B.A. in Computer Science

Changes, with rationale:

1. The Exploratory CS major for CS-intended majors who are not Calc I ready will close. They will be placed automatically in COMPSC:BA. Rationale: In CEC overall, only 12 students placed in an exloratory major subsequently were fully admitted to their intended major. The rest either changed majors, left FIU, or are still in the exploratory major, including 215 of ours. The exploratory major options have not worked for the college.
2. B.A. in Computer Science will not be ABET Accredited. Rationale: Removing the math requirements will not allow accreditation. This can be justified by noting that UF and FSU both have non-accredited Computer Science degree programs, as do many of the top-50 programs. FSU in particular have an ABET-accredited BS option, while the BA option is not ABET-accredited, which will be exactly what we will do also.
3. Remove Calc I, Calc II, Physics with Calc I, Physics with Calc II, Science requirements, and replace STA-3033 with a calculus free alternative. Rationale: These courses are stumbling blocks, used only for ABET accreditation. They are not prerequisites for any other CS course.
4. Remove COT-3541, MAD-3512, COP-4555, CIS-4911. Rationale: COT-3541 and MAD-3512 are stumbling blocks, used only for ABET accreditation. They are not prerequisites for any other CS course. In Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Summer 2016, 26 students took MAD-3512 in their last semester as they applied for graduation, and 5 students had their graduation delayed by not passing the course with a "C" (only two of the five actually earned an "F"). MAD-3512 is the second most popular last semester course besides Senior Project. COP-4555, while not a stumbling block is only used for ABET accreditation, is not on the prerequisite chain, and is symptomatic of the bloat in requirements compared to pre-ABET. CIS-4911 has proven to be problematic for some working students who are only able to take it with a very reduced load. It was added for ABET purposes and is an unneeded barrier to graduation. FSU does not require senior project. The number of required CS courses would be comparable to UF. The number of required CS courses would exceed USF, which also does not require Senior Project. Along with the electives below, the program requires 58 FIU credits for AA transfer students; programs may not require more than 60.
5. Modify electives. Rationale: Allow students to take electives drawn from IT, CpE, or the four removed CS courses (with VIP as an elective instead of senior project). Students have requested this. List is expanded because some electives require Calculus.
6. Add a nine-credit Interdisciplinary requirement similar to IT. Rationale: This is similar to the FSU program and has not been a stumbling block for IT majors.
7. Common Prerequities altered. Rationale: Changes are made to match CIP Code 11.0101 TRACK 6 of 6. Main effect is to require MAC-1140 and a Calculus-free Statistics course (either STA-3111, STA-2023, or STA-2122).
8. Accept "D" as a passing grade except for required courses which will continue to require a "C". Rationale: "D" is a passing grade; electives generally are not prerequisites for other courses. In the last two years, many students have had graduation delayed by earning a "D" grade in their last semester that did not suffice. Many others have had to repeat elective courses in earlier semesters due to a "D". Some of these, such as core curriculum courses are beyond our control, but others seem silly.
9. Graduate program transition. Students graduating with the BA in CS who wish to be admitted to the graduate program in CS (COMPSC:MS, COMPSC:PHD) at FIU may be required to take prerequisite undergraduate courses; students will be advised that COMPSC:BS is the more appropriate major for that career path.

Math and CS

Some studies have shown no correlation between math ability and performance in computing careers, and one study has shown no correlation between math ability and object oriented programming skill. A recent study shows that the Calculus I course is a barrier for women in STEM fields compared to men, with the difference being especially high in Engineering related STEM fields.

Creating an alternative program that removes these barriers will increase graduation and retention rates in Computer Science, and address the shortage in Florida of talent in Computer Science and software positions.

Growth in Computer Science is extraordinary and well-known, with roughly 800 active "official" undergraduate majors in Computer Science at FIU, a number that has roughly doubled over the last six years (but is stagnant in the last two). Yet FIU has graduated only roughly 220 CS majors over the last three years combined, and our analysis points at the math sequence as being a roadblock. We would close the exploratory track and intended CS majors who are weak at math would be directed to this new BA degree program (COMPSC:BA) automatically if they entered FIU without the prerequisite needed for Calculus I, so that they can finish in a timely fashion, possibly without the excess hours incurred by repeated attempts at math courses.

Demand

Accreditation

Documents

1. Catalog Description