The computer science and physics combined major brings together three disciplines: computer science, physics, and mathematics. The mathematics requirements serve as a foundation for both computer science and physics. From hands-on experience with sophisticated physics instruments, to mathematical theory, to the latest computational innovations, our interdisciplinary approach will prepare students for the myriad challenges in today’s rapidly changing world.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
University-Wide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
Computer Science Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Overview | ||
| CS 1200 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| CS 1210 | Professional Development for Khoury Co-op | 1 |
| Computer Science Fundamental Courses | ||
| CS 1800 and CS 1802 | Discrete Structures and Seminar for CS 1800 | 5 |
| CS 2500 and CS 2501 | Fundamentals of Computer Science 1 and Lab for CS 2500 | 5 |
| CS 2510 and CS 2511 | Fundamentals of Computer Science 2 and Lab for CS 2510 | 5 |
| CS 2800 and CS 2801 | Logic and Computation and Lab for CS 2800 | 5 |
| Computer Science Required Courses | ||
| CS 3000 | Algorithms and Data | 4 |
| CS 3500 and CS 3501 | Object-Oriented Design and Lab for CS 3500 | 5 |
| CS 3800 | Theory of Computation | 4 |
| CS 4500 | Software Development | 4 |
| or CS 4530 | Fundamentals of Software Engineering | |
Physics Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHYS 1161 and PHYS 1162 | Physics 1 and Lab for PHYS 1161 | 5 |
| PHYS 1165 and PHYS 1166 | Physics 2 and Lab for PHYS 1165 | 5 |
| Intermediate Physics | ||
| PHYS 2303 | Modern Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 2371 and PHYS 2372 | Electronics and Lab for PHYS 2371 (Integrative course) | 4 |
| Advanced Physics | ||
| PHYS 3600 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 3602 | Electricity and Magnetism 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 4305 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
Capstone and Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Capstone | ||
| Complete either one computer science capstone or the physics capstone: | 4 | |
| Computer Science Capstone | ||
| Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Computer Graphics | ||
| Compilers | ||
| Game Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Web Development | ||
| Physics Capstone | ||
| Principles of Experimental Physics | ||
| Khoury Elective | ||
| The computer science elective is not required if the student has completed the computer science capstone (above). With adviser approval, a directed study, research, project study, or appropriate graduate-level course may also be taken as a computer science elective. | ||
| Complete 4 credits of CS, CY, DS, or IS classes that are not already required. Choose courses within the following ranges: | 4 | |
CY 2000 or higher, except CY 4930 | ||
DS 2500 or higher, except DS 4900 | ||
| Physics Elective | ||
| Only one physics elective is required if the student has completed the physics capstone (above). | ||
| Complete two courses in the following range: | 8 | |
PHYS 3000 to PHYS 5999 | ||
Integrative Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Calculus | ||
| MATH 1341 | Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 1342 | Calculus 2 for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 2321 | Calculus 3 for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| Additional Mathematics Requirements | ||
| MATH 2341 | Differential Equations and Linear Algebra for Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 3081 | Probability and Statistics | 4 |
Supporting Course
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
| Issues in Race, Science, and Technology | ||
| The Law, Ethics, and Policy of Data and Digital Technologies | ||
| Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and Digital Rights | ||
| Literature and Digital Diversity | ||
| History of Technology | ||
| Bostonography: The City through Data, Texts, Maps, and Networks | ||
| Knowledge in a Digital World | ||
or PHIL 1300 | Knowledge in a Digital World | |
| Technology and Human Values | ||
| The Twenty-First-Century Workplace | ||
| Environment, Technology, and Society | ||
| Computers and Society | ||
Computer Science Writing Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College Writing | ||
| ENGW 1111 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| Advanced Writing in the Disciplines | ||
| ENGW 3302 | Advanced Writing in the Technical Professions | 4 |
| or ENGW 3315 | Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines | |
Required General Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 24 credits of general electives. | 24 | |
Khoury College GPA Requirement
Minimum 2.000 GPA required in all CS, CY, DS, and IS courses
NUpath Requirements Satisfied
-
Engaging with the Natural and Designed World
-
Exploring Creative Expression and Innovation
-
Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning
-
Analyzing and Using Data
-
Writing in the First Year
-
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
-
Writing-Intensive in the Major
- Demonstrating Thought and Action in a Capstone
Integrating Knowledge and Skills Through Experience is satisfied through co-op.
