The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's Computer Science bachelor's degree provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.
The Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of undergraduate course descriptions is available.
Year One
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CS1000 Exploration in Computing | 1 | |
| MA1160/MA 161 Calculus with Technology | MA1030 or MA1032 | 5 |
| CS1121 Programming I or CS1131 Advanced Programming(5 credits) | MA1031/1032 Concurrently | 3 |
| Essential Education: SHAPE | 3 | |
| UN1015 Composition | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CS1122 Programming II | CS1121 | 3 |
| MA2330 Linear Algebra | MA1161/60 | 3 |
| Essential Education: Natural and Physical Science | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Arts and Culture | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Foundations of the Human World | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-Being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 16 |
Year Two
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CS2311 Discrete Structures | CS1121 or CS1131, MA1160 or MA1161 | 3 |
| CS2321 Data Structures | CS1122 or CS1131 | 3 |
| MA2720 Statistics | MA1160 or MA1161 | 3 |
| Essential Education: Communication Intensive | 3 | |
| Free Elective – any course | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-Being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 16 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CS1142 Programming at HW/SW Interface | CS1122 | 3 |
| CS3425 Databases | CS2311, CS2321 | 3 |
| CS3311 Formal Models of Computation | CS2311 | 3 |
| Application Course | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Intercultural Competency | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
Year Three
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CS3421 Computer Organization | 3 | |
| CS3141 Team Software Project | 3 | |
| Technology and Society Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Application Course | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-Being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 16 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CS3411 Systems Programming | 3 | |
| CS4321 Intro to Algorithms | 3 | |
| CS4yyy | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Application Course | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
Year Four
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CS3331 Concurrent | 3 | |
| CS3000 Ethics in Computing | 3 | |
| CS4yyy | 3 | |
| Application Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CS4121 Programming Languages | 3 | |
| HU3120 Technical and Professional Comm | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Application Course | 3 | |
| Total | 12 |
Grand Total = 120 Credits
Essential Education Requirements (37 total credits)
Required courses are:
- a Math course (3 credits),
- a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
- STEM courses (6 credits),
- a Foundations in the Human World course (3 credits),
- Composition UN 1015 (3 credits),
- a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
- an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
- an Essential Ed Seminar course (UN 1013 or UN 2013 or major-specific, 1-3 credits),
- an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
- a SHAPE elective (3 credits)
- an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
- and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.
Up to five Essential Education requirements and the Michigan Tech Seminar may be shared (doublecounted) with major requirements. Students should work with their advisor to determine which major requirements may satisfy Essential Education requirements.
For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.
Additional Notes
- Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent
course.
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
- Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned 60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
- Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult with your advisor)
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score, the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
- Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).
This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.
Revised 10/22/2025.