BS in Computer Science and Linguistics

Admissions Requirements

In order to be considered for admission to the BS in Computer Science and Linguistics, students must have: At least one C and one B in MATH 180 and CS 111/CS 112/CS 113 with an average math/science/engineering GPA of 2.50/4.00, and at least a B in LING 150. Prior  to completing these requirements, students may declare “pre-Computer Science and Linguistics” only. Transfer students who are admitted to UIC with all academic requirements complete should speak with their academic advisor at orientation about next steps. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to restrict the enrollment of students into its academic programs based on space availability

Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Linguistics degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The degree requirements for the BS in Computer Science and Linguistics are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Summary of Requirements
Requirements for the Curriculum120
Total Hours120

Requirements for the Curriculum

The requirements for the curriculum include the courses necessary to complete the General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline requirements described in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the catalog

Required Courses
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
Foreign Language (the equivalent of two years of a single language at the college level)0-16
Exploring World Cultures course a3
Understanding the Creative Arts course a3
Understanding the Past course a3
Two Analyzing the Natural World courses (classes with labs only) a8-10
MATH 180Calculus I b,c4
MATH 181Calculus II c4
STAT 381Applied Statistical Methods I3
Select one of the following:3
CS 111
Program Design I
CS 112
Program Design I in the Context of Biological Problems
CS 113
Program Design I in the Context of Law and Public Policy
CS 141Program Design II3
CS 151Mathematical Foundations of Computing3
CS 211Programming Practicum3
CS 251Data Structures4
CS 421Natural Language Processing3
LING 150Introduction to the Study of Language d3
LING 160Language and Society e3
LING 210Introduction to Natural Language Syntax3
LING 220Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology3
LING 230Semantics, Pragmatics, and Discourse f3
Select one of the following:3
CS 301
Languages and Automata
MCS 441
Theory of Computation I g
Select two courses from the following: 6
CS 342
Software Design
CS/MCS 401
Computer Algorithms I
CS 411
Artificial Intelligence I
CS 412
Introduction to Machine Learning
CS 418
Introduction to Data Science
CS 422
User Interface Design and Programming
Select one additional CS elective among the selective list (CS 342, CS/MCS 401, CS 411, CS 412, CS 418, or CS 422), or any other CS course at the 400 level for which the student has proper prerequisites (or MCS 421, MCS 423, or MCS 425)3
Select three courses from the following: h9
LING 260
Language Acquisition, Language Contact and Bilingualism
LING 300
Seminar in Linguistic Analysis j
LING 310
Language and Discrimination
LING 320
Linguistics and Speech-Language Pathology
LING/CHIN 330
A Linguistic Introduction to Chinese
LING 340
Vocabulary in Action: How do we learn, process, and use words as multilinguals?
LING 350
Are Algorithms Biased
LING 440
Language and Gender
LING 459
Topics in Linguistics
LING 483
Methodology of Second Language Teaching
LING 487
Computer Assisted Language Learning
PHIL 206
Introduction to the Philosophy of Language
SPAN 361
The Structure of Spanish i
SPAN 362
Sounds of Spanish j
SPAN 363
Spanish in Society j
SPAN 365
Meaning in Language j
Electives13-31
Total Hours120
a

Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses.

b

MATH 180 fulfills the LAS Quantitative Reasoning requirement.

c

These courses are approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category (without lab).

d

LING 150 fulfills the Individual and Society general education requirement.

e

LING 160 fulfills the Understanding U.S. Society general education requirement.

f

LING 230 fulfills the LAS Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.

g

MCS 441 has a prerequisite of MATH 215.

h

Two of these three courses (6 hours) must be at the 300 level or above, and at least one course at the 300 level (or above) must come from LING.

i

Up to 6 hours of LING 300 may be counted toward this requirement.

j

This course is taught in Spanish.

 Recommended Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
MATH 180 Calculus I 4
CS 111
or CS 112
or CS 113
 Program Design I
or Program Design I in the Context of Biological Problems
or Program Design I in the Context of Law and Public Policy
 3
LING 150 Introduction to the Study of Language 3
Understanding the Past course 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
MATH 181 Calculus II 4
CS 141 Program Design II 3
LING 160 Language and Society 3
 Hours13
Second Year
Fall Semester
STAT 381 Applied Statistical Methods I 3
CS 151 Mathematical Foundations of Computing 3
CS 211 Programming Practicum 3
Foreign Language 4
Understanding the Creative Arts course 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CS 251 Data Structures 4
CS 301 Languages and Automata 3
LING 210 Introduction to Natural Language Syntax 3
Foreign Language 4
 Hours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
CS Selective or CS 421 a 3
LING Selective or LING 230 b 3
Foreign Language 4
Analyzing the Natural World course (with lab) 4-5
 Hours14-15
Spring Semester
LING 210
or LING 220
 Introduction to Natural Language Syntax
or Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology
 3
CS Selective or CS 421 a 3
Foreign Language 4
Electives 5
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
LING Selective or LING 230 b 3
CS Selective a 3
LING Selective b 3
Analyzing the Natural World course (with lab) 4-5
Elective 2
 Hours15-16
Spring Semester
LING Selective b 3
CS Elective 3
Exploring World Cultures course 3
Electives 6
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
a

Must complete two of the following: CS 342, CS 411, CS 412, CS 418, CS 422, or MCS 401/CS 401.

b

Must complete three of the following: LING 260, LING 300, LING 310, LING 320, LING 330/CHIN 330, LING 440, LING 459, LING 483, LING 487, PHIL 206, SPAN 361, SPAN 362, SPAN 363, SPAN 365.