BS in Computer Science and Philosophy
Program Code: TBD
Admissions Requirements
BS in CS and (LAS Discipline) degree programs do not accept direct admits. Students interested in the BS in Computer Science and Philosophy would apply to enter UIC as a pre-major. To be considered for admission to the BS in Computer Science and Philosophy, students must have:
- at least a C in MATH 180;
- at least a C in one of: CS 111, CS 112, CS 113, or MCS 160;
- an average math/science GPA of 2.50/4.00; and
- at least a B in a non-logic, 3-hour, 100-level course in Philosophy (excluding PHIL 102).
In the event that transfer students are admitted to UIC with the pre-major requirements already completed, they will be instructed to discuss next steps with their LAS academic advisor at orientation.
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Philosophy 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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Requirements for the Curriculum | 120 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| Foreign Language (the equivalent of two years of a single language at the college level) | 0-16 | |
| Exploring World Cultures course a | 3 | |
| Understanding the Creative Arts course a | 3 | |
| Understanding the Individual and Society course a | 3 | |
| Understanding the Past course a | 3 | |
| Understanding U.S. Society course a | 3 | |
| Two Analyzing the Natural World courses (classes with labs only) | 8-10 | |
| MATH 180 | Calculus I b | 4 |
| MATH 181 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MCS 160 | Introduction to Computer Science | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Program Design I | ||
| Program Design I in the Context of Biological Problems | ||
| Program Design I in the Context of Law and Public Policy | ||
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| CS 141 | Program Design II | 3 |
| CS 151 | Mathematical Foundations of Computing | 3 |
| CS 211 | Programming Practicum | 3 |
| CS 251 | Data Structures | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Languages and Automata | ||
| Theory of Computation I c | ||
| CS 401 | Computer Algorithms I | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9-11 | |
| Machine Organization | ||
| Programming Language Design and Implementation | ||
| Software Design | ||
| Advanced Data Structure Practicum | ||
| Systems Programming | ||
| Framework-based Software Development for Hand-held Devices | ||
| Algorithms in Practice | ||
| Economics and Computation | ||
| Artificial Intelligence I | ||
| Computer Vision I | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Natural Language Processing | ||
| User Interface Design and Programming | ||
| Visualization and Visual Analytics | ||
| Computer Graphics I | ||
| Video Game Design and Development | ||
| Creative Coding | ||
| Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality | ||
| Introduction to Parallel and Distributed Processing | ||
| Object-Oriented Languages and Environments | ||
| Object-Oriented Programming | ||
| Software Development for Mobile Platforms | ||
| Database Systems | ||
| Human Augmentics | ||
| One 100-level PHIL course (excluding PHIL 102) d | 3 | |
| PHIL 210 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 215 | Philosophy of Computing and Machine Learning | 3 |
| PHIL 300 | Fundamentals of Philosophical Discourse e | 3 |
| PHIL 315 | Ethics of Computing and Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| Three PHIL courses (9 hours) at the 200 level or above, of which: | 9 | |
at least to courses (6 hours) must be at the 400 level | ||
at least one of the following courses in value theory: | ||
| Topics in Ethics and Political Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy of Race and Racism | ||
| Sex Roles: Moral and Political Issues | ||
| Topics in Ethics | ||
| Topics in Social/Political Philosophy | ||
| Are Algorithms Biased | ||
| Electives | 4-25 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog, particularly the Individual and Society section, for a list of approved courses. Note that PHIL 116 does not satisfy general education requirements.
- b
MATH 180 fulfills the LAS Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
- b
- d
Students are strongly encouraged to satisfy the 100-level PHIL requirement with a course that counts toward General Education.
- e
PHIL 300 fulfills the LAS Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| MATH 180 | Calculus I | 4 |
| CS 111 |
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 or Introduction to Computer Science |
3-4 |
| Understanding the Past course | 3 | |
| Hours | 13-14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| MATH 181 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CS 141 | Program Design II | 3 |
| PHIL 100-level course (excluding PHIL 102) a | 3 | |
| Understanding the Creative Arts course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| STAT 381 | Applied Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| CS 151 | Mathematical Foundations of Computing | 3 |
| CS 211 | Programming Practicum | 3 |
| PHIL 210 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CS 251 | Data Structures | 4 |
| CS 301 | Languages and Automata | 3 |
| PHIL 215 | Philosophy of Computing and Machine Learning | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Understanding U.S. Society course | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CS 401 | Computer Algorithms I (or CS Selective) b | 3 |
| PHIL 315 | Ethics of Computing and Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Analyzing the Natural World course (with lab) | 4-5 | |
| Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CS 401 | Computer Algorithms I (or CS Selective) b | 3 |
| PHIL Elective c | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Understanding the Individual and Society course | 3 | |
| Electives | 2-3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHIL 300 | Fundamentals of Philosophical Discourse | 3 |
| CS Selective b | 3 | |
| PHIL Elective c | 3 | |
| Analyzing the Natural World course (with lab) | 4-5 | |
| Hours | 13-14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PHIL Elective c | 3 | |
| CS Selective b | 3 | |
| Exploring World Cultures course | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
Students are strongly encouraged to select a 100-level PHIL course that satisfies a General Education requirement. Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog, particularly the Individual and Society section, for a list of approved courses. Note that PHIL 116 does not satisfy any General Education requirements.
- b
See Required Courses section for CS courses that satisfy this requirement.
- c
PHIL electives must be at the 200 level or above, including at least two courses (6 credits) at the 400 level. One elective course in value theory must be chosen from: PHIL 221, PHIL 230, PHIL 232, PHIL 357, PHIL 432, PHIL 433, LING 350.