Technical Elective Options

Both BS CSE and BS CIS majors have to choose a technical elective option. This page describes the different options that are available and should help majors choose an appropriate option based on their interests and future plans. Note that this page is intended only to provide general high-level guidance. The actual curricular requirements for BS CSE and BS CIS for each option is specified in the respective pages linked above.

1. Software Systems: This is by far our most popular tech elective option. It prepares students for a variety of careers in software. A key required course in this option is CSE 757, Software Engineering. CSE majors following this option are also required to take 12 additional hours of software-oriented elective courses; these may be courses in computer graphics, AI, operating systems, programming languages, etc.; CSE 758 (Software Engineering project) is a popular capstone design course among these students. BS CIS majors following this option are required to take (in addition to CSE 757) one of CSE 581, 662, 756, and 758, each of which has a strong software design/development component.

2. Information Systems: This option is suitable for students interested in business-oriented applications. In addition to CSE 616 (OO Systems Analysis), and 671 (the second database course), students are also required to take courses in economics, accounting, and business management. Among CSE majors following this option, CSE 772 (Information Systems project) is a popular capstone design course. Students following this option may also want to seriously consider completing a minor in Business.

3. Hardware-Software Systems (only for BS CSE): This option is suitable for students particularly interested in computer architecture, interfacing issues, etc. Students following this option are required to take ECE 561 (Digital Circuit Design) and CSE 676 (Microcomputer Systems). The recommended capstone design course for this option is CSE 778 (VLSI Design project). (Note that CSE 776 (Interface Design project) which was also recommended for this option, is not currently being offered.)

4. Advanced Studies (only for BS CIS): This option is intended for students planning graduate studies in computer science. Students in this option are required to take two of the five courses that constitute the "core" courses of the MS program.

5. Information and Computation Assurance (ICA): Over the last few years, issues related to information and computation assurance have become increasingly important. These issues are related to privacy concerns of individuals, national security considerations, as well as private businesses concerned with protecting trade and other secrets. The ICA option is well suited for students interested in this topic.

6. Individualized: This option is intended to allow students to tailor their tech electives in such a manner as to enable them to study, in depth, a particular area of computer science such as AI, networking, etc., or possibly explore the applications of computing to other areas such as linguistics or visualization of large amounts of scientific data, etc. Students interested in this option are urged to consult with their advisors early in their program, so that they can get approval of the courses they propose to take including non-CSE courses or the minor, whichever applies.