Computer Science

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Certificate in Computer Science

Program Overview

In today's fast growing computer-based industry, the demand for computer science graduates far exceeds the supply. To help overcome the serious deficit of qualified computer science graduates, the Department of computer science offers the Certificate in Computer Science program at Texas State University-San Marcos and at the Round Rock Campus (RRC) in Austin. This certificate program is designed for those who have a non-computer science bachelor's degree and yet wish to pursue professional careers in computer-related industry or wish to enter a graduate computer science degree program. The Department of Computer Science strives to advance the knowledge of computer science and to produce computer professionals. ABET, Inc. accredits our Bachelor of Science program in computer science. Texas State's Computer Science B.S. program is the only ABET computer science accredited program in the Austin/San Antonio growth corridor.

Educational Objectives

The certificate program is targeted to meet two objectives: (1) It will train non-computer science degree holders for a computer-related high level professional career. (2) It also provides the background courses for non-computer science degree holders who wish to pursue a graduate degree in computer science or software engineering, Students will obtain a broad knowledge of computer science technology and learn required skills to develop, analyze and design complex computer systems. This program offers a broad-based curriculum in computer science to those working professionals who already have a degree in other fields and who wish to pursue a career in a field which is in high demand. This program will meet the exponentially growing demand for computer science professionals and will help industry to find scarce professionals trained in various areas of computer science. The e program also provides the background courses for students with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than computer science to pursue a master's degree in computer science or software engineering. The educational objectives of the certificate program include:

• Provide students with a broad knowledge of computer science technology.
• Provide leadership in advancing the state of the practice of computer science education.
• Provide students with specific knowledge and skills required to develop methodologies and to analyze and design complex computer systems.
• Prepare students to enter master's degree programs in computer science.
• Prepare students for highly paid professional careers.

Admission Requirements

Individuals holding a 4-year bachelor's degree with a grade-point average of no less than 2.75 on a 4.0 scale on the last 60 hours leading to the degree (or, 3.0 or higher on 30 graduate semester hours) would be eligible to apply for the program. International students are required to have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test)

Apply for Admission

Submit a copy of your official transcripts with the following completed forms:
1) Graduate College Application;
2) Certificate Program Application form. These forms may be obtained by clicking the link to the form or by contacting the Graduate Advisor in the Department of Computer Science, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666-4616. The E-mail address is: ; the FAX number is: 512.245.8750; and the Telephone number is: 512.245.3409.

Contact Us

For contact information please visit the Contact Us page.

Course Requirements

The certificate program requires 40 semester hours, with at least 15 hours of upper-division computer science courses in residency at Texas State or RRC. The Texas State computer science graduate advisor may waive or replace specific course requirements if a student has taken equivalent courses at other institutions. The required courses are:

No grade less than a "C" and no more than two "C's" in:

• Foundations of Computer Science I(CS 1428, (3-2) An introductory course for majors and minors in computer science. The structure of the digital computer, data representation, the software process, good coding style, and algorithm development are stressed. The control structures of C++ are emphasized. Prerequisite: A grade of C or better, or concurrent registration, in Math 1315 or higher.)
• Foundations of Computer Science II (CS 2308, (3-0) Programming in C++. The language C is introduced and contrasted with C++. A continuation of CS 1428. Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in CS 1428.)
• Assembly Language (CS 2318, (3-0) A course covering the organization of digital computers; assembly language programming including addressing, looping, logic, shifting and masking operations, macros, subroutines, co-routines, arithmetic algorithms, and recursion. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CS 2308 and Discrete Mathematics.)
• Digital Logic (CS 2420, (3-2) An introduction to computer hardware and the technologies used to create, capture, and communicate digital information. A laboratory provides hands-on experience with the subject matter, e.g., electricity, combinational and sequential digital circuits, VLSI, etc. Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in Discrete Mathematics.)
• Data Structures (CS 3358, (3-0) A course covering classic data structures and an introduction to object-oriented development. Prerequisites: A grade of C or higher in CS 2308 and Discrete Mathematics.)
• Computer Architecture (CS 3339, (3-0) Use of fundamental hardware components. Topics include ALUs, single and multiple cycle datapath and control, RISC vs. CISC, pipelining, caches, I/O, virtual memory and related performance issues. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CS 2318 and CS 2420.)
• 6 hours of advanced Computer Science electives (CS 3000+)

Plus one of the following:

• Program Translators (CS 4318, (3-0) A study of computer languages, data structures, algorithms, and theory used in constructing compilers and other program translators. Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in CS 3358.)
• Operating Systems (CS 4328, (3-0) Principles of operating systems. Algorithms for CPU scheduling, memory management, cooperating sequential processes and device management. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CS 2318 and CS 3358.)

No grade below a "C" in:

• Calculus I (MATH 2471, (3-2) A first course in differential and integral calculus which stresses limits as well as the applications of calculus to the problems of science. Prerequisite: Math 2363 or Math 2417.)
• Calculus II (MATH 2472, (3-2) A continuation of differential and integral calculus including methods of integration, sequences and series, and introduction to partial derivatives. Prerequisite: Math 2471 with a grade of at least C.)
• Discrete Mathematics (MATH 5358, (3-0) This course covers topics from: basic and advanced techniques of counting, recurrent relations, discrete probability and statistics, and applications of graph theory. Prerequisites: A grade of at least C in Math 2472.)

Teaching Certification

The University's undergraduate catalog provides information regarding the available teacher certification programs. Contact the Texas State Office of Admissions to receive an Undergraduate Catalog.

Certificate Program offering at the RRC

The Certificate Program is also offered at Round Rock Campus (RRC). At the RRC, lower level courses are offered by Austin Community College (ACC). The equivalent ACC courses are listed below: