The Science departments—Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Computer Science, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics & Engineering Physics—are proud of their commitment to providing exciting, top-quality programs for undergraduates at Stevens. The quality of our programs derives from the quality of our world-class faculty. Undergraduate students are a welcomed part of our community. They are afforded ready access to faculty and to ongoing research activities on campus and off campus, and, as they pursue their studies, undergraduates are encouraged to participate in research and Technogenesis activities.
The science curricula at Stevens emphasize project-based learning, encourage and reward independent study and scientific initiative, offer expanded research opportunities for undergraduates, and promote the undergraduate thesis as a capstone for a student’s course of study. These elements of the curriculum are intended to enhance the undergraduate experience of the student with a serious interest in studying the natural sciences or computer science.
The undergraduate programs are separated into two categories of curricula. The programs in Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics follow a unified curriculum, the Bachelor of Science in the natural sciences. The Department of Computer Science has developed distinct curricula for each of three undergraduate programs: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, and Bachelor of Science in Information Systems.
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (Natural Sciences)
The science program at Stevens offers a remarkable opportunity for a career in today's scientific world. It prepares you to work at the frontiers of knowledge making significant contributions to science and the well-being of mankind. Careers in biology, chemistry, medicine, physics, nanotechnology, mathematics, and statistics, are accessible through the science program.
The concepts, techniques and attitudes that are common to all sciences form the core courses of the Science program. You develop an awareness of the interactions among the various scientific disciplines and their individual contributions to the advancement of knowledge - the total picture of science. Additional courses in a chosen concentration prepare you exceptionally well with both the tools and knowledge to enter a profession immediately upon graduation, or to embark on advanced study leading to a graduate degree.
Studies during your freshman year include courses in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics, and a sequence of courses in humanities. Studies in the humanities continue throughout the four-year program. In the next three years you may choose a concentration in the area of chemistry, chemical biology, mathematics, computational science, applied physics, or engineering physics. Upon successful completion of your studies, you are awarded the Bachelor of Science degree.
The minimal formal requirements for the science program are listed in the semester-by-semester schedule, including the Notes. Courses may be taken in a different order than listed. Consult the individual department schedule for more specific details.
| Freshman Year |
|
|
|
|
| Term I |
| |
|
Hrs. Per Wk. |
| |
|
Class |
Lab |
Sem. |
| |
|
|
|
Cred. |
| HUM |
Humanities (Group A or B)* |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| MA 115 |
Calculus I |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| PEP 111 |
Mechanics |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| CS 105 |
Intro. to Scientific Computing |
2 |
2 |
3 |
| OR |
|
|
|
|
| CS 115 |
Intro. to Computer Science |
3 |
2 |
4 |
| CH 115 |
General Chemistry I |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| CH 117 |
General Chemistry Lab I |
0 |
3 |
1 |
| PE 200 |
Physical Education I |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
TOTAL |
14 (15) |
7 |
17(18) |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Term II |
| |
|
Hrs. Per Wk. |
| |
|
Class |
Lab |
Sem. |
| |
|
|
|
Cred. |
| HUM |
Humanities (Group A or B)* |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| MA 116 |
Calculus II |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| PEP 112 |
Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| CH 281 |
Biology and Biotechnology |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| CH 116 |
General Chemistry II |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| CH 118 |
Gen. Chemistry Lab II |
0 |
3 |
1 |
| PE 200 |
Physical Education II |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
TOTAL |
15 |
5 |
17 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Sophomore Year |
|
|
|
|
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Term III |
|
|
Hrs. Per Wk. |
|
|
Class |
Lab |
Sem. |
|
|
|
|
Cred. |
HUM |
Humanities (Group A or B)* |
3 |
0 |
3 |
MA 221 |
Differential Equations |
4 |
0 |
4 |
MGT |
Economics *** |
3 |
0 |
3 |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(4) |
3(4) |
PEP 221 |
Physics Lab I |
0 |
3 |
1 |
PE 200 |
Physical Education III |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
13 |
5(9) |
15(16) |
|
|
|
|
|
Term IV |
|
|
Hrs. Per Wk. |
|
|
Class |
Lab |
Sem. |
|
|
|
|
Cred. |
HUM |
Humanities (Group A or B)* |
3 |
0 |
3 |
SE |
Science Elective ** |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Thermodynamics ‡ |
3 |
0 |
3 |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(4) |
3(4) |
PEP 222 |
Physics Lab II |
0 |
3 |
1 |
PE 200 |
Physical Education IV |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
12 |
8(12) |
14(15) |
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Year |
|
|
|
|
Term V |
|
|
Hrs. Per Wk. |
|
|
Class |
Lab |
Sem. |
|
|
|
|
Cred. |
HUM |
Humanities |
3 |
0 |
3 |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0 |
3 |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(3) |
3(4) |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(4) |
3(4) |
PE 200 |
Physical Education V |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
12 |
2(9) |
13(15) |
|
|
|
|
|
Term VI |
|
|
Hrs. Per Wk. |
|
|
Class |
Lab |
Sem. |
|
|
|
|
Cred. |
HUM |
Humanities |
3 |
0 |
3 |
PEP 242 |
Modern Physics |
3 |
0 |
3 |
Ma 222 |
Probability & Statistics |
3 |
0 |
3 |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(3) |
3(4) |
PE 200 |
Physical Education VI |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
12 |
2(5) |
13(14) |
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Year |
|
|
|
|
Term VII |
|
|
Hrs. Per Wk. |
|
|
Class |
Lab |
Sem. |
|
|
|
|
Cred. |
HUM |
Humanities |
3 |
0 |
3 |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(3) |
3(4) |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(3) |
3(4) |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0 |
3 |
E |
Elective |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
15 |
0(6) |
15(17) |
|
|
|
|
|
Term VIII |
|
|
Hrs. Per Wk. |
|
|
Class |
Lab |
Sem. |
|
|
|
|
Cred. |
HUM |
Humanities |
3 |
0 |
3 |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(3) |
3(4) |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0(3) |
3(4) |
TE |
Technical Elective |
3 |
0 |
3 |
E |
Elective |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
15 |
0(6) |
15(17) |
Notes:
* In the first two years, students must choose two courses from Group A and two courses from Group B.
