Department of Computer Information Sciences

Website: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/arts-sciences/computer-information-sciences/index.html

Faculty

Professor Nan Sun, PhD, Chair
Professor Bruce Mechtly, PhD
Assistant Professor George Frazier, PhD
Assistant Professor Joseph Kendall-Morwick, PhD
Lecturer Phillip Hauptman, PhD

Mission

Consistent with the mission of the University and College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Computer Information Sciences is dedicated to providing students, through a diverse learning environment, the knowledge and skills necessary to enter careers and to become lifelong learners in the field of computer information science. Faculty members professionally engage in their disciplines through teaching, researching, and serving the University and the community.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Computer Information Science Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees are based on the guidelines provided by the Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula for Undergraduate Degree Programs recommendations.

We adopt ABET’s criteria for our program learning outcomes.  Computer Information Sciences majors at Washburn University, upon graduation, are expected to be able to:

• Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions;
• Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline;
• Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts;
• Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles;
• Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.

Departmental Honors Program

CIS majors are eligible to receive departmental honors upon graduation if they fulfill the following requirements:

• CM GPA: 3.70 or above.
• Overall GPA: 3.70 or above.
• Capstone project: aggregate 90% or above based on faculty evaluations.
• Approval of CIS faculty: 75% or above.

Programs

Bachelor of Science / Natural Science Concentration

All Bachelor of Science degrees include a required 30-hour concentration, which includes courses chosen from departments in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division, other than the student’s major department. At least 15 of these hours must be in one discipline. The 30 hours must be approved by the student’s major department chairperson.

Natural Sciences Concentration courses for BS degrees offered by the Department of Computer Information Science are limited to these courses: 

• BI 100 Human Biology or above;
• CH 103 Introduction to Forensic Chemistry or above;
• MA 117 Trigonometry or above, except: MA 200 Number & Operation for Elementary Teachers, MA 201 Geometry, Proportion & Data Analysis for Elementary Teachers, MA 204 Number Theory and Discrete Math for Middle School Teachers, MA 316 Teaching Algebra, MA 317 Teaching Trigonometry, MA 318 Teaching Statistics, MA 320 Mathematics for Middle School Teachers;
• PS 101 Physics in Everyday Life or above, AS 101 Introduction to Astronomy/Cosmology or above, GL 101 Physical Geology or above, EG 105 Introduction to Engineering or above.

Course Offerings