Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Undergraduate Programs in the OSU Computer Science and Engineering Department

Undergraduate Programs

Here is a printable brochure (pdf). Please send comments or questions on this brochure to peg AT cse.ohio-state.edu


Is computing for you?: First things first: Are you interested in pursuing a computing career? Not sure? Get concise and authoritative answers to many of your general questions about the field from:

Computing major programs in the CSE Dept.: The following major programs are available in the CSE Dept. at OSU to undergraduate students interested in computing:
  1. Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering (BS CSE)
  2. Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science (BS CIS)
  3. Bachelor of Arts in Computer and Information Science (BA CIS)
  4. Minor in Computer and Information Science
  5. Combined BS/MS in Computer Science: Allows undergraduates to start their Master's degree in their senior year and apply some courses to both their Bachelor and Master's degrees. Some other "dual" programs are available that may also be of interest to some students.
The three bachelors degree programs lead to degrees in two different colleges: the BS CSE degree in Engineering, and the BS CIS and BA CIS degrees in Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Program overviews are available here:

Research opporunities: Many undergraduate students in computing programs participate in research during the undergraduate years, some of them starting as early as in their sophomore year. These possibilities are described in the undergrad research page.

Job prospects for computing majors: Job prospects are very bright for qualified students with these degrees, even accounting for the effects of off-shore outsourcing according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

The BS CSE and the BS CIS programs prepare students for a range of careers in Computer Science and Engineering. The Computer Science portion of these two programs are nearly identical to each other. The main difference between the two is that while the BS CSE program requires students to take a range of (non-computing) engineering courses, the BS CIS program has a larger General Education component, allowing the student to choose from a range of general education courses based on his or her interests. The BS CSE program is offered through the College of Engineering, and the BS CIS program through the College of Arts and Sciences.

The BA CIS program allows students considerable flexibility in tailoring the choice of courses, including Computer Science courses, according to their specific interests. This degree is offered through the College of Arts and Sciences. This degree requires the student to identify a related field that offers a high potential for computing applications, and take several courses in the related field at both the introductory and advanced levels. This is offset by a somewhat lighter set of requirements in advanced computing courses. The General Education component of this program is similar to that of the BS CIS program.

Other programs: The Minor program is intended for students who have an interest in another major but are interested in getting a reasonable exposure to Computer Science. There are no specific prerequisites for admission to the Minor.

Two other options that might be of interest are the BS BA (Information Systems option) offered by the Fisher College of Business; and BS ECE (Computer Eng. specialization) offered by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. For information about these programs, contact the Fisher College or the ECE Dept.

There have been a number of changes in the programs' curricula, etc. over the last few years. For reference, the last two brochures are available (Previous version (pdf);    2004-'05 brochure).

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