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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
1. Overview
The current Computer Science (CS) major degree requires students to take 42 credits of core courses
plus 9 additional credits of electives at the 300-level or above. In order to adapt our program to be
more interdisciplinary and flexible, we propose reducing the number of CSCI core courses required for
our major and splitting our undergraduate degree requirements into two options. These changes are
similar to recent modifications that Montana State University made to their Computer Science degree
requirements, which by all accounts have been quite successful.
2. Provide a one paragraph description of the proposed program. Be specific about what degree, major,
minor or option is sought.
The changes we propose to our program involve two major areas: 1) reducing the number of CSCI core
courses students are required to take, thus allowing more opportunities for students to take elective
courses from within the major; and 2) splitting our major degree into a Professional option and an
Interdisciplinary option.
3. Need
A. To what specific need is the institution responding in developing the proposed program?
This proposal will adapt our program so that it is more flexible and interdisciplinary, two critical
changes that we believe will enhance our recruitment and retention efforts.
B. How will students and any other affected constituencies be served by the proposed program?
Students will be allowed to pursue topics within computer science and related fields in a more flexible
and interesting way. By reducing the number of required core courses for the major, without
necessarily reducing the total number of credits required from the discipline, this change will provide
students with more flexibility to choose an educational path within computer science that is truly of
interest to them. We also see computer science as an increasingly interdisciplinary field where some
students want to study it in conjunction with another discipline (e.g., biology, forestry, business, media
arts, chemistry, environmental studies, etc.); the Interdisciplinary option proposed will provide
students with more options for combining their interests in other fields with computer science.
C. What is the anticipated demand for the program? How was this determined?
We anticipate that these changes will be well received and popular with the student body and faculty
at the University of Montana. This prediction is based on:
i.
Conversations with the chair of computer science at Montana State University, where
similar changes were recently made to their program.
ii.
Anecdotal comments from our own student body.
iii.
Suggestions from our external advisory board.
iv.
Results of other programs from around the country that have made similar changes.
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
4. Institutional and System Fit
A. What is the connection between the proposed program and existing programs at the institution?
The new Interdisciplinary option will allow students to take a minor or additional major in any
other field at the University and have it apply towards their computer science degree.
B. Will approval of the proposed program require changes to any existing programs at the institution?
If so, please describe.
No.
C. Describe what differentiates this program from other, closely related programs at the institution (if
appropriate).
N/A
D. How does the proposed program serve to advance the strategic goals of the institution?
It may positively impact recruitment and retention both in computer science and other fields;
it may have a positive effect on increasing diversity within the computer science program; it
will educate students more broadly in that they will be able to combine computer science with
other areas of interest.
E. Describe the relationship between the proposed program and any similar programs within the
Montana University System. In cases of substantial duplication, explain the need for the proposed
program at an additional institution. Describe any efforts that were made to collaborate with these
similar programs; and if no efforts were made, explain why. If articulation or transfer agreements
have been developed for the substantially duplicated programs, please include the agreement(s) as
part of the documentation.
This proposal is similar to recent changes made to the computer science program at Montana
State University. Based on how positively those changes have been received, we think making
similar adjustments at the UM will also prove beneficial. The chair of Montana State
University’s computer science has been exceptionally helpful and supportive of the changes
we are proposing. We come across many students who are interested in computer science,
but do not want to take a strict major in the field. Instead, they wish to combine their interest
in other fields with computer science. These changes will allow them to do so. Within the
Professional option proposed, we are providing students with more flexibility to pursue topics
of computer science that are of interest to them instead of mandating a lengthy core.
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
5. Program Details
A. Provide a detailed description of the proposed curriculum. Where possible, present the information
in the form intended to appear in the catalog or other publications. NOTE: In the case of two-year
degree programs and certificates of applied science, the curriculum should include enough detail to
determine if the characteristics set out in Regents’ Policy 301.12 have been met.
Change 1: Reducing the number of CSCI core courses students must take and providing more
opportunities for students to take electives from within the major.
In Table 1 that follows, column 1 shows a list of the current core courses and their credit values that all
CS majors must take. The second column shows the proposed new core. The main difference between
the two is the elimination of 3 courses, or 9 credits, from the required core. The difference in the total
number of credits is made up with elective selections shown in Table 2.
Table 1. Current vs. proposed list of required CS core courses.
Current core
Proposed New Core
CSCI 106 Careers in Computer Science (1)
CSCI 106 Careers in Computer Science (1)
CSCI 135-136 Fundamentals of Computer
Science I, II (6)
CSCI 135-136 Fundamentals of Computer
Science I, II (6)
CSCI 232 Data Structures (4)
CSCI 232 Data Structures (4)
CSCI 205 Programming Languages (4)
CSCI 205 Programming Languages (4)
CSCI 361 Computer Architecture (3)
CSCI 361 Computer Architecture (3)
CSCI 332 Algorithms
CSCI 332 Algorithms
(3)
CSCI 460 Operating Systems
(3)
(3)
CSCI 323 Software Science (3)
CSCI 323 Software Science
(3)
CSCI 340 Database Design (3)
CSCI 466 Computer Networks (3)
CSCI 315E Computers, Ethics, and Society
(3)
CSCI 315E Computers, Ethics, and Society
(3)
CSCI 426 Theory and Practice I (3)
CSCI 426 Theory and Practice I (3)
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
CSCI 427 Theory and Practice II (3)
CSCI 427 Theory and Practice II (3)
42 credits from above,
33 credits from above,
Plus 9 credits of CSCI 300+
Plus 18 credits of CSCI 300+
51 credits
51 credits
*Notes:
 We have ensured that with this reduction in core courses, our ABET accreditation standards are
still upheld.
