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Undergraduate Programs

Why major in Computer and Information Sciences at UD?

The diverse interests of our faculty gives students a wide range of courses from which to choose. Students benefit from a high level of interaction with their professors. Our undergraduate concentrations allow majors to pursue related interests in line with their career goals, from artificial intelligence to high performance computing and more. Students are strongly encouraged to get involved in undergraduate research through independent studies and funded research experiences, with the goal of learning from internationally recognized scholars outside the classroom and participating in the exciting quest for new contributions to the field. In the last few years, student research activity has led to national recognition by the Computing Research Association for five of our undergraduate students! Our faculty are active researchers and superb teachers who devote extensive time and effort to educating, mentoring, and advising students. Eight of our faculty have been awarded the prestigious university-wide Excellence-in-Teaching Award, which is given to only four faculty each year among the over 1,000 faculty at the University of Delaware.

Why pursue a career in Computer and Information Science?

From its inception just a half century ago, computing has become the defining technology of our age. Computers are integral to modern culture and are the primary engine behind much of the world’s economic growth. Moreover, the field continues to evolve at an astonishing pace, making computer science increasingly important with each passing day.

The Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) offers three majors:

BA in Computer Science

A more flexible liberal arts program, especially good for students double- or triple- majoring, or students who desire a technical undergraduate degree before attempting a professional degree (law, medical, business).

BA Computer Science Program Details

BS in Computer Science

A technical course of study that emphasizes software development and computer theory with the goal that students learn how computers are used to solve real-life problems.

BS Computer Science Program Details
CS Curriculum and Careers [PDF]

BS in Information Systems

A combination of business and information technology subjects oriented toward students interested in the design of new software systems for business and consumer needs.

Information Systems Program Details
IS Curriculum and Careers [PDF]

Career Paths

  • Software Development
  • Software Engineering
  • Systems Analysis
  • Marketing

Facilities and Resources

The department is committed to providing students with access to the most advanced computer technology available and maintains research laboratories jointly with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as well as separate research laboratories for subareas requiring extensive experimental studies.
Learn more about our facilities.

*Applications for admission to the Computer Science Minor will be considered in early August and early January each year. Applications should be submitted by Aug. 1 or Jan. 1 to be considered for the following semester.

Honors Options

Honors Degree

The Honors Degree recognizes student’s excellent performance in Honors coursework in and outside the primary major.

Degree with Distinction

The Degree with Distinction supplements regular departmental degree requirements by giving the student significant research experience while still an undergraduate. The candidate must complete six credits of thesis or project and give an oral and defense of the thesis or project to a faculty committee. The Degree with Distinction entails no change in the regular requirements of a student’s program other than research, writing, and defense of a senior thesis.

Honors Degree with Distinction

The Honors Degree with Distinction recognizes a student’s completion of the research requirements for the Degree with Distinction in addition to the successful pursuit of Honors coursework throughout the degree program. Six credits of Honors thesis may be counted as part of the 30 Honors credits required for the Honors Degree.

For CIS Students

Academic Advisors

The CIS Department assigns a faculty advisor to each student having a major in the department. You are required to consult your advisor before each pre-registration period about your academic plans. Also, with the advice of your advisor you choose options, electives, and concentration within your major.

In some cases, students establish a working relationship with a faculty member other than their advisor and would like to have this mentor serve as official advisor. To change your advisor in such a case, ask your mentor if he or she is willing to act as your advisor. If agreed, your new advisor must inform the CIS Undergraduate Coordinator of the change.

Major advisors are listed in your UDSIS record. If the incorrect advisor is listed there, inform the CIS Undergraduate Coordinator.

For continuity, your advisor is assigned to you for the duration of your program. When a faculty advisor is on leave from the university, another advisor is assigned temporarily. Consult the CIS Office for temporary advisor information.

Students minoring in CIS may consult the Chair of the CIS Undergraduate Committee for choosing the electives in the minor.

Tutoring

Office of Academic Enrichment: (302-831-4555 | UD-aec@udel.edu)

The Office of Academic Enrichment provides tutoring services using departmental approved tutors. It is located on the corner of Amstel and S. College, across the street from Smith Hall.

  • Group tutoring sessions for courses such as CISC 106, 108, 181, 210, 220, etc. are scheduled based on student interest. Early in the semester students can register with the Office of Academic Enrichment for group tutoring sessions. If enough students register, these sessions are provided as a free service to the students.
  • Additional individual tutoring sessions are generally available for courses such as CISC 106, 108, 181, 210, 220.

Transfer Credit

Transfer Credit for CISC101 is rarely given

CISC101 counts as a “group D” Math/Science credit for Arts and Science majors. Therefore, there is a “very high bar” for transfer credit for CISC101. To evaluate whether your course can be transferred as CISC101, a course description is not sufficient, and even a syllabus (if it is only a high level description) may not be enough. There needs to be clear and convincing evidence (e.g. sample homework assignments, exams) that the course went beyond simple applications such as MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint, and also included Math/Science content such as:

  1. digital representation of various kinds of information
  2. computer organization (sample topics: CPU, RAM, volatile vs. non-volatile storage)
  3. simple programming (e.g. in BASIC, JavaScript)

Most courses at other institutions do not meet these criteria, and even if they do, it is often difficult for students to gather and present sufficient evidence for us to be able to accept CISC101 for transfer.

However, if you feel that you can gather this evidence, contact the Associate Chair at cis-ugradprgm@udel.edu. In your email:

  • Put CISC101 transfer credit in the subject line.
  • Include a list of the evidence you have that the course you took contains sufficient math and science content as indicated above.
  • Include several times over the next week when you would be available for an appointment.

Transfer credit for courses other than CISC101:

If you are requesting transfer credit for a CIS course other than CISC101 often the CIS Department part can be handled by email.

Send an email to cis-ugradprgm@udel.edu containing the following:

  1. Your full name (first middle last). Do NOT send your SSN (repeat…NO SSNs!)
  2. Name of school where you took the course
  3. Name/Number of the course you took
  4. When you took the course
  5. If known: what course you want to transfer it in to UD as.
  6. If you can find a web link to the course description from the other school, that is very helpful.

Student Organizations

Need help?  Have questions?

Check out the undergraduate FAQs page or the Undergraduate Curriculum and Program Committee site.

If you are unable to locate a resource or need assistance with an undergraduate academic program, please contact:

cis-ugradprgm@udel.edu

Spectrum Scholars

UD’s Spectrum Scholars program promotes a welcoming environment for undergraduate students with autism at UD that enhances their ability to thrive in academic environments and campus life. In collaboration with JPMorgan Chase & Co. and administered by the University’s Center for Disabilities Studies, undergraduate students with autism receive comprehensive coaching and career development opportunities during their undergraduate experience as they work toward a successful career.