Program Requirements

About the Major

The computer sience program at Mercer University offers two degrees: a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts.

The Bachelor of Science degree program in computer science contains a breadth of exposure to segments of the discipline. It properly prepares students to obtain employment as a computer science professional. This degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. ABET accreditation demonstrates a program’s commitment to providing its students with a quality education. Students who complete this program will obtain a significant degree of technical competence and breadth of exposure to segments of the discipline and will supplement their program with courses from mathematics and science.

The Bachelor of Arts degree program in computer science is appropriate for students who have an interest in computer science but wish to pursue another major as well.

About the Minor

The computer science minor is appropriate for students who have an interest in computer science but prefer to major in another field. A minimum of 17 semester credit hours are required to minor in Computer Science.

Accreditation Information

Logo of ABET, featuring an orange ring with the word ABET below it, next to the text "Computing Accreditation Commission" in white on a black background.

The Bachelor of Science in computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Programs Program Criteria.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in computer science program will:

  • Have sufficient breadth and depth in the fundamental scientific and technical areas of computer science to succeed as a computing professional and/or as a graduate student.
  • Be lifelong learners who are able to learn, evaluate, and utilize advances in their field.
  • Have the ability to work together with others in a variety of contexts effectively communicating their ideas both orally and in written form.
  • Be able to recognize and make ethical, moral, and social decisions in their professional environment.
  • Be capable of applying software development methodology to the analysis, design, implementation and testing of a software system.

Student Learning Outcomes

The following student outcomes were adopted starting in fall 2020 to align with the Computing Accreditation Commission’s revised Criterion 3. Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in computer science program will be able to:

  1. Analyze a problem — Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
  2. Design, implement, and evaluate — Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  3. Communicate effectively — Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  4. Recognize ethical, legal, and social issues — Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
  5. Function effectively on teams — Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
  6. Apply theory and development principles — Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.