Curriculum and Courses

Computer Science Curriculum Requirements

The computer science curriculum is programming intensive, supported by substantial laboratory components, and directed toward modern software development. Your studies are supplemented by work in specialized labs and a network of state-of-the-art workstations.

Select the Computer Science curriculum below based on your class entering year. Check with your faculty advisor or ES3 if you are unsure which requirements you are following.

Students pursuing Computer Science as a major can focus their technical electives in a particular area by electing one of the concentrations listed below. Students should meet with their academic advisor before officially declaring a concentration.

Catalog 2021-22 to present

Catalog 2020-21

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Concentration prepares students with advanced skills and in-depth knowledge for artificial intelligence and development of intelligent software systems. Students will gain understanding, working knowledge of AI, and its applicability to various fields related to AI, including, but are not limited to general AI, machine learning, robotics, data mining and game design.

The concentration requires students to select specific courses from the list of technical electives. The technical electives must be passed with a grade of ‘C’ or better to meet the requirement.

Required Course:

  • CIS 412 - Artificial Intelligence

Complete two electives:

  • CIS 430 - Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery
  • CIS 465 - Topics in Computer Vision
  • CIS 466 - Mobile Robotics
  • CIS 490 - Machine Learning

Complete one additional CIS 400-level course not currently being used to meet another requirement.

Catalog 2021-22 to present

The Computer Game Design Concentration provides a background in artificial game design and will prepare students for general computer science jobs, but with a specific engagement toward game design careers. These careers could be as independent developer (“Indie”), corporate video game design, as well as simulation based software companies.

The concentration requires students to select specific courses from the list of technical electives. The technical electives must be passed with a grade of ‘C’ or better to meet the requirement.

One Required Course:

  • CIS 464 - Computer Game Design

Choose three additional electives:

  • CIS 412 - Artificial Intelligence 
  • CIS 431 - Human-Computer Interaction 
  • CIS 433 - Mobile Application Development with Android 
  • CIS 434 - Mobile Application Development with iOS 
  • CIS 452 - Database Systems
  • CIS 454 - Computer Graphics
  • CIS 463 - Game Engine Design
  • CIS 465 - Topics Computer Vision 
  • CIS 466 - Introduction to Mobile Robotics 
  • CIS 475 - Computer Networks 
  • CIS 476 - Network Programming 
  • CIS 477 - Computer and Information System Security 

Additional Requirements:

Students must also complete PHY 111 or PHY 113 (which fulfills the Laboratory Science requirement).

Catalog 2020-21 to present

The Cybersecurity Concentration within the Computer Science Program prepares students with essential skills and in-depth knowledge for cyber defense and secure software development, as well as advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. With the cybersecurity concentration, students will gain a critical understanding of threats, attacks and vulnerabilities in computer and information systems, and develop the skills needed for cyber defense and operations.

The concentration requires students to select specific courses from the list of approved technical electives. The technical electives must be passed with a grade of 'C' or better to meet the requirement.

Three required courses:

  • CIS 442 Digital Forensics
  • CIS 443 Applied Cryptography
  • CIS 444 Cyber Defense and Operations
  • CIS 446 Secure Software Development
  • CIS 447 Network Security & Data Assurance
  • CIS 475 Computer Networks
  • CIS 476 Network Programming
  • CIS 477 Computer and Information System Security

One additional course:

  • CIS 410 Programming Language Design
  • CIS 412 Artificial Intelligence
  • CIS 430 Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery
  • CIS 440 Software Process and Project Management
  • CIS 452 Database Systems
  • CIS 465 Topics in Computer Vision
  • CIS 467 Image Analysis and Processing
  • CIS 490 Machine Learning

Catalog 2020-21 to present:

The Software Engineering Concentration prepares students with systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approaches to the development, operation, and maintenance of software. Drawing on computer science and mathematics as foundations, students will gain understanding and working knowledge of developing systematic models and reliable techniques for producing high-quality software.

The concentration requires students to select specific courses from the list of approved technical electives. The technical electives must be passed with a grade of ‘C’ or better to meet the requirement.

Required Course:

  • CIS 432 Software Architecture & Design

Complete two additional courses:

  • CIS 440 Software Process and Project Management
  • CIS 446 Secure Software Development
  • CIS 461 Formal Methods for Software Engineering
  • CIS 469 Software Development for the Web
  • CIS 470 Software Testing & Automation

Complete one additional CIS 400-level course not currently being used to meet another requirement.

Catalog 2023-24 to present

Option in Software Engineering

Note: the option is no longer available to students entering Fall 2023 or later. Those students can add the concentration in software engineering as described above.

UMass Dartmouth offers a Software Engineering (SE) option within the Computer Science program. Students who successfully complete the requirements of the SE option will receive a diploma of a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with option in Software Engineering.

Select the curriculum below based on your class entering year. Check with your faculty advisor or ES3 if you are unsure which requirements you are following.

Catalog 2021-22 to 2022-23

Catalog 2020-21

University Studies Requirements for CIS

CIS students are required to meet the University Studies requirements by choosing an approved course from the following University Studies Clusters:

Effective Fall 2014, students who transfer to the University with 24 or more transfer credits will follow the Transfer Substitution policy for University Studies.