Computer Science
Chairperson: Dennis Brylow, Ph.D.
Department of Computer Science website
The Department of Computer Science provides its majors with a fluent understanding of our dynamic field. Introductory course work in software development, design, algorithms and data structures sets the stage for more advanced courses in a wide variety of both applied and theoretical subfields of computing.
The Computer Science major (COSC) provides students with an understanding of the foundational principles and techniques used to solve real problems with software. Students practice the skills required to build computer systems that address problems in scientific, engineering and business domains. Most importantly, the major prepares students for long-term success in a rapidly changing field that provides the computer technology underpinning our modern world.
Data Science is the emerging field that extracts and quantifies knowledge from data. The interdisciplinary Data Science major (INDS), offered jointly with the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, integrates statistics and mathematics with computer science, allowing students to develop the skills necessary to discover and quantify new knowledge from data. Those prepared to integrate advanced technology with modern statistical and mathematical practices have the opportunity to use in data in action to benefit society. Data scientists turn data into knowledge. For more information about the interdisciplinary Data Science major (INDS), visit the College of Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors section of the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Bioinformatics, a field that lies at the intersection of biology, statistics and computer science, is focused on the generation and analysis of large biological data sets. The interdisciplinary Bioinformatics major (INBI), offered jointly with the Department of Biological Sciences, provides sufficient depth in both biology and computer science to approach problems in bioinformatics from the perspective of both parent fields of Biology and Computer Science. The program is designed to prepare individuals to use the computational tools of bioinformatics to solve problems or analyze data sets in biological sciences. For more information about the interdisciplinary Bioinformatics major (INBI), visit the College of Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors section of the Undergraduate Bulletin.
The Department of Computer Science offers five-year B.S./M.S. accelerated degree programs in which students may obtain both a B.S. degree in Computer Science and a professional M.S. degree in Computer and Information Science, or a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.S. in Data Science in five years. In addition, together with the Graduate School of Management, the Department of Computer Science offers a five-year B.S./M.B.A. accelerated degree program.
COSC 1000 Introduction to Computer Science (3 credits)
Explore the science behind today's computerized society. Topics include development of algorithms and programs, abstraction in computer systems and the use of data to discover new knowledge. Explore the impacts computing innovations have on culture and society, through operating systems, the Internet, programming languages, artificial intelligence and data representations. Previous computer experience is not required.
Prerequisite: Two years of college preparatory mathematics.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Marquette Core Curriculum: NSM Cgntn, Lang, Mmry/Intlgnc
Interdisciplinary Studies: Cognitive Science
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2022 Spring Term
COSC 1010 Introduction to Software Development (4 credits)
Introduction to abstraction, algorithmic thinking, simulation and testing for computer-based problem solving. Students learn a high-level programming language and use tools developed by computer scientists and software engineers to solve problems. No prior programming experience is assumed. 3 hrs. lecture, 2 hrs. lab.
Prerequisite: Two years of college preparatory mathematics.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Marquette Core Curriculum: NSM Cgntn, Lang, Mmry/Intlgnc
Interdisciplinary Studies: Bioinformatics, Cognitive Science
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 1020 Object-Oriented Software Design (4 credits)
Software development using Java. Topics include classes and interfaces as design patterns, the Java API, current object-oriented design methodologies, an introduction to the Internet and the development of Web applications. Projects involve the development of graphical interfaces and net-centric applications. 3 hrs. lecture, 2 hrs. lab.