Program Requirement
136 total semester hours required
Sample Patterns:
Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 1200 | 1 | CS 2510 and CS 2511 | 5 | CS 3500 and CS 3501 | 5 | Vacation | |
| CS 1800 and CS 1802 | 5 | MATH 1342 | 4 | MATH 2321 | 4 | ||
| CS 2500 and CS 2501 | 5 | PHYS 1165 | 4 | ||||
| MATH 1341 | 4 | PHYS 1166 | 1 | ||||
| PHYS 1161 | 4 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 1162 | 1 | ||||||
| 20 | 18 | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 2800 and CS 2801 | 5 | CS 3000 | 4 | Elective | 4 | Co-op | |
| MATH 2341 | 4 | PHYS 3602 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||
| PHYS 2371 | 3 | PHYS 4305 | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 2372 | 1 | Computing and social issues | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 2303 | 4 | CS 1210 | 1 | ||||
| 17 | 17 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Co-op | CS 3800 | 4 | PHYS 3600 | 4 | Co-op | ||
| Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| PHYS elective if CS capstone (Khoury elective if PHYS capstone) | 4 | ||||||
| CS or PHYS capstone | 4 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | ||
| Co-op | CS 4500 | 4 | Elective | 4 | |||
| PHYS elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| MATH 3081 | 4 | ||||||
| ENGW 3302 | 4 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | 8 | |||||
| Total Hours: 137 | |||||||
Five Years, Three Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 1200 | 1 | CS 2510 and CS 2511 | 5 | Vacation | 0 | Vacation | 0 |
| CS 1800 and CS 1802 | 5 | MATH 1342 | 4 | ||||
| CS 2500 and CS 2501 | 5 | PHYS 1165 | 4 | ||||
| MATH 1341 | 4 | PHYS 1166 | 1 | ||||
| PHYS 1161 | 4 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 1162 | 1 | ||||||
| 20 | 18 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 3500 and CS 3501 | 5 | CS 3000 | 4 | Vacation | 0 | Co-op | 0 |
| PHYS 2303 | 4 | MATH 2321 | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 2371 | 3 | MATH 2341 | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 2372 | 1 | PHYS 4305 | 4 | ||||
| CS 2800 and CS 2801 | 5 | CS 1210 | 1 | ||||
| 18 | 17 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Co-op | 0 | CS 3800 | 4 | PHYS 3600 | 4 | Co-op | 0 |
| Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 3602 | 4 | ||||||
| ENGW 3302 | 4 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Co-op | 0 | CS 4500 | 4 | Elective | 4 | Co-op | 0 |
| PHYS elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| MATH 3081 | 4 | ||||||
| Computing and social issues | 4 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 5 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| Co-op | 0 | CS or PHYS capstone | 4 | ||||
| PHYS elective if CS capstone (Khoury elective if PHYS capstone) | 4 | ||||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 137 | |||||||
Five Years, Three Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 1800 and CS 1802 | 5 | CS 2510 and CS 2511 | 5 | Vacation | 0 | Vacation | 0 |
| CS 2500 and CS 2501 | 5 | MATH 1342 | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 1161 | 4 | PHYS 1165 | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 1162 | 1 | PHYS 1166 | 1 | ||||
| CS 1200 | 1 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
| MATH 1341 | 4 | ||||||
| 20 | 18 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 3500 and CS 3501 | 5 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | Vacation | 0 |
| PHYS 2303 | 4 | ||||||
| PHYS 2371 | 3 | ||||||
| PHYS 2372 | 1 | ||||||
| CS 2800 and CS 2801 | 5 | ||||||
| CS 1210 | 1 | ||||||
| 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| MATH 2321 | 4 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | PHYS 3600 | 4 |
| CS 3000 | 4 | PHYS 4305 | 4 | ||||
| MATH 2341 | 4 | ||||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| CS 3800 | 4 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | Elective | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 3602 | 4 | ||||||
| ENGW 3302 | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 5 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| CS 4500 | 4 | CS or PHYS capstone | 4 | ||||
| PHYS elective | 4 | PHYS elective if CS capstone (CS elective if PHYS capstone) | 4 | ||||
| MATH 3081 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Computing and social issues | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 137 | |||||||
- PHYS 2303 offered every fall, spring, and summer 2
- PHYS 2371/2372 offered every fall
- PHYS 3600 offered every summer 1 and summer 2
- PHYS 3601 offered spring and fall (even years)
- PHYS 3602 offered every fall and spring
- PHYS 3603 offered fall (even years) and summer 1 (odd years)
- PHYS 4115 offered every fall and spring
- PHYS 4305 offered every spring and summer 2 (even years)
- PHYS 4621 offered spring (odd years) and fall (even years)
- PHYS 4623 offered summer 1 and fall (even years)
- PHYS 4651 offered spring and fall (odd years)
- PHYS 4652 offered every spring
- PHYS 5318 offered every spring