make that software even more useful. They do this by using their knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, human-computer interaction, and algorithms, among other areas of computer science. With a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Clarkson University, you'll be ready to create tomorrow's technology.

Why Major in Computer Science at Clarkson?

Software is at the core of computer science, and you'll become a proficient coder in this program. More importantly, though, you'll gain a deep understanding of computer science and you'll learn to solve hard problems to make software even better and more useful.

As an undergraduate at Clarkson, you'll study topics such as:

Software design and development
Algorithms and data structures
Operating systems and computer networks
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision
Virtual reality and human-computer interaction

The Department of Computer Science is a small, research department, which is an unusual combination for a computer science program. Our small size leads to a friendly, collaborative atmosphere among students, and to personal attention from the faculty.

The fact that we are a research department means that you'll have the opportunity to get involved in research and help professors push forward the boundaries of the field. It also means that your upper-level CS courses will be taught by experts and that you'll share in the excitement of a program where new knowledge is being created and not just transmitted.

And, our Computer Science Class of 2023 had a 100 percent placement rate.

What You'll Learn

Of the 120 credit hours you need to earn a bachelor's degree, the Computer Science major consists of 70 credit hours of computer science, mathematics and science. This leaves you the flexibility to declare a minor or even a second major.

Your computer science courses will cover topics such as:

Software design and development
Algorithms and data structures
Programming Languages
Theory of computation
Operating systems
Computer networks
Artificial intelligence
Machine learning
Computer vision
Virtual reality
Human-computer interaction
Quantum computation

Curriculum

The computer science program consists of 43 credits hours in computer science, 15 credit hours in mathematics, and 12 credit hours in science. 30 credit hours are in free electives, which is enough to complete a minor or second major if you so choose.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

Computer Science Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

Computer Science:

CS141 Introduction to Computer Science I (4 credits)
CS142 Introduction to Computer Science II
CS241 Computer Organization
CS242 Advanced Programming Concepts in Java
CS341 Programming Languages
CS344 Algorithms & Data Structures
CS345 Automata Theory & Formal Languages
CS350 Software Design & Development
CS444 Operating Systems
CS499 Professional Experience

Professional Experience

Students are required to complete the following Professional Experience:
CS499 Professional Experience (0 credits)

Math Courses for Computer Science

Students are required to complete the following courses:

MA131 Calculus I
MA132 Calculus II
MA211 Foundations
MA339 Applied Linear Algebra
or MA239 Elementary Linear Algebra
STAT383 Probability & Statistics
or STAT381 Probability

Computer Science Core Electives

Students must complete three of the following courses:

CS442 Computational Complexity
CS443 Parallel Programming
CS445 Compiler Construction
CS447 Computer Algorithms
CS449 Computational Learning
CS451 Artificial Intelligence
CS452 Computer Graphics
CS455 Computer Networks
CS456 Cryptography
CS457 Computer & Network Security
CS458 Formal Methods for Program Verification
CS459 Human-Computer Interaction
CS460 Database Systems
CS461 Virtual Environments: Principles & Applications
CS464 Computer Game Development
CS465 Mobile Robotics & Human-Machine Interaction

Students must complete two of the following courses:

COMM440 PHP/MY SQL Interactive Design
COMM442 Advanced World Wide Web Interface Design
COMM444 Linux Web System Administration
CS442 Computational Complexity
CS443 Parallel Programming
CS445 Compiler Construction
CS447 Computer Algorithms
CS449 Computational Learning
CS451 Artificial Intelligence
CS452 Computer Graphics
CS455 Computer Networks
CS456 Cryptography
CS457 Computer & Network Security
CS458 Formal Methods for Program Verification
CS459 Human-Computer Interaction
CS460 Database Systems
CS461 Virtual Environments: Principles & Applications
CS464 Computer Game Development
CS465 Mobile Robotics & Human-Machine Interaction
EE368 Software Engineering
EE466 Computer A
IS314 Database Design & Management

Computer Science Other Electives

Science Electives:

Students must complete one two-course lecture/lab sequence in chemistry (CM) or physics (PH), plus 4 additional credits in the biology (BY), chemistry (CM), or physics (PH) subject areas.

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives:

Students will have at least 18 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.

Free Electives:

Students majoring in computer science will have approximately 30 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.

*Up to 12 credit hours of advanced (300- or 400-level) coursework in aerospace studies or military science may count toward graduation requirements. Aerospace studies or military science credits at the 100 and 200 levels do not count toward the required 120 hours. Other restrictions may apply; check with the department for details.

Undergraduate Research

At Clarkson, which is not only small but is devoted to tech, you won't have to wait for your chance to participate in cutting-edge research. Our faculty regularly rely on undergrads to assist in their work, which covers topics such as computer vision, machine learning, sensor data analysis, automated reasoning, natural language processing, virtual reality, robotics, human-robot interaction, cybersecurity, algorithmic accountability, quantum computing, and computational complexity.

Co-Ops and Internships

You can't keep up with this field sitting on the sidelines. Nearly nine out of 10 computer science majors have at least one internship while at Clarkson. You might even be able to turn your internship into a full-time job.

Our students have interned at many organizations, including:

Amazon
Anderson Consulting
AOL
Aplix Corp.
Catholic University of America
CBSI
Dealer.com
General Electric
George Mason University
Lockheed Martin
Microsoft
Mozilla
National Security Agency
PROXICOM
Sandia National Lab
Syracuse Research Corp.
U.S. Air Force
VMware

Learn more about co-ops and internships at Clarkson.

