The guideposts in this booklet will help you work your way through the computer science, computer engineering and information science programs in an efficient manner. You will know just which courses have prerequisites; you will see why it is important to take certain courses as early in your career as possible; and you will see how the mathematics requirements in the programs are used in the upper level courses.

This booklet is not, however, a substitute for a faculty advisor or the CNU catalog. Each student needs to establish a formal relationship with the faculty advisor to which the student has been assigned; there is nothing more frustrating than to think that you are ready to graduate and find that some subtlety of the catalog has escaped you, and has blocked your exit.

Successful completion of the computer science degree or the computer engineering degree will make available to you a wide choice of exciting employment opportunities in research, development and production. Successful completion of the information science degree with its strong case-study capstone course will prepare you to enter the business world with a variety of company types.

The completion of each of these programs requires a great amount of effort on your part. It will seem at times to be too much work, especially when you compare your work load with that of some of your fellow students in other disciplines. But the payoff will come for you; you will have been educated in one of the disciplines that drives the development of the products and the management tools for the 21st century. Keep at it!

Our basic curriculum for the three degrees emphasizes three areas of study: mathematics, algorithmic problem-solving, and the conceptual organization of computer hardware and software. Each component complements the others. The mathematics provides the languages and concepts in terms of which the algorithms are built; the organizational structures of both software and hardware enable more effective computer systems to be designed.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 contain the prerequisite structure showing which classes must precede which for Computer Science and Computer Engineering, respectively. Figure 3a, Figure 3b and Figure 3c show the same requirements information for the three Information Science concentrations: Business Minor, Information Science Systems, and Networking and Communication. You will find this sheet particularly effective when you plan part-time schooling. Remember also when making up tentative schedules that the beginning courses in computer science are available in the fall and spring (with some in the summer) and in both the daytime and evening. The upper level classes are offered either in both the daytime and night, or alternate days and nights each year. A longer-term listing of tentative offerings is available on the web at http://www.cnu.edu by using Fast Finds at the bottom left and then select Schedule of Classes.

As an example assume you are a computer science major and you are planning to take PHYS202/L. You would refer to Figure 1 and note that PHYS 202/L has two arrows pointing to it, one solid from PHYS210/L indicating it is a prerequisite (you must have passed PHYS201/L already) and one dashed from MATH240 indicating it is a corequisite (you must also sign up for MATH240 when you sign up for PHYS202/L if you don't already have credit for MATH240).

a. Computer Science
The sample CS schedule shows the computer science curriculum laid out for the four academic years. It is just a suggested map of the curriculum. There are many paths through the courses; some people follow a path that takes five years; others take courses year round and finish in three and a half years. Choose the path best suited for your particular circumstance. The degree progress sheets for the computer science general and major requirements will be an important part of your record. As you complete courses, mark the date and the grade received. All of the requirements listed must be completed before you may graduate. This sheet will be a great help as you and your advisor plan your course work each semester.

b. Computer Engineering
The sample CE schedule shows the computer engineering curriculum laid out for the four academic years. Notice that the courses are arranged so that the prerequisites are satisfied in an efficient manner. The degree progress sheets for the computer engineering general and major requirements will be an important part of your record. Note that all students with concentration in computer engineering must complete a senior research project. This project is the capstone of the student's four-year curriculum and includes an oral presentation of the results.

c. Information Science
This curriculum is a packed one just like the computer engineering curriculum. Notice that many of the courses are arranged so that they satisfy both the major requirements and the area requirements simultaneously. The IS Information Systems, IS Networking and Communications and IS Business Management sample schedules show examples of the three options in the information science curriculum laid out for the four academic years. These are ONLY examples; use the checklists/program sheets to plan your course work. The degree progress sheets for the general and major requirements in IS Information Systems, the general and major requirements in IS Networks and Communications, or the general and major requirements in IS Business Management will be an important part of your record. The capstone course for all information science majors, comprising a case study of a real business, is required. A written and oral presentation of the analysis and recommendations of this case study are included as part of the course.

Note that on the degree progress sheet and on the curriculum outline appear both professional electives and humanities and social sciences electives (H/SS). The latter must be chosen so that the area requirements are satisfied. Only certain courses are eligible. They are listed in the college catalog.

You are enrolled in an excellent academic program at a university that features small classes. Classes are taught by regular faculty members, all of whom have the Ph.D. degree, and by a select group of adjunct professors who are specialists in the fields in which they are teaching. You have excellent state-of-the-art equipment available and the opportunity to work on special projects with faculty members.