• Graduate Degrees
• Bachelor's Degrees
• Minor Courses
• Non-Degree Programs
• Summer Programs
• Academic Organizations
• Study Abroad Programs
• Download Catalog
  
• APPLY NOW!

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Embry-Riddle's Computer Science Degree Program Creates Sought-After Graduates

Need for Computer Science Graduates Continues to Grow

Software now plays an important and central role in all aspects of daily life. It is the driving force in business, entertainment, medicine, and transportation -- especially in aviation and space. Software engineers are responsible for the analysis, design, construction, and testing of the complex software systems that are essential to the Boeing 777, the new Lockheed-Martin Joint Strike Fighter, the International Space Station, the modernization of our air traffic control system, and every other aviation system being developed today.

These are all systems that have computers and the software that runs them "embedded" inside of another physical system (an airplane, a radar system, or a space suit). These systems have to deal with a multitude of data and make decisions in "real-time," often involving "safety-critical" elements upon which human life can depend.

From Artificial Intelligence to Real-Time Systems

Embry-Riddle offers a unique program that combines the "engineering" discipline and the team skills required to build aviation systems, along with the computer science foundations needed to understand and use modern technology. The employers of our graduates have told us repeatedly that we are preparing just the type of computing professionals they need to develop the complex systems they deal with. This preparation includes:

* Computer programming
* Computer science foundations
* Software engineering fundamentals
* Object-oriented analysis, design, and construction
* Real-time systems
* Software team projects involving industrial processes and practices
* Elective courses in artificial intelligence, graphics, and simulation

Job Outlook Great

Software engineering and other computer science-related jobs are expected to be the fastest growing occupations and among the top 20 in the number of new jobs as computer applications continue to expand throughout the economy.

Embry-Riddle grads have an edge in getting positions in the aviation and aerospace industries, but jobs are not limited to these. Large companies in other industries, such as Microsoft, Nortel, and Motorola are taking notice of Embry-Riddle’s computer science programs.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Our Five Year Computer Science Program Prepares You
For a Wide Variety of Career Tracks

Program Has Two-Layered Architecture

The computer science curriculum offered at Embry-Riddle has a two-layered architecture: a general education layer and a discipline knowledge layer. The discipline knowledge layer is further partitioned into math and science knowledge, domain knowledge (in our case it is aviation), and software engineering/computer science knowledge. The computer science portion divides into fundamentals of computing, advanced computing concepts, computing application courses, culminating in the senior design project -- the capstone program course. Successful completion of the program requires a minimum of 126 credit hours. The program provides for:

* general education 24 credit hours
* math and science 24 credit hours
* aviation 12 credit hours
* software engineering/computer science 57 credit hours
* open electives 9 credit hours

General Education, Math, and Science

The general education layer is accomplished by a standard sequence of college level courses in humanities, social sciences, and economics. The math and science component consist of a standard sequence of math and physics classes as suggested by the ACM recommendation. In the computer science program we have the sequence of two calculus classes followed by three upper level courses covering probability and statistics, linear algebra, and differential equations. Additionally, a discrete structures course provides required fundamentals for software engineering as a discipline.
A sequence of engineering physics courses with a laboratory provides required background in science. It should be noted that in the Domain Centered Curriculum concept, the selection of the math/science sequence is a function of the domain. The selected courses represent the best match for the subsequent computer sequence and aviation domain requirements.

The Knowledge

The aviation application domain is integrated into the curriculum in two ways. The first is by sequence of Airway Science courses such as Air Traffic Control, Principles of Flight, and Meterology that all the students are required to take. The second way is accomplished by the departmental policy of assigning problems and projects in application courses that are drawn from the aviation discipline. By making a departmental commitment to aviation as the application domain, the faculty have agreed to assign problems dealing with aviation or aerospace.
This approach has proven to be an excellent motivator for our students, as they are attracted to our school because of their interest in aviation. The students we recruit want to be in a computing discipline but also have a strong interest in aviation and aerospace and want to exercise their computing skills in this field.

Computing Fundamentals

The purpose of this component is to provide the basic concepts of computer discipline in both hardware and software tracks. On the software track the computing fundamentals component consists of a sequence of two courses in computer programming and software design (roughly an equivalent of CS1 and CS2 in ACM standard). There are, however, notable differences. As the program incorporates software engineering principles across the curriculum, we have introduced a toolbox/modular model, teaching programming in a top-down paradigm. The concepts of software lifecycle, modularity, information hiding, and using packages and subprograms are taught at a very early stage of instruction. Also, we have made the decision to use Java as the primary language of instruction. The hardware track consists of a sequence of two courses covering the basics of digital design, assembly language, and computer organization. It also covers elements of microprocessor operations and simple hardware interface.

Advanced Computing Concepts

This component provides theoretical extentions of the fundamentals of computing software and hardware. It includes courses on advanced data structures, organizations of programming languages, operating systems, analysis of algorithms, software engineering process, interfacing, computer architechture, etc. The courses in this component conform to the recommendation of ACM, to accomplish the completeness of the computer science undergraduate degree. The course sequence and emphasis, however, is oriented toward the subsequent application and senior design courses. The role of advanced computing concepts sequence is to provide the theoretical backgound and teach the methodologies and tools for the subsequent work. Examples of that are courses on organization of programming languages (which gives a review of various programming paradigms and environments), on C and UNIX (giving the student basics for another language and the most popular operating system), on software engineering (preparing for work on software projects), etc.