 We have ensured that the pre-requisite structure for other CSCI courses is adaptable to this
change in core.
Adding the 3 courses that were eliminated from the core to other CSCI courses, Table 2 shows a list of
possible CSCI electives that students can take to satisfy the credit limits.
Table 2. Updated list of CSCI electives.
Course
Credits
CSCI 340 Database Design
3
CSCI 411 Adv. Web Programming
3
CSCI 441 Computer Graphics Programming
3
CSCI 443 User Interface Design
3
CSCI 444 Data Visualization
3
CSCI 446 Artificial Intelligence
3
CSCI 447 Machine Learning
3
CSCI 451 Computational Biology
3
CSCI 448 Pattern Recognition
3
CSCI 460 Operating Systems
3
CSCI 466 Computer Networks
3
CSCI 473 Cryptography
3
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
CSCI 477 Computer Simulation and Modeling
3
CSCI 478 Multimedia Data Processing
3
Change 2: Splitting the major into a Professional option and an Interdisciplinary option.
Option 1: Professional option
 Students would take the new CSCI core (33 credits) plus 18 credits of additional CSCI elective
courses at the 300+ level as shown in Table 2; in this case, students would be taking the same
number of CSCI credits as now (51 CSCI credits total)
Option 2: Interdisciplinary option
 Students would take the new CSCI core (33 credits) plus 6 credits of additional CSCI elective
courses at the 300+ level as shown in Table 2; in this case, students would be taking (33+6) =
39 CSCI credits
 Students would complete a minor or additional major in field other than Computer Science.
This minor or additional major has to be at least 12 credits at the 200+ level.
* Note: Our CSCI 426/427 capstone sequence would have to accommodate students and their
projects from either option.
B. Describe the planned implementation of the proposed program, including estimates of numbers of
students at each stage.
A.
First Year
CSCI 106 (CS 121) Careers in Computer Science
A S
1 -
CSCI 135-136 (CS 131-132) Fundamentals of Computer Science I, II 3 3
COMM 111A Introduction to Public Speaking
3 -
WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) College Writing I
-
M 171, 172 (MATH 152-153) Calculus I, II
4 4
Electives and General Education
3 6
Total
14 16
3
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
Second Year**
A S
CSCI 232 (CS 241) Data Structures and Algorithms
4 -
CSCI 205 (CS 242) Programming Languages w/C/C++
-
CSCI 323 (CS 346) Software Science
3 -
CSCI 361 (CS 281) Computer Architecture
-
M 225 (MATH 225) Discrete Math I
3 -
M 221 (MATH 221) Linear Algebra
-
Science sequence
5 5
Total
15 16
Third Year**
4
3
4
A S
CSCI 332 (CS 332) Design/Analysis of Algorithms
-
CSCI (CS) option courses and electives *
3 6
STAT 341 (MATH 341) Introduction to Probability and Statistics
3 -
University approved lower-division writing course
-
Science Electives
3 3
Electives and General Education
6 -
Total
15 15
Fourth Year**
3
3
A S
CSCI 315E (CS 415) Computers, Ethics, and Society***
3 -
CSCI 426 (CS 441) Adv Prgrmng Theory and Practice I
3 -
CSCI 427 (CS 442) Adv Prgrmng Theory and Practice II
-
CSCI (CS) option courses and electives*
3 6
Electives and General Education
6 6
3
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
Total
15 15
*Students completing the Interdisciplinary Option may substitute CSCI elective courses or courses related to
their Minor or Additional Major in another field.
**CSCI (CS) core courses at the 300- and 400-level may not always be offered in the sequence shown but will
be offered every year.
***Students must pass the upper-division writing proficiency assessment and a university approved lowerdivision writing course before taking CSCI 315E (CS 415E).
We anticipate that providing more flexibility in our core courses and splitting our major into two
options will increase the number of undergraduates in our program by 10-20 per year.
6. Resources
A. Will additional faculty resources be required to implement this program? If yes, please describe the
need and indicate the plan for meeting this need.
No.
B. Are other, additional resources required to ensure the success of the proposed program? If yes,
please describe the need and indicate the plan for meeting this need.
No.
7. Assessment
How will the success of the program be measured?
We will continue to track the number of undergraduates enrolled in our program, paying
particular attention to those that opt to take the Interdisciplinary option.
We also note that with the proposed reduction in core courses, our ABET accreditation
standards are still upheld.
8. Process Leading to Submission
Describe the process of developing and approving the proposed program. Indicate, where appropriate,
involvement by faculty, students, community members, potential employers, accrediting agencies, etc.
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Montana Board of Regents
CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
The changes proposed in this document are the result of a year-long effort by the entire faculty of
computer science. We had numerous meetings to discuss details of the proposed changes, including
various options, and reach consensus. During this time, we were careful to ensure that our ABET
accreditation requirements would still be upheld. We also considered input from the chair of the
computer science program at Montana State University, where similar changes were recently made,
and feedback from their advisory board meeting as well as our own.