** The Science Elective must be chosen from:
MA 227 Multivariable Calculus 3-0-3
CH 382 Biological Syst 3-3-4
*** Mgt 243 Macroeconomics or MGT 244 Microeconomics.
‡ Thermodynamics may be CH 321 or E 234.
One of the Technical Electives may be a Management course with the approval of the advisor.
Departments may rearrange the placement of courses such as Thermodynamics, Quantum Physics, Probability & Statistics, Economics, etc., to accommodate elective sequences within the constraints of normal departmental course offerings.
Junior and senior Humanities courses must be 300-level or higher.
All students must satisfy an English Language proficiency requirement as described in this catalog.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (Computer Science)
The computer science major is fundamentally focused on the hardware-software interface. In any computer science major, operating systems is the most important course for that major. It teaches fundamental concepts such as interrupt-driven execution, virtual memory management, I/O devices and protection in multiprogramming. The computer science major covers additional topics including:
- Concurrent programming
- Database management systems
- Computer architecture
- Cybersecurity fundamentals
In addition, the computer science major is distinguished by its flexibility. In senior year, a student in Computer Science can choose from a large number of elective courses. Concentration areas are suggested groups of Computer Science courses for those that want to “drill down” on specific topics. Some example concentration areas are graphics, design of games, software engineering, networks, cybersecurity and enterprise computing. Application areas are groups of courses that include courses outside Computer Science. Approved application areas include computer engineering and embedded systems, wireless networks, financial systems, mathematics and scientific computing.
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (Cybersecurity)
As the need for data security increases in all industries, including medicine, banking, and homeland security, the demand for professionals with knowledge in the areas of information assurance and computer security continues to grow. In 2003, as part of the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, the White House identified as a top priority the necessity of maintaining a pool of well-trained and certified IT security specialists through providing comprehensive training and education.
The cybersecurity major builds on a basic computer science education to also develop the deep technical skills required of a modern security professional. These skills include a deep knowledge and understanding of crytography, as well as the ability to diagnose threats and defences for software systems. Therefore the pivot course for this major is a course in secure systems that includes a cybersecurity lab as a co-requisite. The cybersecurity major includes courses in:
- Operating systems
- Concurrent programming
- Database management systems
- Cybersecurity fundamentals
- Privacy
- Cryptography
- Secure systems
This program is structured to provide students with security expertise within the context of a broad education. The curriculum not only has a strong focus in science and computer science but also incorporates aspects of engineering and technology management. Cybersecurity students in the senior design project do a project involving secure systems, under the guidance and supervision of security faculty.
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (Information Systems)
Information Systems (IS) is designed for those seeking the background needed to apply information technology to support the major functions of a business or public institution. Information systems manage the collection, manipulation, storage, distribution and utilization of an organization's information. The Stevens IS major distinguishes itself by its technical rigor, and by providing high-level skills in software development and systems analysis. A solid background in business skills is combined with an information technology background whose technical core is shared with other majors in the computer science department. Both strong technical ability and a firm grounding in business skills are essential for the modern high-end IS professional.
Both the two-year skills “spine” and the senior-year capstone project course are shared between Information Systems and Computer Science majors. This ensures that IS majors obtain the rigorous grounding in IS skills that the high-end IS professional is expected to have. While the Computer Science program is designed to allow majors to “drill down” to specific technical areas, the Information Systems program offers a focus on business and management functions, including basic business skills such as accounting, marketing and organizational behavior. The IS program also provides a specific focus on systems analysis and information management: how an organization (be it business, government or any other kind of organization) can structure its IS function, and how the IS manager relates to the rest of the managerial structure.
In recognition of the modern IS environment, the IS program has an additional emphasis on networked information. Courses in systems programming, Web programming and databases demonstrate how to realize the opportunities offered by IS in managing information. Courses in cybersecurity and privacy address the technical, managerial and legal hazards that must be addressed in the modern networked world. Indeed, much of the IS core is shared with the other majors in the computer science department. While these majors drill down to technical aspects of computer systems, IS focuses on organizational aspects of information management. The IS major includes courses in:
- database management systems
- cybersecurity fundamentals
- privacy
- business skills:
- economics
- accounting
- marketing
- planning
- requirements acquisition and human computer interaction
- web programming and service oriented architecture (SOA)
A typical career path for a student majoring in IS is an entry-level software developer/systems analyst position, rising eventually to Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Technical Officer (CTO) in an organization. The IS major’s emphases on information management and project management are essential preparation for either of these career paths.
DETAILED REQUIREMENTS AND SCHEDULE (COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAMS):
The formal requirements for each of the computer science programs are described in detail later in this catalog within the section for the Department of Computer Science.
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