Prerequisite: Two years of college preparatory mathematics.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Interdisciplinary Studies: Bioinformatics, Cognitive Science
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 1360 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 credits)
Explore the multidisciplinary nature of cybersecurity. Topics include cybersecurity principles, computer hardware fundamentals, Internet design and security, privacy regulations, basic authentication mechanisms, cryptography principles, blockchains and artificial intelligence. Previous computer experience is not required.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Marquette Core Curriculum: NSM Cgntn, Lang, Mmry/Intlgnc
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term
COSC 1820 Computers, Ethics and Society (3 credits)
Explore the social, political, legal and ethical implications of computer-based technologies and our increasingly data-driven society. Through in-class activities, assignments and reflection work, gain a basic understanding of essential concepts and theories, modern and historical case studies and guidelines for best practices. Key concepts include digital inclusion and representation, digital lifestyles, automation and simulation, free speech and content moderation, law enforcement and digital conflict, information privacy and security, and artificial intelligence and algorithmic biases. The main objective is to inform and encourage the critical examination – and responsible development and use – of computing technologies.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Marquette Core Curriculum: NSM Expanding Our Horizons
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term
COSC 2100 Data Structures (3 credits)
Introduction to algorithm analysis and complexity theory presented in the context of data structures and the algorithms used to manipulate them. Includes traditional abstract data types, such as lists, stacks, queues and trees; as well as concepts of indexing, hashing and time/space complexity.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Interdisciplinary Studies: Bioinformatics, Cognitive Science
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 2200 Hardware Systems (4 credits)
Introduction to computer architecture and machine level programming. Topics include combinational and sequential binary logic, assembly languages, memory management, caching, pipelining, bus architecture, interrupts and I/O processing. 3 hr. lecture, 2 hrs. lab.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Interdisciplinary Studies: Cognitive Science
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 3090 Bioinformatics Algorithms (3 credits)
Introduction to the science of bioinformatics and computer algorithms for computer science and bioinformatics majors. Exposure to fundamental algorithmic concepts such as randomized algorithms, graph algorithms, brute force algorithms, dynamic programming and combinatorial algorithms. Formulate important biological problems as computational problems and develop algorithms to solve such problems efficiently. No formal biology background required. Algorithmic techniques can be used for different application domains in computer science, mathematics, and relevant fields.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Interdisciplinary Studies: Bioinformatics
Last four terms offered: 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2018 Fall Term
COSC 3100 Algorithms (3 credits)
Types of algorithms such as divide-and-conquer, greedy, probabilistic, graph traversal, heuristic and parallel algorithms. Computational complexity including time and space complexity, and the P=NP problem.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 3250 Operating Systems (4 credits)
Fundamental concepts of operating systems including virtualization, process control and scheduling, concurrency and synchronization, memory management, file systems and device control. 3 hrs. lecture, 2 hrs. lab.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 3410 Programming Languages (3 credits)
A comparative study of programming paradigms and representative programming languages. Topics include binding times, control of data, control of execution, execution environment, the role of language as an organizational tool, modularization and the concept and significance of universal programming languages.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Fall Term
COSC 3550 Programming Computer Games (3 credits)
Algorithms, data structures and tricks used to program arcade-style video games written in Java. Topics include 2D animation, sprites, interaction, music/sound, 3D worlds, network games. Underlying issues include graphical user interfaces, multi-threaded applications, real-time concerns, use of APIs, and client-server applications.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term, 2019 Spring Term
COSC 3570 Introduction to Data Science (3 credits)
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 3810 Software Design and Analysis (3 credits)
Issues involved in the design and implementation of large software systems. Topics include software lifecycle, software design methodologies, human factors analysis and project management.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term, 2018 Spring Term
COSC 3820 Social, Ethical and Professional Issues in Computer Science (3 credits)
Study ethical issues that apply to computer related professions, including privacy and surveillance, security and reliability of computer systems, protecting software and other intellectual property, computer crime and legal issues, data ethics and artificial intelligence, and professional codes of ethics. Emphasizes the practical application of computer ethics through case studies and current events.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
COSC 3870 Pedagogy of Computer Science (1 credits)
Hands-on introduction to the teaching of computer science. Collaborates on planning and giving lessons and laboratory assignments with area school teachers. A service-learning course with a mandatory off-campus component alternating between on-campus instruction and field work in area school classrooms. Topics include elements of teaching introductory computer science, inquiry-based learning and equity in the computer science classroom.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 3977 Problem Solving - Programming (1 credits)
Students study and implement computing problems, examine their solutions, apply classical algorithms and formulate strategies for teamwork and problem solving in a programming contest environment. Preparation for the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest. S/U grade assessment.
Prerequisite: Cons. of instr.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term
COSC 4010 Teaching Computer Science (3 credits)
Historical background, problems, curricular materials and pedagogy in computer science pertinent to the needs of secondary school teachers.
