Catalog & Student Handbook

Computer Science Courses

Please note that the frequency of course offerings below is subject to change without notice, because of changes in faculty availability, sabbaticals and leaves, and other circumstances. Please consult the latest Schedule of Classes (and supplement), myBerea, revisions to online Catalog & Student Handbook, and/or the Program Coordinator to determine if a course will be offered during a certain term or year, especially if Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a factor.

CSC 111

Storytelling-Comp Animation

Prerequisite: Completion or waiver of MAT 012

Offered: Typically alt. Spring Terms (next offered 2011-2012)

Technology has opened up new horizons in the creative art of storytelling by making it possible for stories to be interactive, blurring the boundary between the storyteller and the audience. Using a graphically-based object-oriented programming language, students in this course will learn to design and construct virtual worlds with 3D objects and characters. Students will gain knowledge in advancing plot, building themes, and developing characters while employing visual elements such as location, camera angle, lighting, and point-of-view, as they create interactive stories, animated movies, and simple video games set in these virtual worlds. No previous computer programming experience is required. Arts Perspectives and Practical Reasoning (PR). NOTE: Noncredit for students who completed CSC 111 in Short Term 2007.
1 Course Credit

CSC 125

Intro to Internet Programming

Prerequisite: Completion or waiver of MAT 012

Offered: Typically alternate years (next offered Fall 2010)

This course will introduce the student to major themes of computer science, including computer usage in application programs, an exploration of computer hardware, and computer control through computer programming. Constructs of computer programming, such as representation of numbers and usage of variables, as well as assignment, conditional, and repetition statements, will be covered. Students will learn to program in HTML to create Web pages. Common application environments such as the spreadsheet and database will be discussed, and an additional programming language will be selected to further explore these themes. NOTE: Noncredit for students who completed CSC 205.
1 Course Credit

CSC 126

Intro to Robotics

Prerequisite: Completion or waiver of MAT 012

Offered: Typically every Fall Term

Robots often perform tasks that are too dull, too dirty, or too dangerous for humans. Robots entertain us, clean our houses, mow our lawns, build our cars, fight our wars, perform surgery on our bodies, dive to the bottoms of the deepest oceans on our planet, and visit distant planets in our galaxy. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of robotics. Topics include how robots move, sense, and perceive the world around them. Students will construct and program robots in laboratory sessions. No previous computer programming or electronics experience is necessary. Practical Reasoning (PR). NOTE: Noncredit for students who completed CSC 206.
1 Course Credit

CSC 186

Special Topics

Prerequisites: Determined by instructor

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course designed to meet the particular interests of student and faculty. Topics vary from year to year. See course description in the "Schedule of Classes."
1/2 to 1 Course Credit

CSC 226

Intro to Programming w/ C++

Prerequisite: CSC 111 or 125 or 126; OR permission of instructor

Offered: Typically every Spring Term

This course will be concerned with an introduction to the C++ language, emphasizing structured programming. The course will include pseudocode and stepwise refinement as means of algorithm development. Other programming topics will include data types, arrays, structures, functions, and files. NOTE: Noncredit for students who completed CSC 320.
1 Course Credit

CSC 236

Data Structures

Prerequisite: CSC 226 with a grade of C or higher

Offered: Typically every Fall Term

This course continues the introduction to the methodology of programming from an object-oriented perspective with an emphasis on algorithms, data structures, and software engineering. NOTE: Noncredit for students who completed CSC 320.
1 Course Credit

CSC 286

Special Topics

Prerequisites: Determined by instructor

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course designed to meet the particular interests of student and faculty. Topics vary from year to year. See course description in the "Schedule of Classes."
1/2 to 1 Course Credit

CSC 303

Theory of Computation

Prerequisite: CSC 125 or 126 or 226 AND MAT 105

Offered: Typically alternate Fall Terms (next offered Fall 2010)

An introduction to the fundamental ideas and the basic paradigms of computer science, the very foundation on which to base one’s thinking about computers now and in the future. This course will address some of the following topics in the theory of computation--the theory of automata and formal languages, computability by a Turing machine, and computational complexity. Computational tasks that cannot be solved on any computer or tasks where there is no practical, reasonably fast algorithm to solve them will be considered. The perspective here is from that of computing, but the treatment is mathematical in nature.
1 Course Credit

CSC 325

Oper Systems-Emphasis on Unix

Prerequisite: CSC 236 with a grade of C or higher; OR permission of instructor

Offered: Typically alternate Spring Terms (next offered Spring 2011)

This course will introduce the main concepts from both traditional and distributed operating systems. Topics will include: goals, structural concepts, process management, memory management, storage management, and security issues. Examples will be drawn from a variety of operating systems, but the majority of the examples will come from the UNIX system.
1 Course Credit

CSC 330

Database Systems

Prerequisite: CSC 226 with a grade of C or higher

Offered: Typically alternate Fall Terms (next offered Fall 2011)

