Computer Science and Society Bachelor of Science

Leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and Society

Students in Computer Science + Society learn how to solve the world’s problems using the skills of Computer Science and the frameworks of the Social Sciences and Humanities. Students gain a solid foundation in Computer Science as well as the interdisciplinary knowledge needed to understand and shape the role of technology in society. The major courses offer hands-on experience applying critical thinking, research, and data analysis skills to real-world problems drawn from a regional and global context. Electives allow students to tailor their studies to their interests and career plans. The program of study leads to a capstone project involving independent research. Students also apply these skills in the workplace through two required co-op work semesters.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the major in Computer Science + Society should be able to:

  • Design, implement and evaluate solutions to problems grounded in real-world scenarios by applying conceptual frameworks from the Humanities and Social Sciences and principles of Computer Science.
  • Analyze the interrelationship between scientific inquiry, technological innovation, cultural production, and human behavior.
  • Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts through use of critical argument, analyses, and creative expression in written, oral, visual, and/or digital output.
  • Make informed professional judgments based on ethical principles, social awareness, and cultural understanding.
  • Function effectively in collaborative environments.

Four Year Program 

Total credits for degree: 120 credits 

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterCredits
CSAS1000 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY 4
COMP1000 COMPUTER SCIENCE I 4
MATH1500 PRECALCULUS 4
ENGLISH SEQUENCE 4
 Credits16
Spring Semester
COMP1050 COMPUTER SCIENCE II 4
MATH2300 DISCRETE MATHEMATICS 4
SCIENCE ELECTIVE: BIOL, CHEM or PHYS 4
ENGLISH SEQUENCE 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall Semester
CSAS2000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY STUDIO 4
COMP1100 INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKS 4
HSSI4000 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY 4
MATH1030 STATISTICS & APPLICATIONS 4
 Credits16
Spring Semester
COMP1200 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION 4
HIST4191 HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY 1 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
FREE ELECTIVE 2 4
COOP2500 CO-OP INSTITUTE 0
 Credits16
Summer Semester
COOP3000 PRE CO-OP WORK TERM (OPTIONAL) 0
 Credits0
Third Year
Fall Semester
COMP2000 DATA STRUCTURES 4
COMP2650 DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 4
SOCL4232 RESEARCH METHODS 4
FREE ELECTIVE 2 4
 Credits16
Spring Semester
COOP3500 COOP EDUCATION 1 0
 Credits0
Summer Semester
CSAS2000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY STUDIO ((This course is required twice: Sophomore Fall and Junior Summer)) 4
COMP2350 ALGORITHMS 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
COOP4500 COOP EDUCATION 2 0
 Credits0
Spring Semester
POLS4350 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY 4
PHIL4525 A.I. ETHICS 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
 Credits12
Summer Semester
CSAS5000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY SENIOR PROJECT 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
FREE ELECTIVE 2 4
 Credits12
 Total Credits120
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
Fall SemesterCredits
CSAS1000 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY 4
COMP1000 COMPUTER SCIENCE I 4
MATH1500 PRECALCULUS 4
ENGLISH SEQUENCE 4
 Credits16
Spring Semester
COMP1050 COMPUTER SCIENCE II 4
MATH2300 DISCRETE MATHEMATICS 4
SCIENCE ELECTIVE: BIOL, CHEM or PHYS 4
ENGLISH SEQUENCE 4
 Credits16
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
CSAS2000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY STUDIO (This course is required twice: Sophomore Fall & Junior Summer year) 4
COMP1100 INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKS 4
HSSI4000 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY 4
MATH1030 STATISTICS & APPLICATIONS 4
 Credits16
Spring Semester
COMP1200 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION 4
HIST4191 HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
FREE ELECTIVE 2 4
COOP2500 CO-OP INSTITUTE 0
 Credits16
Summer Semester
PRE CO-OP WORK TERM (OPTIONAL)  
 Credits0
Junior Year
Fall Semester
COMP2000 DATA STRUCTURES 4
COMP2650 DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 4
SOCL4232 RESEARCH METHODS 4
FREE ELECTIVE 2 4
 Credits16
Spring Semester
COOP3500 COOP EDUCATION 1 0
 Credits0
Summer Semester
CSAS2000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY STUDIO (This course is required twice: Sophomore Fall and Junior Summer) 4
COMP2350 ALGORITHMS 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
 Credits16
Senior Year
Fall Semester
COOP4500 COOP EDUCATION 2 0
 Credits0
Spring Semester
POLS4350 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY 4
PHIL4525 A.I. ETHICS 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
 Credits12
Summer Semester
CSAS5000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY SENIOR PROJECT 4
HSS ELECTIVE 1 4
FREE ELECTIVE 2 4
 Credits12
 Total Credits120

1 Any Humanities or Social Sciences course numbered 3000 or higher

2Any Wentworth course

Math Placement may alter the course schedule above. 

Three  Year Program

Total credits for degree: 120 credits

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
Fall SemesterCredits
CSAS1000 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY 4
COMP1000 COMPUTER SCIENCE I 4
COMP1100 INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKS 4
MATH1500 PRECALCULUS 4
English Sequence 4
 Credits20
Spring Semester
COMP1050 COMPUTER SCIENCE II 4
MATH1030 STATISTICS & APPLICATIONS 4
MATH2300 DISCRETE MATHEMATICS 4
SCIENCE Elective w/Lab: BIOL, CHEM or PHYS 4
English Sequence 4
 Credits20
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
COMP1200 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION 4
CSAS2000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY STUDIO (This course is required twice: Fall & Spring Sophomore year) 4
COMP2000 DATA STRUCTURES 4
HSSI4000 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY 4
SOCL4232 RESEARCH METHODS 4
COOP2500 INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVE EDUCATION 0
 Credits20
Spring Semester
COMP2350 ALGORITHMS 4
CSAS2000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY STUDIO (This course is required twice: Fall & Spring Sophomore year) 4
HIST4191 HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY 4
POLS4350 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY 4
CS+S ELECTIVE 1 4
 Credits20
Summer Semester
COOP3500 COOP EDUCATION 1  
 Credits0
Junior Year
Fall Semester
ECON4200 TECHNOLOGY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 4
ETHICS Elective 2 4
COMP2650 DATABASES 4
COMP Elective 3 4
GENERAL Elective 4
 Credits20
Spring Semester
COOP4500 COOP EDUCATION 2  
 Credits0
Summer Semester
CSAS5000 COMPUTER SCIENCE + SOCIETY SENIOR PROJECT 4
CS+S ELECTIVE 1 4
CS+S ELECTIVE 4
CS+S ELECTIVE 4
COMP Elective 4
 Credits20
 Total Credits120

1 COMM4300,COMM4310COMM4325HIST4200HUMN4200,HUMN4243,

  HUMN4263,HUMN4325COMM4330,LITR4601POLS4450,SOCL4102,SOCL4212

2 PHIL4401PHIL4525PHIL4550PHIL4600

Any Computer Science Elective

Math Placement may alter the course schedule above.