Clubs and Organizations

Computer science students can get involved with more than 200 student-run clubs and organizations. Some, like the Google Developer Student Club, Software Engineering Club and Task-Based Robotics Club let you put your CS skills to work. But you can also join a club or intramural sport, try a new hobby or give back through community service. See all clubs and activities.

Computer Science Minor

The minor in computer science is designed to provide you with a solid and coherent introduction to computer science. The requirements are in two areas. The first area gives you a strong foundation in programming, basic software engineering principles and the design, analysis and implementation of data structures and algorithms. The second area consists of electives that allow you to explore various areas of computer science or specialize in one of these areas. The majority of the electives must be upper-level courses. A total of seven courses are required for the minor.

The minor in computer science is not open to students majoring in computer science or software engineering. Students must also achieve a GPA of 2.0 in the courses below.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Computer Science Minor Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:*

CS141 Introduction to Computer Science I (4 credits)
CS142 Introduction to Computer Science II
MA211 Foundations
CS344 Algorithms and Data Structures

Computer Science Minor Electives

Students must complete the following courses:**

Computer Science (CS) 200-level or above 3-credit course
Computer Science (CS) 300-level or above 3-credit course
Computer Science (CS) 400-level or above 3-credit course

Course Substitutions

*Some course substitutions are possible. A list of acceptable substitutions is maintained by the department and updated annually. Currently, the allowed substitutions are EE261 for CS141, EE363 for CS142, EE360 for CS241 and MA346 for MA21l.

**Certain courses cannot be used to satisfy the electives. A list of all exclusions is available from the department and updated annually. The current list includes all courses titled Directed Study, Computer Science Clinic, or Undergraduate Research.

Concentrations and Minors

Computational Science

Take on thorny problems in this math-focused minor. Build your knowledge in numerical methods, differential equations, linear algebra and statistics. Learn more about the computational science minor.

Information Technology

Virtually every organization is now driven by information technology. In this minor, you'll get a good overview of some key aspects of this technology. The minor includes courses on programming and software development, computer systems, database administration, computer networks and web technologies. Learn more about the information technology minor.

Robotics

This multidisciplinary field weds mechanical engineering, electrical, computer and software engineering and computer science. In this minor, see how robots are taking on jobs too dirty, dangerous or dull for humans. Learn more about the robotics minor.

Statistics

Chances are, you'll find plenty of opportunities to put your skills to work analyzing data and solving problems with this minor. Statisticians work in government, healthcare, business and many other fields. Learn more about the statistics minor.

Clarkson Open Source Institute (COSI)

Originally founded more than 20 years ago to promote open-source software, this student-led lab has expanded to include the Internet Teaching Lab and the Virtual Reality Lab. These labs support a variety of projects. COSI students have won several awards at open source competitions. Current major projects include a mirror site that provides, among others, downloads of various Linux distributions and software such as Blender, Cygwin and Eclipse. Another major project is the maintenance of a working teaching lab, including all the required hardware, software and networking. Such projects provide students with invaluable hands-on, real-life experience. Explore the lab.

Integrating Multiple Disciplines

Meet Essence '25 a Computer Science major who has been working with the AIDFab Lab at Clarkson University. Using cutting-edge metal 3D printers, robotics, and other state-of-the-art technologies this project addresses the increasing need for adaptive technology to support Aging in Place.

Career Possibilities

Technology isn't slowing down — and neither is the need for more graduates of computer science programs. Most of our graduates start their careers as software developers and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of software developer jobs to grow by 25 percent by 2031. And because every area of society depends on tech, you can make a difference in almost any field you can imagine. Graduates with a computer science degree can create software and computer technology that impacts fields from finance to the arts, from healthcare to manufacturing, and from education to engineering.

You might also consider pursuing a master's or PhD degree in computer science.

Besides a job as a software developer, here are some other jobs you might consider with a bachelor's degree in computer science

Web developer
Data scientist
Information technology specialist
Information security analyst
Network engineer
Database administrator

Recent Employers

Our computer science graduates hit the ground running. Thanks to our relationships with leading employers like IBM, a computer science degree from Clarkson gives you an edge in the job market. And it's a degree that pays: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average software developer makes $121,000 a year.

In recent years, our graduates have taken jobs at many organizations, including:

Corning
Deloitte
General Dynamics Mission Systems
Global Foundries
Google
Gracenote
IBM
INFICON
Infosys
Lockheed Martin
U.S. Air Force

Graduate Schools

Some of our graduates go on to graduate school. At the master's level, this is typically paid by their employer. At the PhD level, this is almost always with full financial aid and leads to a career as a researcher in industry or as a university professor. Some of the schools where our graduates have gone on to pursue a PhD are:

Yale
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Rice University
University of Rochester
University of Pittsburgh
Virginia Tech
Lehigh University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Clarkson University

Summer Research

"My research focused on creating models that would be able to accurately identify if an input image of a fingerprint was authentic or a spoof.⁠
⁠
A spoof is an impression of a fingerprint in materials like eco-flex, latex, and wood glue. Spoofs are used by threat actors to unlock other people’s devices and gain access to their personal information.
⁠
I coded three models in Python, one each to detect spoofs containing eco-flex material, latex, and wood glue.⁠ I trained the models using datasets of real fingerprint images, then I used a dataset of real images and also generated synthetic fingerprint images of both authentic fingerprints and spoof fingerprints using Generative AI Frameworks to test the accuracy of the models.⁠ After comparing the accuracy of the models, I found that the model for eco-flex spoofs had the highest percentage of accuracy in predicting a spoof from both datasets!⁠
⁠
Overall, I learned so much about deep learning-based models and image analysis. I gained knowledge surrounding AI and neural networks (used for image processing and recognition). It was a very valuable experience!"⁠

Delara Panahi '27