Prerequisite: EDUC 2001 or equiv.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
COSC 4290 Real-Time and Embedded Systems (3 credits)
Focuses on event-driven programming, real-time scheduling, and synchronization; worst-case execution time analysis and deadline analysis; real-time operating systems and real-time programming languages.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2014 Spring Term
COSC 4300 Network Design and Security (3-4 credits)
Focuses on the design and protocols of the upper layers of the Internet architecture, including the TCP/IP protocol suite, packet switching and routing, network programming and applications. Emphasizes related security attacks and defenses, including DNSSEC, TSL, IPsec and the BGP PKI protections. Taught as a lecture only or as a lecture with lab component.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 4360 Software and System Security (3 credits)
Fosters comprehension of cybersecurity foundations such as cryptography, operating system security, threat modeling, and secure programming. Develops passion for cybersecurity essential to performance of professional roles as developers, engineers, and managers.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 4370 Internet of Things (IoT) (3 credits)
Topics include the definition of IoT, trends in the adoption of IoT, the importance of the IoT in society, the current components of typical IoT devices and trends for the future. Focuses on IoT design considerations, constraints, and interfacing between the physical world and the device. Students are presented with design trade-offs between hardware and software, technologies behind the Internet of Things – RFID, NFC, Wireless networks, WSN, RTLS, GPS, agents, multiagent systems, IoT in retail, NFC applications for the IoT, and IoT in healthcare.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Summer Term, 2020 Summer Term
COSC 4400 Compiler Construction (3 credits)
Lexical analysis, parsing, code generation and optimization. Includes theoretical foundations and the practical concerns of implementation.
Prerequisite: COSC 3410.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Spring Term, 2017 Spring Term
COSC 4500 Visual Analytics (3 credits)
Focuses on developing data products using the Javascript/D3 framework by combining concepts from human-computer interaction, visualization and design. Also focuses on model visualization, interpretation, A/B testing and design thinking.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 4550 Social and Collaborative Computing (3 credits)
Introduces Social Computing and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). Field includes theory, technology and study of computing systems that support groups of users and facilitate collaboration. Example applications and case studies include email, social networking sites, peer production, crowdsourcing, calendars, scheduling and meeting apps, online dating sites, multiplayer games, discussion forums, instant messaging, collaborative editors and analysis tools.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
COSC 4600 Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
An introduction to the broad field of artificial intelligence. Topics include problem solving by searching, knowledge representation, reasoning, planning, decision making, learning, perception and language processing.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Interdisciplinary Studies: Cognitive Science
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 4610 Data Mining (3 credits)
Techniques for extracting and evaluating patterns from large databases. Introduction to knowledge discovery process. Fundamental tasks including classification, prediction, clustering, association analysis, summarization and discrimination. Basic techniques including decision trees, neural networks, statistics, partitional clustering and hierarchical clustering.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Interdisciplinary Studies: Bioinformatics
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 4800 Principles of Database Systems (3 credits)
Topics include database concepts and architecture, data modeling, formal query languages such as relational algebra, commercial query language SQL, database access from application programs and a brief examination of advanced concepts including transactions, distributed databases, security and XML.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Interdisciplinary Studies: Bioinformatics
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2022 Spring Term
COSC 4860 Component-Based Software Construction (3 credits)
Introduction to software components in the context of the object-oriented paradigm. Component development, component selection and adaptation/customization, component deployment and assembly/integration, and system architecture. Industry standards such as JavaBeans, CORBA Component Model, and Microsoft COM/DOM/COM+.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2011 Fall Term, 2008 Fall Term, 2007 Fall Term, 2006 Fall Term
COSC 4920 Principles of Design (3 credits)
Fundamentals of structured software design and development applied in a multi-disciplinary, team-based project environment. Teams create project definition and specification based on user needs. Activities focus on software lifecycle, design methodologies, human factor analysis, teamwork, customer interaction, project management and effective communication. Work culminates in a technically and economically viable proposal for future development. Course specifies and designs a project for implementation in COSC 4998.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 4931 Topics in Computer Science (1-3 credits)
Topics selected from one of the various branches of computer science. Specific topics to be announced in the Schedule of Classes.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 4953 Undergraduate Seminar (3 credits)
Designed to initiate a selected group of qualified undergraduates into the techniques and discipline of scholarly research by concentrated work in a restricted field. Emphasis on critical reading and analysis of sources. Specific topics to be announced in the Schedule of Classes.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2001 Summer Term, 1993 Spring Term, 1990 Fall Term
COSC 4987 Co-op Work Period (0 credits)
Students work full-time during fall or spring terms in a cooperative education program work assignment approved in advance by the department. Responsibilities include relevant academic content. Grading and credits are accomplished by registering for COSC 4988 during the following term. Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment.