Computing Applications

This component is of primary importance to the Domain Centered Curriculum. The purpose of this component is to provide the theoretical and practical aspects of implementing computer applications in the selected domain. At the same time, the courses provide theoretical material from the computer science discipline as required by ACM. The material is selected as supporting the aviation domain. In our program this component consists of courses on: Computer Graphics, Database Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Modeling and Simulation, and Real-Time Systems. All these topics are critical for the discipline of aviation. Some other courses, from the ACM palette, can be selected for other domains. Group projects of two to five students are assigned in each course and student teams develop software artifacts based both on the course material and the application domain. The topics cover graphic rendering, relational databases, knowledge acquisistion, expert systems, discrete event simulation, object-oriented methodology, concurrency, tasking, and interprocess communication. These topics were selected since they are relevant to aviation discipline and practiced in aviation applications. Various courses concentrate on different elements of the software lifecyle. Some emphasize the requirement and specification stage, some put emphasis on design and project management, others stress implementation and testing.

Senior Design

In addition to the above-mentioned applications courses, the curriculum includes a senior design project course that concentrates on a semester-long team project involving a computer application in the aviation domain. The purpose of this component is to give each student an opportunity to participate in a formal software development cycle. This capstone course allows the students to play roles in a software development team and produce software engineering artifacts related to a project in the application domain. The students' work and the project artifacts are used to assess the entire computer science program.

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree can be earned in eight semesters assuming appropriate background and full-time enrollment. Successful completion of a minimum of 121 credit hours is required.

Students entering this program should have demonstrated a competence in mathematics and science (preferably physics). They should be prepared to enter Calculus I, having demonstrated proficiency in algebra and trigonometry. Students can prepare for this program by taking MA 140, College Algebra, and MA 142, Trigonometry, prior to taking MA 241. For those students who have not taken physics in high school, it is recommended that PS 103, Technical Physics I, be taken prior to PS 150.

The Computer Science program is designed to prepare students to work as part of a team on the development of software systems. Software engineering concepts are integrated through the curriculum. The curriculum includes courses in general education, math science, and computing. The latter is divided into computing fundamentals, advanced concepts, applied computing, and software engineering. In addition, a student are required to select an area of concentration in a domain area of interest.

Students should be aware that several courses in each academic year may have pre-requisites and/or corequisites. Check the course descriptions at the back of this catalog before registering for classes to ensure requisite sequencing.

Top of Page

Top of Page

Top of Page

Top of Page

Top of Page

OTHER LINKS

Department of Computer And Software Engineering - Daytona Beach, FL
http://www.erau.edu/omni/db/academicorgs/dbdoc/index.html

Software Engineering Bachelor of Science - Daytona Beach, FL
http://www.erau.edu/db/degrees/b-softwareengineering.html

Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society for Computer Science
http://www.db.erau.edu/campus/student/clubs/upe/

Guidant Research Lab Corporate Partnership for Embry-Riddle Computer Engineers
http://www.db.erau.edu/campus/organizations/guidant/

Veritas Research Labs Corporate Partnership for Embry-Riddle Computer Engineers http://www.erau.edu/research/veritas/mission.html

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
http://www.ieee.org/portal/site

Computer Sciences Corporation
http://www.csc.com/

CAREER OUTLOOK

The Embry-Riddle Connection Gives You Best Shot
At Careers in Aerospace, Aviation

For more than 15 years Embry-Riddle's software engineering/computer science graduates have been at the top of many employers' lists and most graduates receive multiple job offers. The following is a list of some of the top employers of our graduates:

The Embry-Riddle Advantage: The Career Services Office

One of the most valuable benefits of being a student or alumnus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is access to the resources of the Career Services Office.

The Career Services Office provides career development assistance to all students and alumni of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, regardless of campus affiliation. The Daytona Beach office serves Daytona Beach, Worldwide Campus, and Worldwide Online students. Prescott campus students are served by the Prescott office.

The Career Services Web site offers students and alumni:

• A virtual library of job search aids including interview tips
• An alumni network which enables students to contact alumni throughout the United States and abroad to learn more about their careers and employers.
• Sample résumés and cover letters
• Company profiles and employment hotlines
• Cooperative education opportunities
• Current job listings; and
• A Web-based résumé referral service

A career fair is hosted at the Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses each fall. Throughout each year, dozens of companies visit the campuses to recruit students and to provide information about their industry. On-campus interviews are also scheduled year-round.

The Career Services Office employs a staff of program managers to provide one-on-one career advisement, mock interviews, and résumé critique services. The Career Services Office encourages students to make contact early in their Embry-Riddle educations to explore career options and develop a successful job search strategy.

More From the Career Services Office

Career Advisement
Several degree-specific program managers are available for assistance with career choice/change, exploration of career opportunities, and development of job search techniques.

Career Resource Center
The Career Resource Center is a library of information that includes addresses and information on potential employers, as well as information on hiring trends, salaries, and other career references. The Career Resource Center is continuously updated and expanded to meet student needs. The Career Services Web site also serves as a virtual resource center with links to job listings, salary information, sample résumés, interview preparation, and company Web sites.

EagleHire Network
The EagleHire Network allows students and alumni to submit résumés directly to employers seeking full-time and co-op/internship candidates. EagleHire is a free service and is available to all students and alumni of the University.

Cooperative Education/Internship Program
Cooperative education positions provide an opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience while earning college credit, learn about their chosen field, and establish contacts in the industry. Co-ops and internships are opportunities to earn college credit while gaining career-related work experience for undergraduate and graduate students.

©Copyright 2008 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. All rights reserved.

Daytona Beach, FL Residential Campus

600 S. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114-3900