College of Engineering

Department of Computer Science

Faculty

• Gerassimos Barlas
  
• Joachim Diederich
  
• Khaled El-Fakih (on sabbatical 2007–2008)
  
• Jalal Kawash
  
• Kassem Saleh
  
• Tamer Shanableh

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS)

The mission of the computer science program is to deliver a modern curriculum that will equip graduates with strong theoretical and practical backgrounds to enable them to excel in the workplace and to be lifelong learners.
The computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET as well as by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The program is designed to meet the growing needs for computer science experts in the rapidly evolving 21st century economy. It provides graduates with a strong computer science base that will enable them to capitalize on increasing career opportunities in the information technology sector, especially software-related fields; to expand the limits of their knowledge by pursuing further graduate studies; and to explore innovative approaches to computer-related problems. A computer science degree from AUS provides the graduate with a highly demanded level of expertise, great mobility and flexibility, and a wide range of career choices in the broad software and information technology industry.

The program includes general education requirements and core requirements. In addition, technical and free elective courses are required. A senior design project is also accomplished in close coordination with a faculty advisor. A summer internship experience is required.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of computer science are expected to be able to:

• have successful professional careers, play leadership roles and be able to grasp and apply emerging technologies through training, self-learning or postgraduate studies
  
• possess problem-solving and software development skills involving all aspects of the product development process including analysis and design
  
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and interact effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment
  
• understand and deal with the ethical, legal and social concerns faced in their work and contribute positively to the betterment of society

Program Outcomes

Upon graduation, the student of the computer science program is able to:

• obtain appropriate employment in an information technology field
• secure admission into a postgraduate program
• acquire new knowledge through self-learning and training
• apply knowledge of mathematical concepts in the design and analysis of algorithmic solutions to software problems
• apply knowledge of one or more specialization areas of computer science to develop feasible solutions to software problems
• propose feasible software development project plans
• define software requirements, and analyze and design software system solutions
• implement and test software systems
• use modern software development tools effectively while developing software systems
• communicate effectively, in formal or informal meetings, with clients, managers or peers
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• interact and work effectively with colleagues in a multidisciplinary team
• recognize the ethical, legal and social issues involved in the computing profession
• assess the ethical, legal and social implications of his/her own professional behavior and conduct
• participate in local, regional and/or global professional organizations and societies

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 130 credits to graduate. These should include a minimum of 48 credits of general education requirements, 58 credits of major requirements, a minimum of 12 credits of computer science elective courses and a minimum of 12 credits of free electives. After the third year, each student is normally required to devote at least five weeks to the summer internship prior to graduation. In the last year, each student is required to complete a senior design project.
Students seeking the BS in Computer Science degree must complete the following requirements:

General Education Requirements (minimum of 48 credits)

• English language competency requirement: a minimum of 12 credits in 100-level or above writing (WRI)/English (ENG) courses, including ENG 204 and ENG 207
  
• Arabic heritage requirement: any course listed as an Arabic heritage requirement
  
• mathematics and/or statistics requirement: MTH 103 and MTH 104
  
• science requirement: a minimum of 12 credits from CHM, BIO, ENV or PHY. Two out of the three courses must be in the same area.
  
• humanities and social sciences requirement: a minimum of 15 credits to be selected from the areas of humanities and social sciences with at least six credits taken from the humanities area and at least six credits taken from the social sciences area. If the three credits in courses on Arabic heritage are satisfied by one of the theme courses (THM 301 or THM 302), three additional credits must be taken from the humanities or social sciences courses.
  
• computer literacy requirement: satisfied through courses throughout the computer science curriculum
  
• information literacy requirement: satisfied through WRI 102 and ENG 204

Major Requirements (58 credits)

• CMP 120 Introduction to Computer Science I
• CMP 210 Digital Systems
• CMP 211 Digital Systems Laboratory
• CMP 213 Discrete Structures or MTH 213 Discrete Mathematics
• CMP 220 Introduction to Computer Science II
• CMP 232 Data Structures and Algorithms
• CMP 235 Ethics for Computing and Information Technology
• CMP 240 Introduction to Computer Systems
• CMP 310 Introduction to Operating Systems
• CMP 320 Database Systems
• CMP 321 Programming Languages Laboratory
• CMP 340 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• CMP 341/MTH 341 Computational Methods
• CMP 350 Introduction to Software Engineering
• CMP 397 Professional Training in Computer Science
• CMP 416 Internet and Network Computing
• CMP 490 Project in Computer Science I
•  CMP 491 Project in Computer Science II
• MTH 221 Linear Algebra
• NGN 110 Introduction to Engineering and Computing
• STA 201 Introduction to Statistics for Engineering and Natural Sciences

Major Electives (minimum of 12 credits)

