Honors in Computer Science

 

 

 Highlights  

The advantages of a private education at a fraction of the cost!

  1. Attend smaller classes
  2. Accelerated core sequence
  3. Participate in personalized academic advising sessions
  4. Priority registration for computer science courses
  5. Advanced special topics courses
  6. Honors social events with other students and faculty
  7. Connect with other Honors peers

The advantages of a world-famous research university!

  1. Receive personal attention from award winning faculty
  2. Obtain preferential admission to the joint B.S./M.S. program in CS
  3. Participate in internships and research projects
  4. Receive help finding academic scholarships
  5. Graduate with the degree B.S. with Honors in Computer Science

 Admission Requirements 

First-Year Students:

  1. First-year students must demonstrate overall academic excellence, with an unweighted high school average of 93 or higher (on a 100-point scale), and high grade averages in mathematics and the natural sciences

*Please note, meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance. 

Continuing Students:

  1. U2 standing or higher
  2. Completed at least two technical CSE courses with a weighted average of 3.50 in all CSE courses
  3. Cumulative GPA of 3.50 (Students whose GPA drops below this standard may lose the honors designation)

*Please note, meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance.

 Application Process 

  • There is no application for incoming freshmen. Incoming students will be sent communication if they have been invited to join Honors in Computer Science
  • Continuing Computer Science (CSE) majors may apply for admission to Honors in Computer Science after they have completed the admission requirements by completing this application

 Academic Requirements 

Students must satisfy the standard computer science graduation requirements; however, the core curriculum is accelerated for honors students. Additional requirements include:

  1. Senior honors project, CSE495 and CSE496, under the close supervision of a computer science faculty member
    • Project defense to the honors committee, which assigns grades in consultation with the project advisor
    • A grade of B+ or higher for the Senior Honors Project
    • To request enrollment in CSE 495, please complete this form
    • To request enrollment in CSE 496, please complete this form
  2. A GPA of 3.50 or higher, both overall and in computer science courses
  3. Three additional computer science honors courses or graduate courses
    • The Teaching Practicum CSE475 may be substituted for one honors course
    • With a GPA of 3.75 or higher, both overall and in CSE classes, only one honors or graduate course is required (helping students join CS Honors later in their SBU career)

 Comparison of the Core Curricula 

Topic Honors CS Sequence Regular CS Sequence 

Theory

CSE 150, CSE 350, CSE 385

CSE 113, CSE 303, CSE 373

Programming

CSE 160, CSE 260

CSE 114, CSE 214, CSE 307

Senior Project

CSE 495, CSE 496

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 Honors Courses and Activities 

The honors curriculum offers students a small, caring environment inside a large research university, with all the advantages of both. Students attend small classes taught by award-winning faculty and have the opportunity for personal attention from faculty both in classes and through research projects. Students meet and interact with like-minded students from diverse backgrounds. Experience with computer science at the high school level is not required for CS honors, only an interest in this exciting and continually growing field.

Honors courses include:

  • CSE 150 - Foundations of Computer Science – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE 160/161 - Computer Science A – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE 260/261 - Computer Science B – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE 350 - Theory of Computation – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE 385 - Analysis of Algorithms – Honors (4 credits)
  • CSE 495 - Senior Honors Research Project I (3 credits)
  • CSE 496 - Senior Honors Research Project II (3 credits)

Research & Capstone  

CSE 495 & CSE 496 act as the capstone courses for the Honors Program. Students participate in a two-semester research project carried out under the supervision of a computer science faculty member. These two courses allow a student within the honors program to explore a topic of interest in depth not otherwise possible in the undergraduate curriculum

Recognition  

Honors students at graduation receive their Honors Project Thesis on their diploma.