An introduction to the use and operating principles of database management systems. Topics covered include: data entities and relationships; data modeling using entity-relation diagrams: hierarchical, network and relational models of databases; the SQL query language; relational algebra and calculus as applied to the design of databases; security and integrity in the context of concurrent use; and ethical issues associated with database design and use. NOTE: Noncredit for students who completed CSC 230.
1 Course Credit

CSC 340

Computational Intelligence

Prerequisite: CSC 236 or permission of instructor
Offered: Typically alternate fall terms

An introduction to artificial intelligence through an area called "machine learning," this course focuses on the principles and implementation practices of programs that search for solutions to problems using heuristic algorithms. Students will learn how to create program and test simulators that demonstrate how computer systems can (a) "intelligently" find solutions and (b) adapt and learn to respond correctly to new problem sets.
1 Course Credit

CSC 386

Special Topics

Prerequisites: Determined by instructor

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course designed to meet the particular interests of student and faculty. Topics vary from year to year. See course description in the "Schedule of Classes."
1/2 to 1 Course Credit

CSC 390A

Independent Study

Prerequisite: Sophomore or junior standing for 390; senior standing for 490

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course initiated, directed, and organized by the student and the faculty sponsor. Course proposals must meet the guidelines and approval of the Academic Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study will be conducted. A detailed information sheet is available in the Student Self-Service room (101 Lincoln), which includes the form to complete if seeking Active Learning Experience (ALE) credit. A course syllabus must be submitted with the Chairperson or Director’s approval before the course can be registered. Those approved as ALE will be registered as 390/490A; others will be 390/490B.
1 Course Credit

CSC 390B

Independent Study w/o ALE

Prerequisite: Sophomore or junior standing for 390; senior standing for 490

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course initiated, directed, and organized by the student and the faculty sponsor. Course proposals must meet the guidelines and approval of the Academic Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study will be conducted. A detailed information sheet is available in the Student Self-Service room (101 Lincoln), which includes the form to complete if seeking Active Learning Experience (ALE) credit. A course syllabus must be submitted with the Chairperson or Director’s approval before the course can be registered. Those approved as ALE will be registered as 390/490A; others will be 390/490B.
1 Course Credit

CSC 395

Internship

Prerequisite: Sophomore, junior, or senior standing

Offered: Typically every term

An experiential learning experience individually designed for students with a special academic interest requiring integration of classroom learning with practical experience. Includes on-campus seminars with academic sponsors, as well as non-classroom experience. One to 3 course credits in one regular term; 1.5 course credits in Summer One Term; or 1 to 2 course credits in Summer Two Term may be taken in Internships. Requires the approval of two faculty sponsors and the Program assumes the responsibility for determining credit allowance. The Coordinator of Internships gives final approval for Internship proposals. All Internships meet the Active Learning Experience (ALE) requirement.
1 to 3 Course Credits

CSC 397A

Team Initiated Study

Prerequisite: Sophomore or junior standing for 397; senior standing for 497

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course initiated, directed, and organized by the student and the faculty sponsor. Course proposals must meet the guidelines and approval of the Academic Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study will be conducted. A detailed information sheet is available in the Student Self-Service room (101 Lincoln), which includes the form to complete if seeking Active Learning Experience (ALE) credit. A course syllabus must be submitted with the Chairperson or Director’s approval before the course can be registered. Those approved as ALE will be registered as 397/497A; others will be 397/497B.
1 Course Credit

CSC 397B

Team Initiated Study w/o ALE

Prerequisite: Sophomore or junior standing for 397; senior standing for 497

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course initiated, directed, and organized by the student and the faculty sponsor. Course proposals must meet the guidelines and approval of the Academic Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study will be conducted. A detailed information sheet is available in the Student Self-Service room (101 Lincoln), which includes the form to complete if seeking Active Learning Experience (ALE) credit. A course syllabus must be submitted with the Chairperson or Director’s approval before the course can be registered. Those approved as ALE will be registered as 397/497A; others will be 397/497B.
1 Course Credit

CSC 398

Directed Study

Prerequisites: Will vary, but always will include permission of instructor

Offered: Typically on a limited basis as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course organized and directed by faculty and approved by the Program Director or Department Chairperson to meet the particular interests and/or needs of specific students.
1 Course Credit

CSC 433

Numerical Analysis (MAT)

Prerequisite: MAT 225; one course chosen from CSC 125, 126, 226; AND one course chosen from MAT 214, 315, or 330

Offered: Typically alternate Spring Terms (next offered Spring 2012)

This course is designed for students who are concerned with the development of approximation methods and their use in locating roots of equations, interpolation, numerical differentiation, numerical integrations, and solution of systems of linear equations.
1 Course Credit

CSC 435

Computer Organization

Prerequisite: CSC 236 and TEC 265

Offered: Typically alternate Spring Terms (next offered Spring 2011)

A study of the design of modern computer systems with a focus on the interaction between hardware design and system software: instruction sets, cache and virtual memory in the context of the memory hierarchy, combinatorial and sequential logic design, high-level processor architecture, memory and processor organization, and parallel computing.
1 Course Credit

CSC 440

Design & Analysis of Algorithm

Prerequisite: CSC 236 AND one of the following: MAT 105 or MAT 125 or higher-numbered MAT course

Offered: Typically alternate Spring Terms (next offered Spring 2012)

A study of algorithmic approaches to problem-solving, and techniques for designing, analyzing, and comparing algorithms. Approaches such as divide-and-conquer, dynamic programming, and backtracking will be studied. Topics in computational complexity include asymptotic complexity measures, intractability, and NP-complete problems.
1 Course Credit

CSC 486

Special Topics

Prerequisites: Determined by instructor

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course designed to meet the particular interests of student and faculty. Topics vary from year to year. See course description in the "Schedule of Classes."
1 Course Credit

CSC 490A

Independent Study

Prerequisite: Sophomore or junior standing for 390; senior standing for 490

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course initiated, directed, and organized by the student and the faculty sponsor. Course proposals must meet the guidelines and approval of the Academic Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study will be conducted. A detailed information sheet is available in the Student Self-Service room (101 Lincoln), which includes the form to complete if seeking Active Learning Experience (ALE) credit. A course syllabus must be submitted with the Chairperson or Director’s approval before the course can be registered. Those approved as ALE will be registered as 390/490A; others will be 390/490B.
1 Course Credit

CSC 490B

Independent Study w/o ALE

Prerequisite: Sophomore or junior standing for 390; senior standing for 490

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course initiated, directed, and organized by the student and the faculty sponsor. Course proposals must meet the guidelines and approval of the Academic Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study will be conducted. A detailed information sheet is available in the Student Self-Service room (101 Lincoln), which includes the form to complete if seeking Active Learning Experience (ALE) credit. A course syllabus must be submitted with the Chairperson or Director’s approval before the course can be registered. Those approved as ALE will be registered as 390/490A; others will be 390/490B.
1 Course Credit

CSC 493

Senior Projects

Prerequisite: Senior standing

Offered: Typically every Fall Term

Students apply modern software engineering approaches to the development of an original, well-documented, industry-strength software product. The product deliverables will include a product proposal, a specifications and requirements document, an architecture and design document, a test plan document, project status reports, and the code base implementation with quality documentation. Students will demonstrate their understanding by presenting and demonstrating the structure and applied elements of their project. Students will need to apply technical, organizational, and communication skills to this project. Successful completion of this course will meet Berea’s Computer and Information Science Major capstone requirement.
1/2 Course Credit

CSC 495

Internship

Prerequisite: Sophomore, junior, or senior standing

Offered: Typically every term

An experiential learning experience individually designed for students with a special academic interest requiring integration of classroom learning with practical experience. Includes on-campus seminars with academic sponsors, as well as non-classroom experience. One to 3 course credits in one regular term; 1.5 course credits in Summer One Term; or 1 to 2 course credits in Summer Two Term may be taken in Internships. Requires the approval of two faculty sponsors and the Program assumes the responsibility for determining credit allowance. The Coordinator of Internships gives final approval for Internship proposals. All Internships meet the Active Learning Experience (ALE) requirement.
1 to 3 Course Credits

CSC 497A

Team Initiated Study

Prerequisite: Sophomore or junior standing for 397; senior standing for 497

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course initiated, directed, and organized by the student and the faculty sponsor. Course proposals must meet the guidelines and approval of the Academic Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study will be conducted. A detailed information sheet is available in the Student Self-Service room (101 Lincoln), which includes the form to complete if seeking Active Learning Experience (ALE) credit. A course syllabus must be submitted with the Chairperson or Director’s approval before the course can be registered. Those approved as ALE will be registered as 397/497A; others will be 397/497B.
1 Course Credit

CSC 497B

Team Initiated Study w/o ALE

Prerequisite: Sophomore or junior standing for 397; senior standing for 497

Offered: Typically as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course initiated, directed, and organized by the student and the faculty sponsor. Course proposals must meet the guidelines and approval of the Academic Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study will be conducted. A detailed information sheet is available in the Student Self-Service room (101 Lincoln), which includes the form to complete if seeking Active Learning Experience (ALE) credit. A course syllabus must be submitted with the Chairperson or Director’s approval before the course can be registered. Those approved as ALE will be registered as 397/497A; others will be 397/497B.
1 Course Credit

CSC 498

Directed Study

Prerequisites: Will vary, but always will include permission of instructor

Offered: Typically on a limited basis as student interest and faculty availability allow

A course organized and directed by faculty and approved by the Program Director or Department Chairperson to meet the particular interests and/or needs of specific students.
1 Course Credit

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This online publication is the official text of the Berea College Catalog & Student Handbook. Berea College reserves the right to amend, revise, or modify content within this publication at any time.

Computer Science