Prerequisite: Jr. stndg.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Summer Term, 2020 Fall Term
COSC 4988 Co-op Grading Period (1 credits)
Grading for preceding co-op work assignment is accomplished by completing a report on the work assignment, a report on academic material related to the work assignment and other materials as required. Grading is completed during the school term following the work assignment. May be taken more than once, but a maximum of 2 credits may be counted toward a major in the department.
Prerequisite: Jr. stndg. and COSC 4987.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Fall Term
COSC 4995 Independent Study in Computer Science (1-3 credits)
Faculty-supervised, independent study/research of a specific area or topic in computer science.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 4998 Senior Design Project (3 credits)
Given initial design and project specification, focus is on detailed software design, prototyping and testing of design concepts in a realistic multi-disciplinary team environment. Team-based activities result in implementation of a software system in support of a project and culminate in a working prototype satisfying user needs and software specification. Final report documents prototype details and verifies resulting project meets needs and specifications. Course implements project specified and designed in COSC 4920.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 4999 Senior Thesis (2 credits)
Preparation of a thesis by approved students under the direction of an adviser from the faculty.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Last four terms offered: 2016 Summer Term, 2016 Spring Term, 2015 Fall Term, 2015 Summer Term
COSC 5010 Teaching Computer Science (3 credits)
Historical background, problems, curricular materials and pedagogy in computer science pertinent to the needs of secondary school teachers.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 5290 Real-Time and Embedded Systems (3 credits)
Focuses on event-driven programming, real-time scheduling, and synchronization; worst-case execution time analysis and deadline analysis; real-time operating systems and real-time programming languages.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term
COSC 5300 Network Design and Security (3-4 credits)
Focuses on the design and protocols of the upper layers of the Internet architecture, including the TCP/IP protocol suite, packet switching and routing, network programming and applications. Emphasizes related security attacks and defenses, including DNSSEC, TSL, IPsec and the BGP PKI protections. Taught as a lecture only or as a lecture with lab component.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 5360 Software and System Security (3 credits)
Fosters comprehension of cybersecurity foundations such as cryptography, operating system security, threat modeling, and secure programming. Develops passion for cybersecurity essential to performance of professional roles as developers, engineers, and managers.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 5370 Internet of Things (IoT) (3 credits)
Topics include the definition of IoT, trends in the adoption of IoT, the importance of the IoT in society, the current components of typical IoT devices and trends for the future. Focuses on IoT design considerations, constraints, and interfacing between the physical world and the device. Students are presented with design trade-offs between hardware and software, technologies behind the Internet of Things – RFID, NFC, Wireless networks, WSN, RTLS, GPS, agents, multiagent systems, IoT in retail, NFC applications for the IoT, and IoT in healthcare.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Summer Term, 2020 Summer Term
COSC 5400 Compiler Construction (3 credits)
Lexical analysis, parsing, code generation and optimization. Includes theoretical foundations and the practical concerns of implementation.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Spring Term, 2017 Spring Term
COSC 5500 Visual Analytics (3 credits)
Focuses on developing data products using the Javascript/D3 framework by combining concepts from human-computer interaction, visualization and design. Also focuses on model visualization, interpretation, A/B testing and design thinking.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 5550 Social and Collaborative Computing (3 credits)
Introduces Social Computing and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). Field includes theory, technology and study of computing systems that support groups of users and facilitate collaboration. Example applications and case studies include email, social networking sites, peer production, crowdsourcing, calendars, scheduling and meeting apps, online dating sites, multiplayer games, discussion forums, instant messaging, collaborative editors and analysis tools.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 5600 Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
An introduction to the broad field of artificial intelligence. Topics include problem solving by searching, knowledge representation, reasoning, planning, decision making, learning, perception and language processing.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 5610 Data Mining (3 credits)
Techniques for extracting and evaluating patterns from large databases. Introduction to knowledge discovery process. Fundamental tasks including classification, prediction, clustering, association analysis, summarization and discrimination. Basic techniques including decision trees, neural networks, statistics, partitional clustering and hierarchical clustering.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 5800 Principles of Database Systems (3 credits)
Topics include database concepts and architecture, data modeling, formal query languages such as relational algebra, commercial query language SQL, database access from application programs and a brief examination of advanced concepts including transactions, distributed databases, security and XML.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2022 Spring Term
COSC 5860 Component-Based Software Construction (3 credits)
Introduction to software components in the context of the object-oriented paradigm. Component development, component selection and adaptation/customization, component deployment and assembly/integration, and system architecture. Industry standards such as JavaBeans, CORBA Component Model, and Microsoft COM/DOM/COM+.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2011 Fall Term
COSC 5931 Topics in Computer Science (1-3 credits)
Topics selected from one of the various branches of computer science. Specific topics to be announced in the Schedule of Classes.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 6050 Elements of Software Development (3 credits)
Students explore the software design and development processes through a term project. Concepts covered include: requirements gathering and analysis, mapping requirements to a design, sound coding and documentation practices, configuration management, testing and quality assurance, system deployment and maintenance.
