Computer Science, Associate of Science Degree in Science and Mathematics

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Computer Science, an option of the Associate of Science degree program in Science and Mathematics, prepares students for transfer into bachelor’s degree programs at four-year colleges and universities in a variety of programs including computer science, information processing and related fields. The program follows the guidelines of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM).

The field study for this degree focuses on an introduction to the theoretical foundations of computing, algorithms and programming techniques as applied to Operating Systems, Information Technology and Data Structures. Students reinforce this theoretical knowledge base with programming in both high-level programming languages and Assembly Language programming as well as study computer architecture in great detail.

Graduates are able to:

solve various kinds of problems using high level languages
apply sound programming techniques in designing program structure and logic
apply appropriate data structures and algorithms arising in various applied fields
assess the ethical implications of work performed
explain components of basic computer architecture
demonstrate the mathematical analysis of algorithms to measure efficiency

Raritan Valley Community College Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree programs are designed to comply with the New Jersey Community Colleges General Education Foundation which supports transfer of courses to NJ Public four-year colleges and universities. Students who intend to transfer to a NJ college or university can further improve the transfer of courses by using the Recommended Transfer Program (RTP) feature in NJTransfer.org.

Curriculum – A.S. Degree

First Semester

ENGL 111 - English Composition I 3 Credits
MATH 151 - Calculus I 4 Credits
CSIT 105 - Foundations of Computer Science 4 Credits
Social Science 3 Credits ¹

Second Semester

ENGL 112 - English Composition II 3 Credits
MATH 152 - Calculus II 4 Credits
CSIT 254 - Data Structures 4 Credits
Lab Science Sequence 4 Credits ²

Third Semester

Mathematics Specialization Elective 4 Credits ³
Mathematics or Programming Elective 3 Credits⁴
Humanities 3 Credits ¹
Lab Science Sequence 4 Credits ²

Fourth Semester

CSIT 256 - Computer Architecture & Assembly Language 4 Credits
Mathematics Specialization Elective 4 Credits ³
Humanities or Social Science 3 Credits ¹
Free Elective 3 Credits ⁵
Free Elective 3 Credits ⁵

Total Credits 60

¹ Select a course from the appropriate category of the General Education list.

² Select from the following two-semester lab science sequences: PHYS 150 Analytical Physics I and PHYS 151 Analytical Physics II (recommended), BIOL 101 General Biology I and BIOL 102 General Biology II , CHEM 103 General Chemistry I and CHEM 104 General Chemistry II , or PHYS 101 General Physics I & PHYS 102 General Physics II .

³Select from the following: MATH 251 Calculus III , MATH 254 Differential Equations , MATH 255 Discrete Mathematics , or MATH 256 Linear Algebra . Check with your intended transfer institution for transferabilty.

⁴ Select a Mathematics course from the General Education list or a Programming Elective from the Computer and Programming Electives List . Check with your intended transfer institution for transferabilty.

⁵ Any college-level course except COMP 102 Computer Literacy or CSIT 103 Computer Concepts and Programming .