Overview of CS Courses

Curriculum diagram and index key

The following diagram summarizes the structure of St. Olaf's course offerings in CS, and also the requirements for a CS major. Each circled code represents a course: the key for these codes serves as an index for accessing course descriptions.

Key

Foundation courses -- Introductory

• Notes:

  • Course numbers are changing effective Spring 2004. So, both old and new numbers are listed below for existing courses. We will refer to courses by their abbreviations (e.g., CS1 or SD) rather than their numbers.

  • Some new CS courses are offered in 2003-04 under the CS Seminar number CS 378. CS 378 can be taken repeatedly for credit, as long as the topics are different.

  • The list below organizes courses according to their roles in the CS Major. See the summary of the CS Major for a list of requirements, or look at the curriculum diagram below.

  • See the Planned Offerings of CS Courses for current plans about which courses will be offered in which term. The course-offering plan is subject to change. See Dick Brown (rab@stolaf.edu) for the latest information.

  • For more complete descriptions of these courses, see detailed descriptions of CS courses, or click on the links below labelled [More...]

• CS1, Principles of Computer Science
  (CS 121; Old number CS 172)
  Brief description: Introduction to the discipline, focusing on recurring concepts that are relevant to all forms of computing, and developing good analytical thinking skills. Taught through daily "hands-on" exercises involving the Scheme programming language. [More...]
  Prerequisites: None
  Note: Satisfies [MAR].

• CS1+, Accelerated Principles of Computer Science
  (CS 225; First offering Fall 2003 as CS 172B)
  Brief description: Accelerated version covering the material of both CS1 and SD, for persons with substantial prior programming experience in C++, Java, or a similar language. [More...]
  Prerequisites: Equivalent of high school Advanced Placement credit in Computer Science, or consent of instructor
  Note: Satisfies [MAR]; proposed for [WRI].

Foundation courses -- Intermediate

• SD, Software Design and Implementation
  (CS 251; Old number CS 272)
  Brief description: A study of software design practices that also develops solid programming skills in C++ language (introduced in this course). Includes substantial daily homework; weekly lab meetings; and a structured team project using typical software development methodology. [More...]
  Prerequisites: CS1, or consent of instructor
  Note: Proposed for [WRI].

• HD, Hardware Design
  (CS 241; Old number CS 274, "Computer Organization")
  Brief description: Exploration of the internal design of computer hardware, including circuit design at the "digital logic" level, CPU design, comparison of Pentium and other CPUs, assembly language, brief introduction to computer networks. [More...]
  Prerequisites: CS1 or CS1+, or consent of instructor
  

• MFC, Mathematical Foundations of Computing
  (CS 231; First offering Spring 2005)
  Brief description: Mathematical topics and skills development required for core and advanced courses in CS, building on the analytical abilities developed in CS1. [More...]
  Prerequisites: CS1 or CS1+, or consent of instructor
  

Core courses

• ADS, Algorithms and Data Structures
  (CS 253; Old number CS 372)
  Brief description: Standard algorithms and strategies for organizing data, as used in general software development. [More...]
  Prerequisites: SD, or consent of instructor
  

• ESD, Ethical Issues in Software Design
  (CS 263; First offering Spring 2004)
  Brief description: Ethical and social considerations inherent in computing systems, focusing on actual extended case studies and practical models for ethical analysis. Builds on an "insider's" understanding of how software is developed (from SD). [More...]
  Prerequisites: SD, or consent of instructor
  Note: Proposed for [EIN] and [ORC]

• PL, Programming Languages
  (CS 276; Old number CS 376)
  Brief description: A study of typical features of computer programming languages, together with an ongoing project in which students build a programming language of their own that implements those features. [More...]
  Prerequisites: SD and HD, or consent of instructor
  

• CSA, Client-Server Applications
  (CS 284; First offering Fall 2003 as CS 378)
  Brief description: A study of the principles of modern client-server systems, including GUIs (graphics user interfaces), programming with networks, databases, and design of client and server programs, accompanied by a sizable team project that applies those principles. Languages: Java and SQL. [More...]
  Prerequisites: SD, or consent of instructor
  

• OS, Operating Systems
  (CS 273; Previously offered under CS 378)
  Brief description: Design of computer operating systems, including process management, file systems, input/output, and memory management. Examines the Linux operating system in detail, including source code, as well as design of Windows; projects include modifications of the Linux kernel. [More...]
  Prerequisites: SD and HD, or consent of instructor
  

• TC, Theory of Computation
  (CS 333; First offering to be announced)
  Brief description: Examination of the theoretical foundations and limitations of computing, applicable to encryption and program design. Finite state automata, complexity, regular expressions, etc. [More...]
  Prerequisites: MFC, or consent of instructor
  Note: Counts as an elective in the Mathematics major.

Advanced courses

• CAP, Senior Capstone Seminar
  (CS 390; First offering Interim 2005)
  Brief description: "Capstone" integrative experience, including an interdisciplinary team project. [More...]
  Prerequisites: Senior CS major
  Note: Proposed for [WRI].

• BI, Bioinformatics
  (CS 315; First offering Interim 2004 as CS 378)
  Brief description: First offering of a team-taught interdisciplinary course in Bioinformatics; one of the profs is an expert from France. Offered in collaboration with Biology and with Biomedical Studies. See also Bioinformatics information page. [More...]
  Prerequisites: CS1 and either SD or Biology 125, or consent of instructor. Different people will be bringing different training, interests, and abilities to this interdisciplinary course---we hope for a balance of CS and non-CS students.
  Note: This course also counts towards Biology Major, Mathematics Major (applied course), CS Major, CS Concentration, and Molecular Biology Concentration. (!)

• LP, Logic Programming
  (CS 336; First offering S05)
  Brief description: Exploring a type of programming that is heavily used in Artificial Intelligence. [More...]
  Prerequisites: ADS or PL, or consent of instructor
  

• DB, Database Systems
  (CS 385; First offering to be announced)
  Brief description: How to design databases, and how database management system work. [More...]
  Prerequisites: ADS, or consent of instructor
  

• ATP, Advanced Team Project
  (CS 350; Old number CS 378 or CS 398)
  Brief description: Team projects, usually with an interdisciplinary emphasis. [More...]
  Prerequisites: SD and other courses, depending on project.
  

• TOP, Topics in Computer Science
  (CS 300; Old number CS 378)
  Brief description: Seminar in various topics in CS. [More...]
  Prerequisites: Depends on topic.