Prerequisite: Programming in a high-level language, knowledge in data structures such as stacks, recursion, queues, trees and graphs.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 6051 Professional Software Engineering 1 (3 credits)
Covers software engineering topics typically including: the software development life cycle (SDLC), development methodologies, software quality overview, configuration management, designing for risks and fault tolerance, languages and design, object-oriented programming, observational research and prototyping, requirements, software architectures, operating systems design and real time systems. Offered at General Electric facilities. As this course extends beyond the Marquette term, students receive the grade of IC initially. The IC grade converts to an A-F grade at the completion of the course.
Prerequisite: GE employee in the Software Edison program.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term, 2018 Spring Term, 2017 Spring Term
COSC 6052 Professional Software Engineering 2 (3 credits)
Covers software engineering topics typically including: systems and communication networks, security and distributed systems, interoperability and standards, design for "ility" (e.g., usability and reliability) and performance, design for parallel processing, embedded systems hardware for software developers, embedded systems software, software design patterns and algorithms. Offered at General Electric facilities. As this course extends beyond the Marquette term, students receive the grade of IC initially. The IC grade converts to an A-F grade at the completion of the course.
Prerequisite: GE employee in the Software Edison program.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term, 2018 Spring Term, 2017 Spring Term
COSC 6053 Professional Software Engineering 3 (3 credits)
Covers software engineering topics typically including: database systems, decision science, data quality and analytics, user interface design, design for globalization, debugging and troubleshooting, approach, method, implementation and emerging software technologies. Offered at General Electric facilities. As this course extends beyond the Marquette term, students receive the grade of IC initially. The IC grade converts to an A-F grade at the completion of the course.
Prerequisite: GE employee in the Software Edison program.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term, 2018 Fall Term, 2018 Spring Term
COSC 6054 Professional Software Engineering 4 (3 credits)
Covers design topics related to system design with embedded computing. Topics typically include: design of controls, design for low cost, design for serviceability, design for usability, design for reliability, program management, innovation, requirements management and design thinking. Offered at General Electric facilities. As this course extends beyond the Marquette term, students receive the grade of IC initially. The IC grade converts to an A-F grade at the completion of the course.
Prerequisite: GE employee in the Software Edison program.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term, 2018 Fall Term, 2017 Fall Term
COSC 6055 Software Quality Assurance (3 credits)
Provides a perspective on people, organizations, controls, processes and tools that collectively influence the success of a Software Quality Assurance (SQA) strategy. Discussion topics include quality approaches as they apply to: requirements, design, release, configuration management, testing, defect management, operations and support. Topics are discussed in the context of a traditional development approach (waterfall, CMMI) and more contemporary models driven by lean and agile practices. Covers considerations specific to implementing an SQA approach within a regulated setting. Approach emphasizes a hands-on view of SQA, thereby providing realistic takeaways to practice in a professional career.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term, 2019 Spring Term, 2018 Spring Term
COSC 6060 Parallel and Distributed Systems (3 credits)
Students use and develop software for parallel and distributed computing systems. Topics include: job submission and management, tools for parallel and distributed software development, approaches for implementing parallel and distributed computation, parallel and distributed system architectures, and essential evaluation techniques.