• CMP 352 Human Computer Interaction
• CMP 394/494 Special Topics in Computer Science
• CMP 412 Introduction to Distributed Systems
• CMP 415 Computer Networks
• CMP 417 Parallel Computing Systems
• CMP 430 Computer Graphics
• CMP 432 Image Processing
• CMP 433 Artificial Intelligence
• CMP 434 Multimedia Compression
• CMP 435 Computer Security
• CMP 437 Introduction to Neural Networks
• CMP 440 Machine Learning
• CMP 450 Object-oriented Software Engineering
• CMP 452 Compiler Construction
• CMP 454 Software Testing and Quality Engineering
• CMP 470 Formal Languages and Computability
• CMP 472 Multimedia Computing
• CMP 473 Game Programming
• COE 370 Communications Networks
• COE 423 Computer Networks II

Free Electives (minimum of 12 credits)

A minimum of 12 credits of any courses offered at or above the 100 level.

Minor in Computer Science

Students enrolling in the computer science minor should have normally completed a minimum of 60 credits of course work and be in good academic standing. A minor in computer science is open to all AUS students.

The following rules apply:

• The minor consists of a minimum of 18 credits, including at least nine credits in courses at or above the 300 level in computer science.
  
• At least nine credits of the 18 credits required for the minor must be taken in residence at AUS.
  
• At least six credits of the nine credits at or above the 300 level must be taken in residence at AUS.
  
• Free electives can be taken toward the minor.
  
• A grade of at least C- in each course and a GPA of at least 2.0 must be earned in courses taken to satisfy the minor.

Students seeking a minor in computer science must complete the following courses or their equivalent. All course prerequisites must be satisfied.

Minor Requirements (9–12 credits)

• School of Architecture and Design students: CMP 120, CMP 220, CMP 430 and CMP 472
• College of Arts and Sciences students: CMP 220, CMP 232 and CMP 340
• School of Business and Management students: CMP 220, CMP 232 and CMP 340
• College of Engineering students: CMP 321, CMP 340 and CMP 416

Minor Electives (6–9 credits)

Any computer science courses offered at the 300 level or above. Approval of the head of the Department of Computer Science is required.

Minor in Computer Game Programming

The computer game programming minor is designed to help students:

• develop computer games and graphics intensive applications
• develop multimedia applications for mobile devices and the World Wide Web
• learn the latest web technologies

Students enrolling in the minor in computer game programming should have normally completed a minimum of 60 credits of course work and be in good academic standing. A minor in computer game programming is open to all AUS students.

The following rules apply:

• The minor consists of a minimum of 18 credits, including at least nine credits in courses at or above the 300 level.
• At least nine credits of the 18 credits required for the minor must be taken in residence at AUS.
• At least six credits of the nine credits at or above the 300 level must be taken in residence at AUS.
• Free electives can be taken toward the minor.
• A grade of at least C- in each course and a GPA of at least 2.0 must be earned in courses taken to satisfy the minor.

Students seeking a minor in computer game programming must complete the following courses or their equivalent. All course prerequisites must be satisfied.

Minor Requirements (12 credits)

• CMP 232 Data Structures and Algorithms
• CMP 352 Human Computer Interaction
• CMP 472 Multimedia Computing
• CMP 473 Game Programming

Minor Electives (minimum of 6 credits)

• CMP 430 Computer Graphics
• CMP 432 Image Processing
• CMP 433 Artificial Intelligence
• CMP 434 Multimedia Compression
• CMP 440 Machine Learning
• CMP 494 Special Topics in Computer Game Programming
• COE 434 Mobile Computing

Minor in Software Engineering and Security

The software engineering and security minor exposes students to contemporary topics related to both software and security. Students enrolling in the minor in software engineering and security should have normally completed a minimum of 60 credits of course work and be in good academic standing.

The following rules apply:

• The minor consists of a minimum of 18 credits, including at least nine credits in courses at or above the 300 level.
• At least nine credits of the 18 credits required for the minor must be taken in residence at AUS.
• At least six credits of the nine credits at or above the 300 level must be taken in residence at AUS.
• Free and major electives can be taken toward the minor.
• A grade of at least C- in each course and a GPA of at least 2.0 must be earned in courses taken to satisfy the minor.

Students seeking a minor in software engineering and security must complete the following courses or their equivalent. All course prerequisites must be satisfied.

Minor Requirements (12 credits)

• CMP 233 Introduction to Programming and Data Structures
• CMP 350 Introduction to Software Engineering
• CMP 435 Computer Security
• CMP 454 Software Testing and Quality Engineering

Minor Electives (minimum of 6 credits)

• CMP 352 Human Computer Interaction
• CMP 450 Object-Oriented Software Engineering
• CMP 494 Special Topics in Computer Science

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