Computer Science
Computer ScienceProfessors—Douglas, Dujmovic, Eisman, Levine, Murphy
Associate Professors—Hodges, Hsu, Kroll, Wong
Adjunct Professor—Oklobdzija
B.S. in Computer Science
Minor in Computer Science
M.S. in Computer Science
The primary mission of the Computer Science Department is to prepare students for employment as computer specialists in the software development and computer manufacturing industries and for continued study toward advanced degrees. The department offers a broad curriculum covering the major areas of the computing discipline. Students are exposed to the fundamentals of computing architecture and computing theory, and focus their studies on the areas of software and system development. Faculty work directly with students to develop in them the skills and knowledge of computing professionals.
Department faculty are committed to teaching excellence. They remain current in the rapidly changing field of computing technology through continued research, direct consultation with local industries, and seminar programs that bring top researchers to campus to speak on current developments in the field. Programs such as the Industry Research Associate Program provide opportunities for graduate students to complement their academic learning with real world experience.
The department has an additional commitment to sharing its knowledge and skills with the rest of the university community, with local schools, and with community based organizations of the Bay Area.
The B.S. program stresses a basic foundation in mathematics and physics, and a thorough study of the fundamentals of the discipline--software development, computer architecture, operating systems, programming languages, algorithms, and the theoretical foundations of computer science. A wide variety of elective courses such as database systems, artificial intelligence, computer architecture and graphics, allow students to emphasize study in selected areas. Ethical and social issues of computing are discussed throughout the curriculum. It is strongly recommended that students who will seek employment as computer specialists in industry gain a basic understanding of the general aims and problems of that industry by taking a minor or the equivalent in one of the appropriate university programs.
Access to Internet is provided by most of the following facilities:
Central Facilities:Several microcomputer laboratories are located around campus.
Departmental Facilities:Graduate assistantships are frequently available for qualified master's students. These opportunities include assisting with the management of department and university computer laboratories as well as lecturer positions for beginning undergraduate computer science courses.
Students intending to enter this program at the freshman level should complete two years of algebra and one semester of trigonometry in high school. One year each of high school geometry and physics is very desirable as well as basic knowledge of computer organization and programming.
All lower division courses (course numbers below 300) included among the degree requirements are available at many community colleges in California; students intending to enter the program upon transferring to San Francisco State University from a community college should take as many of those courses there as possible.
Students should plan their program of study in the major with the help of a departmental adviser in order that the correct sequence of courses be taken and a proper set of electives be chosen. It is also suggested that students consult with an adviser before selecting courses to meet General Education requirements.
Students are encouraged to participate in the Computer Science Cooperative Education Program at SFSU. Under this program, they may obtain industrial employment related to their academic studies. This combination of on-the-job training and academic experience can greatly enhance the value of an undergraduate degree in computer science.
Students are advised that except for the laboratory courses, CSC 212 and CSC 311, CR/NC grades are not acceptable in courses to be counted for the computer science major program.
Online course descriptions are available.
| Mathematics and Physics (22 units) | Units | |
| MATH 226-227 | Calculus I-II (4 each) | 8 |
| MATH 250 | Probability and Statistics with Computing | 3 |
| MATH 325 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHYS 220/222 | General Physics with Calculus I (3/1) | 4 |
| PHYS 230/232 | General Physics with Calculus II (3/1) | 4 |
| Core Computer Science Requirements (24 units) | ||
| CSC 210 | Introduction to Computer Programming | 3 |
| CSC 212 | Software Development Tools with UNIX | 2 |
| CSC 301 | Fundamentals of Computer Science | 3 |
| CSC 310 | Assembly Language Programming and Introduction to Computer Organization | 3 |
| CSC 311 | Assembly Language Programming Laboratory | 2 |
| ENGR 356 | Basic Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC 330 | Discrete Mathematical Structures for Computer Science | 3 |
| CSC 410 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CSC 411 | Data Structures Laboratory | 2 |
| Advanced Computer Science Requirements (21 units) | ||
| CSC 415 | Principles of Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 510 | Analysis of Algorithms I | 3 |
| CSC 600 | Programming Language Design | 3 |
| Senior Presentation. Each major is required to make an oral presentation on an area of computer science during his/her senior year. Guidelines for the presentation are available in the department office | 0 | |
| Electives (see requirements below) | 12 | |
| Total for major | 67 | |
Electives are selected from the nine subareas of Computer Science listed below. Electives must meet the following requirements.
For example, the following four electives meet the requirements (subareas are shown in parentheses):
CSC 520 meets requirement 1.
CSC 620 and CSC 671 are both in the Artificial Intelligence subarea (depth requirement 2).
CSC 520, CSC 620, and CSC 675 are in three different subareas (breadth requirement 3).
NOTE: It is recommended that students planning to continue their study of computer science in graduate school take both CSC 656 and CSC 520.