Prerequisite: COSC 3100 or equiv.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 6090 Research Methods/Professional Development (1 credits)
Designed to introduce the process of research and communication of research in computer science, including presentation and publication of research, preparation of grant proposals, and ethical considerations. May be repeated.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Fall Term
COSC 6260 Advanced Algorithms (3 credits)
Covers advanced paradigms for the design and analysis of efficient algorithms. Emphasizes fundamental algorithms and advanced methods of algorithmic design, analysis, and implementation. Domains include: string algorithms, network optimization, parallel algorithms, computational geometry, external memory and streaming algorithms, and advanced data structures.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 6270 Advanced Operating Systems (3 credits)
Fundamental concepts of operating systems including kernel data structures; process control and scheduling; interprocess communication and synchronization; virtual memory and memory management; mass storage systems and device control; protection and security; and protection and virtualization; evaluation and prediction of performance. Students are expected to spend at least three hours per week gaining hands-on experience in using and modifying a small operating system.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 6280 Advanced Computer Security (3 credits)
Symmetric key and public key cryptography, hash functions, random numbers and cryptanalysis; authentication and authorization, password-based security, ACLs and capabilities, covert channels, security models, firewalls and intrusion detection systems; authentication protocols, session keys, SSH, SSL, IPSec, Kerberos, WEP, and GSM; flaws and malware, buffer overflows, viruses and worms, malware detection, software reverse engineering, digital rights management, secure software development and operating systems security; fundamentals about bitcoin and cryptocurrency technologies. Students write programs for assignments using the C programming language.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 6330 Advanced Machine Learning (3 credits)
Provides a graduate-level introduction to machine learning and statistical pattern recognition and in-depth coverage of new and advanced methods in machine learning, as well as their underlying theory. Emphasizes approaches with practical relevance and discusses a number of recent applications of machine learning, such as data mining, computer vision, robotics, text and web data processing. An open research project is a major part of the course.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 6340 Component Architecture (3 credits)
Focuses on designing and implementing software components, and streamlining the translation from business intent into realized application behavior in a practical hands-on, business-based environment. Introduces service-oriented architecture (SOA) and principles such as loose coupling, abstraction, reusability, autonomy, statelessness, discoverability, interoperability and composability.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2016 Spring Term, 2011 Fall Term, 2010 Spring Term, 2008 Fall Term
COSC 6345 Mobile Health (mHealth) (3 credits)
Offers a multidisciplinary overview of the emerging technologies used in mobile health (mHealth). Research and innovations in this area promise solutions to the need for broader access to affordable and effective healthcare by enabling consumers and their caregivers to take charge of their health and well-being. mHealth is the provision of health information and services using sensor data via mobile phones and tablets. Students develop foundational knowledge of understanding the behaviors, different data models, security and privacy issues.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Summer Term
COSC 6350 Distributed Computing (3 credits)
Introduces a broad spectrum of topics encompassing system architecture, software abstractions, distributed algorithms and issues pertaining to distributed environments such as replication, consistency, fault tolerance, transactions and security.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2014 Spring Term, 2012 Spring Term, 2009 Spring Term, 2007 Spring Term
COSC 6355 Mobile Computing (3 credits)
Focuses on the fundamentals of mobile computing, challenges in mobile computing, mobility management and mobile data management. Also focuses on context awareness and wireless communications, ubiquity of wireless communication technologies and standards, seamless access network services and resources from anywhere, at anytime, middleware for mobile computing, operation systems, programming languages, network protocols and security aspects of mobile computing. Explores concepts in sensor networks, including operating systems, programming languages, network protocols and programming models.
Prerequisite: COSC 2100 or equiv.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2021 Summer Term, 2020 Summer Term, 2019 Summer Term
COSC 6360 Enterprise Architecture (3 credits)
Focuses on key topics and concepts that represent enterprise architecture (EA). Addresses the people, process and technology elements of EA from both a business and technical perspective. Explores the background, history, planning, governing, maintaining and common methodologies associated with EA. Prototypes some of the technology used in enterprises today to gain a better understanding of how information is represented, systems are integrated and standards are put into practice.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term, 2018 Fall Term
COSC 6375 Web Technologies (3 credits)
Exposes students to design and architectural principles in developing web applications. Focuses on the client side, middleware and service layer of web applications. Topics range from HTML, JavaScript, JQuery, Java Servlets, MVC Design Pattern, Java Spring MVC, SQL, JDBC, Hibernate, AngularJS and Cloud Computing.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 6380 Big Data Systems (3 credits)
Focuses on newer, advanced database techniques in the areas of Big Data, NoSQL, Hadoop and Apache Spark. Covers main NoSQL data management topics such as document databases, key-value stores and graph databases.
