Bachelor in Computer Science
North Central College
Key Information
Campus location
Naperville, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 42,866 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
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* tuition fee
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Why pursue a computer science degree in Chicago at North Central College?
Pursuing higher education in computer science offers students many exciting and rewarding career options from software engineering to computer engineering. A graduate student with a computer science degree from North Central College is in demand from employers familiar with the high quality of our computer science program and our graduates. By choosing a computer science degree in Chicago, graduate students are thoroughly grounded in both the theory and practice of the field. With our degree program, our students will possess a broad set of skills in information systems and programming languages that stems from a well-rounded education from North Central College.
You can also:
- Engage in prestigious, paid internships or co-ops, working side-by-side with professionals while you complete your computer science major.
- Participate in co-curricular activities related to computing and engineering, where you can work on various projects related to the area of your interest.
- Study abroad for periods ranging from a few weeks to a year and still graduate in just four years.
- Work with faculty members on research projects.
- Be a part of North Central’s Summer Undergraduate Research Colloquium or Rall Symposium and present your findings at local, regional, or national undergraduate research conferences.
Curriculum
Computer Science, BA
Computer science offers a mix of the theory of computation, software development, systems concepts, and computing applications. Our graduates are employed in a wide range of companies and research labs.
Major Requirements
Core Courses
- CSCE 160 - Introduction to Computer Programming
- CSCE 210 - Data Structures
- CSCE 220 - Computer Organization and Design
- CSCE 230 - Discrete Structures
- CSCE 306 - Object-Oriented Software Development
- CSCE 340 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms
- CSCE 420 - Operating Systems
- CSCE 494 - Senior Capstone
Electives
- One four credit hour CSCE or INFS elective at the 200-level or above
- One four credit hour CSCE elective at the 300-level or above *
- One four credit hour CSCE elective at the 400-level *
Note:
*Internships may not be used to fulfill requirements.
Support Courses
Ethics
One of the following:
- PHIL 110 - Ethics
- PHIL 210 - Professional Ethics
Communications
One of the following:
- COMM 200 - Interpersonal Communication
- COMM 214 - Group Interaction
- COMM 280 - Business and Professional Communication
- COMM 285 - Argumentation and Debate
- COMM 287 - Advanced Public Speaking
- LEAD 230 - Conflict Resolution
- MEDI 200 - Digital Media Writing
- MEDI 255 - Social Media
Additional Requirements for the BA Degree
Foreign Language
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language.
Communication Courses
Two additional four credit hour courses from the Communications list above, not already taken for the major.
Computer Science, BSc
Computer science offers a mix of the theory of computation, software development, systems concepts, and computing applications. Our graduates are employed in a wide range of companies and research labs.
Career Opportunities
A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead. We want to support our computer science students to not only focus on coursework but also find ways to apply their degree to real-world experiences.
Internships
- Co-op Software Engineer, Argonne National Laboratory, near Lemont, IL
- Intern, Ecolab, Naperville, IL
- Intern, Google, Kirkland, WA
- Web designer, Websolutions, Inc., Aurora, IL
- Security intern, Navistar, Warrenville, IL
- Engineering and software QA, Informatica, Warrenville, IL
Recent graduates of the computer science program include:
- Applications Engineer, Emerson Electric Co., Rosemont, IL
- Network Engineer, Arris International, Lisle, IL
- Software Engineer, Open Data Group, Chicago, IL
- Software Engineer, Job Cost, Inc., Naperville
- Associate Consultant at SWC Technology Partners, Oak Brook, IL
- Software Developer at NextCapital, Chicago, IL
- Consultant at West Monroe Partners, Chicago, IL
- Software engineer, Google, New York, NY
- Software engineer, Google, Mountain View, CA
- Software engineer specialist, Argonne National Laboratory, near Lemont, IL
- Software development manager, VisTracks, Lisle, IL
- Senior product manager, Informatica, Warrenville, IL
- Software automation tester, Interactive Intelligence Inc., Indianapolis, IN
- Web developer, Seattle Sutton, Ottawa, IL
Many computer science students begin with a bachelor's degree before they move on to their master's degree. While not explicitly required, graduate school is a path for many students who want a more specialized skill set in the computer science career- some specialties include sectors like artificial intelligence or machine learning.