The courses listed below constitute a partial list of suitable courses. Frequently, the department offers courses under the title of CSC 690, Undergraduate Seminar, which meet elective requirements. For example, new courses in computer music, multimedia, performance evaluation, and network administration have been offered. In addition, many students find that by their senior year they are prepared to undertake certain graduate courses in computer science. Any course substitutions must be approved by the major adviser.
Subareas of Specialized EmphasisAlgorithms and Theory of Computing
CSC 520 Theory of Computing
CSC 610 Sorting and Searching
Architecture
CSC 656 Computer Organization
Artificial Intelligence
CSC 620 Natural Language Processing
CSC 665 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CSC 671 Neural Networks
Database
CSC 675 Introduction to Database Systems
Graphics
CSC 630 Computer Graphics Systems Design
Numerical and Symbolic Computing
MATH 400 Numerical Analysis I
Operating Systems and Distributed Processing
CSC 645 Computer Networks
Programming Languages
CSC 520 Theory of Computing
CSC 668 Object Oriented Programming
Software Engineering
CSC 668 Object Oriented Programming
CSC 640 Software Engineering
Many university students want to acquire sufficient computer science background to enable them to use computers effectively in their major areas, or to provide an alternative source of income after graduation, but do not want to study computer science in the depth required for the B.S. degree. For such students, a minor consisting of the most central courses in the B.S. program, plus some electives, is ideal. Students are advised that except for the laboratory courses, CSC 212 and CSC 311, CR/NC grades are not acceptable in courses to be counted for the Computer Science Minor.
| Program Requirements | Units | |
| CSC 210 | Introduction to Computer Programming | 3 |
| CSC 212 | Software Development Tools with UNIX | 2 |
| CSC 301 | Fundamentals of Computer Science | 3 |
| CSC 310 | Assembly Language Programming and Introduction to Computer Organization | 3 |
| CSC 311 | Assembly Language Programming Laboratory | 2 |
| CSC 410 | Data Structures | 3 |
| ENGR 356 | Basic Computer Architecture | 3 |
| One upper division computer related elective by approval of the minor adviser | 3 | |
| Total for minor | 22 | |
Candidates for admission to the Computer Science M.S. program should have strong backgrounds in the mathematics which underlies all sciences, the fundamental programming techniques, and the basic concepts of computer architecture, as well as demonstrated potential for graduate study in computer science. The requisite academic background is normally evidenced by a 3.3 grade point average with no grades below a B in the following courses or their equivalents: CSC 330, 410; and ENGR 356. In addition, the student must have completed the following with no grades below a B: MATH 226, 227, 250, 325. Candidates for admission must submit two or more letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with their previous academic work and/or potential for graduate study. Finally, candidates must submit their scores on the general GRE aptitude test, taken within three years prior to the date of application. Letters of recommendation and test scores should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Officer, Department of Computer Science.
Candidates who satisfy most but not all requirements for admission may sometimes be admitted on condition that they achieve the requisite grade point average in the courses mentioned above in the minimum possible time. (These courses, however, may not be counted toward the M.S. degree requirements.)
Level One: newly admitted students are required to take the Graduate Essay Test (GET, administered by the Testing Office) preferably before the first enrollment takes place, but no later than completion of the first nine units of course work toward the master's degree. If remedial work is necessary, the student shall be expected to complete courses in writing or other corrective work acceptable to the department. Level Two: the second level of proficiency in written English must be demonstrated before graduation. At this time, the student must demonstrate writing skills which exemplify scholarly style in computer science. This is generally demonstrated by the master's thesis or the research project. Students can, also, satisfy this requirement by obtaining the approval of the graduate adviser based on a letter of support from a faculty member who has evaluated the student's English proficiency. The evaluation should be based on written assignments completed for graduate-level computer science course work.
The Master of Science in Computer Science consists of core courses covering advanced topics in software, hardware, and computer science theory with additional elective courses covering the breadth of the discipline. There are two options for the culminating experience for the degree: the Master's Thesis or the Applied Research Project.
A maximum of nine units of undergraduate courses (numbered below 700) may be applied to the graduate degree.
Online course descriptions are available.
| Program Requirements | Units | |
| CSC 720 | Advanced Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 810 | Analysis of Algorithms II | 3 |
| CSC 856 | Advanced Computer Architecture | 3 |
| Upper division or graduate electives selected on advisement from the areas listed below | 18 | |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| CSC 895 | Applied Research Project or | |
| CSC 898 | Master's Thesis and | |
| Oral Defense of Thesis | ||
| Minimum total | 30 | |
Architecture
Artificial Intelligence
Database Systems
Graphics
Multimedia
Networks
Operating Systems
Programming Languages
Software Engineering
Theory of Computation and Algorithms
Special Study or Research
Pursuant to Policy F89-165 adopted by the Academic Senate in 1989, the Computer Science Department has adopted the policy that all graduate students who are working with a research adviser (above and beyond general advising during office hours) and/or having his/her thesis reviewed, must enroll in at least one unit of CSC 895, 897, 898, or 899. Registered students will have priority for departmental computing resources.