Prerequisite: Database Systems or equiv.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 6390 Professional Seminar in Computing (1 credits)
Topic to be chosen each term from among issues important to all professionals in computing. All students specifically in the computing program are expected to participate for the fall and spring terms, and one of the two summer terms. S/U grade assessment.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 6500 Foundations of Computing (7 credits)
Presents the breadth and current status of computer science in our computerized society and the fundamentals of professional knowledge, skills and abilities. Foundational topics are intermixed with study of software development which include an introduction to abstraction, algorithmic thinking, simulation and testing for computer-based problem solving using higher-level programming languages. Algorithm analysis and computational complexity are presented in the context of considering data structures, algorithms and alternatives. Students program exercises using graphical user interfaces, data base connections, parallel computing and interfaces to the World Wide Web (WWW). Experience includes using an interactive development environment, studying software development methodology, and testing code, basic system administration, computer networking and operating system configuration.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 6510 Data Intelligence (3 credits)
Foundational topics in data intelligence. Includes properties and benefits for data intelligence and methodology for the development of data intelligence solutions. Examines technology employed for managing data and creating visualizations and dashboards. Topics include developing a business case, evaluating performance and managing data. Presents overview of data architectures commonly used in data intelligence solutions and includes exercises using common techniques for prediction and time series analysis.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 6520 Data Analytics (3 credits)
Foundational topics in the analysis of data. Includes methodology for the development of data analytics systems. Examines technology employed for data analytics in a variety of industry segments and the benefits derived from data analytics. Foundations of text and data mining techniques commonly used for classification, clustering and prediction. Students are presented techniques for developing a business case, evaluating predictive performance and managing data. Includes exercises using analytic technology and a project to apply analytics to a customer application. Students without programming experience are advised to complete COSC 6510 Data Intelligence before attempting COSC 6520.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 6530 Concepts of Data Warehousing (3 credits)
Provides an introduction to data warehouse design. Reviews topics in data modeling, database design and database access. Data warehouse planning, design, implementation and administration. The role of data warehouse in supporting decision support systems (DSS), business intelligence and business analytics.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 6550 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 credits)
Provides an introduction to cybersecurity threats, methods and security techniques. Foundations of various cybersecurity frameworks and methods for applying them to different types of organizations. Includes cyber threat environment, along with methods, tools and techniques that can help mitigate vulnerabilities and reduce risks to an organization.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 6560 Principles of Service Management and System Administration (3 credits)
Introduction to the concepts, principles and practices involved in the operations of secure computing systems. Presents principles of service management and explores how the principles of system administration are derived from concepts of delivering quality services. Lab exercises performing rudimentary tasks of a system administrator using virtual machine environments. Foundation topics include: cryptography, popular operating systems for servers, network configuration, system components, networked systems, host management, user management, configuration of servers and services, incident management, change management, security, monitoring and analysis of operations.
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of scripting, operating systems and services.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 6570 Data at Scale (3 credits)
Combines ideas from parallel databases, distributed systems and programming languages to analyze data at scale. Relevant technologies are introduced and taught in an accessible and inclusive way. Some examples include cloud computing, SQL and NoSQL databases, MapReduce ecosystem, Spark and its contemporaries and graph databases.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term
COSC 6580 Data Security and Privacy (3 credits)
Focuses on fundamental and advanced topics in data security and privacy, including differential privacy, secure multi-party computation, homomorphic encryption, data perturbation, data anonymization, security and privacy in AI, location privacy, and social network privacy. Students also learn practical skills via projects.
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge on statistics, databases, machine learning/data mining, and distributed systems.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term
COSC 6820 Data Ethics (3 credits)
A comprehensive overview of the current ethical and social implications of our data-driven society. A sociotechnical approach is used to unpack issues of privacy and surveillance, algorithmic biases, fairness, transparency, and accountability across various contexts.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Fall Term
COSC 6931 Topics in Computer Science (3 credits)
Topics vary. Students may enroll more than once as the subject matter changes.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2022 Spring Term
COSC 6960 Seminar in Computer Science (1-3 credits)
Seminar topics selected from one of the various branches of computer science. Specific topics to be announced in the Schedule of Classes.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 6964 Practicum for Research and Development in Computing (3-6 credits)
S/U grade assessment. Available only to full-time students. Cons. of the computing dir. of graduate studies or cons. of dept. ch.
Prerequisite: 3.00 MU GPA; must be enrolled in Plan B option of the M.S. in computing program and have completed at least 15 credit hours earned in graduate (6000-level) courses.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 6965 Curriculum Integrated Practicum in Computing (1-2 credits)
Involves practical application of the knowledge and skills being studied concurrently, and previously studied, in other course work for computing professionals.
Prerequisite: Admission to the COMP program's integrated practicum option; cons. of the computing dir. of graduate studies or cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Summer Term
COSC 6974 Practicum for Research and Development in Computer Science (1-6 credits)
Students in the MS in Computing program should be registering for COSC 6964, Practicum for Research and Development in Computing. S/U grade assessment.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2022 Spring Term
COSC 6975 Curriculum Integrated Practicum in Computer Science (0 credits)
Involves advancing practical research and development of the computer science doctoral program student.; cons. of the co-op chair or grad. chair or dept. chair.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the COSC-PHD prog.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 6995 Independent Study in Computer Science (1-6 credits)
An in-depth study on a topic or subject matter usually not offered in the established curriculum with faculty and independent of the classroom setting.
Prerequisite: Cons. of instr. and cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 6998 Professional Project in Computer Science (0 credits)
SNC/UNC grade assessment.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Summer Term
COSC 6999 Master's Thesis (1-6 credits)
S/U grade assessment.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Summer Term
COSC 8995 Independent Study in Computer Science (1-3 credits)
A doctorate level in-depth research on a topic or subject matter usually not offered in the established curriculum with faculty and independent of the classroom setting.
Prerequisite: Cons. of instr. and cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 8999 Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 credits)
S/U grade assessment.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 9970 Graduate Standing Continuation: Less than Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Designated as less than half-time status only, cannot be used in conjunction with other courses, and does not qualify students for financial aid or loan deferment.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 9974 Graduate Fellowship: Full-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Designated as full-time status. If a student is already registered in other courses full time, this continuation course is not needed.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 9975 Graduate Assistant Teaching: Full-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Designated as full-time status. If a student is already registered in other courses full time, this continuation course is not needed.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 9976 Graduate Assistant Research: Full-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Designated as full-time status. If a student is already registered in other courses full time, this continuation course is not needed.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Fall Term
COSC 9987 Doctoral Qualifying Examination Preparation: Less than Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of less than half-time status. Requires that the student is working less than 12 hours per week toward their doctoral qualifying exam.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 9988 Doctoral Qualifying Examination Preparation: Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of half-time status. Requires that the student is working more than 12 to less than 20 hours per week toward their doctoral qualifying exam. May be taken in conjunction with credit-bearing or other non-credit courses to result in the status indicated, as deemed appropriate by the department.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Fall Term
COSC 9989 Doctoral Qualifying Examination Preparation: Full-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of full-time status. Requires that the student is working 20 hours or more per week toward their doctoral qualifying exam. May be taken in conjunction with credit-bearing or other non-credit courses to result in the status indicated, as deemed appropriate by the department.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term
COSC 9991 Professional Project Continuation: Less than Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of less than half-time status. Requires that the student is working less than 12 hours per week on their professional project. Any professional project credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Professional Project Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 9992 Professional Project Continuation: Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of half-time status. Requires that the student is working more than 12 to less than 20 hours per week on their professional project. Any project credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Professional Project Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 9993 Professional Project Continuation: Full-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of full-time status. Requires that the student is working 20 hours or more per week on their professional project. Any professional project credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Professional Project Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 9994 Master's Thesis Continuation: Less than Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of less than half-time status. Requires that the student is working less than 12 hours per week on their master's thesis. All six thesis credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Master's Thesis Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2020 Summer Term, 2019 Fall Term
COSC 9995 Master's Thesis Continuation: Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of half-time status. Requires that the student is working more than 12 to less than 20 hours per week on their master's thesis. All six thesis credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Master's Thesis Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 9996 Master's Thesis Continuation: Full-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of full-time status. Requires that the student is working 20 hours or more per week on their master's thesis. All six thesis credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Master's Thesis Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term
COSC 9997 Doctoral Dissertation Continuation: Less than Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of less than half-time status. Requires that the student is working less than 12 hours per week on their doctoral dissertation. All 12 dissertation credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Doctoral Dissertation Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
COSC 9998 Doctoral Dissertation Continuation: Half-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of half-time status. Requires that the student is working more than 12 to less than 20 hours per week on their doctoral dissertation. All 12 dissertation credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Doctoral Dissertation Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term
COSC 9999 Doctoral Dissertation Continuation: Full-Time (0 credits)
Fee. SNC/UNC grade assessment. Allows a student to be considered the equivalent of full-time status. Requires that the student is working 20 hours or more per week on their doctoral dissertation. All 12 dissertation credits required for the degree should be completed before registering for non-credit Doctoral Dissertation Continuation.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.
Level of Study: Graduate
Last four terms offered: 2023 Summer Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2022 Summer Term