Computer Science

Brigham Young University

Computer Science

William A. Barrett, Chair
3361 TMCB, PO Box 26576, (801) 378-3027

College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Advisement Center
1116 TMCB, PO Box 26539, (801) 378-6270

Admission to Degree Program

The degree programs in the Department of Computer Science carry special enrollment limitations. Please see the college advisement center for specific details.

The Discipline

Computer science, even though it is a relatively new field, touches virtually every area of human endeavor. It is the systematic study of the algorithmic processes—their theory, analysis, design, efficiency, implementation, and application. Fundamentally, computer science is a science of abstraction—creating the right model for a problem and devising the right computer manipulations to solve it.

The BS curriculum is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB).

The degree programs in computer science concentrate on the fundamental techniques and knowledge used in designing and implementing information processing systems, with emphasis on systems software design and computer organization.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the Computer Science Department find ready employment in almost any area of computer use.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree a student must fill three groups of requirements: (1) general education requirements, (2) university requirements, and (3) major requirements.

General Education Requirements

Please see your college advisement center for information about general education courses you should take to dovetail with your major program.

Languages of Learning

Precollege Math (zero to one course) (or Math ACT score of at least 22)	0–3.0 hours
First-Year Writing (one course)	3.0
Advanced Writing (one to four courses)	3–8.0
Advanced Languages/Math/Music (one to four courses)	3–20.0

Liberal Arts Core

Biological Science (one to two courses)	3–6.0
Physical Science (one to two courses)	3–7.0
American Heritage (one to two courses)	3–6.0
Wellness (one to three courses)	1.5–3.0
Civilization (two courses)	6.0

Arts and Sciences Electives

Arts and Letters (one course)	3.0
Natural Sciences (one course)	3–4.0
Social and Behavioral Sciences (one course)	3.0

Note 1: For a complete list of courses that will fill each GE category, see the General Education section of the current class schedule.

Note 2: Additional information about general education requirements can be found in the General Education section of the current class schedule or this catalog.

Minimum University Requirements

Religion	14.0
Upper-division hours	40.0
Residency	30.0
Total hours	128.0

Cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0.

Note: See the Graduation section of this catalog for more information.

Major Requirements

Complete the major requirements listed for one of the folowing undergraduate degree programs.

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

BS	Computer Science

Minor

Computer Science Teaching

For help or information on the undergraduate programs, please see your college advisement center.

Graduate Programs and Degrees

MS	Computer Science

PhD	Computer Science

For more information see the 1998-99 BYU Graduate Catalog.

General Information

Majors are selected on the basis of overall GPA, performance in the fundamental courses, and availability of openings in the program.

Computer science majors, especially those planning graduate work, are advised to acquire a strong background in mathematics, possibly a minor.

Personnel in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Advisement Center will advise regarding the fundamental and core courses, major admittance, and suggested General Education. Questions regarding curriculum and career decisions should be directed to the undergraduate advisor in the Computer Science Department.

Fundamental courses to be completed by all majors are CS 142, 143, 235, Math 119, Phscs 121.

Note: All hours of credit applied toward a major in computer science must be of C– or better and must be taken within eight years of declaring the computer science fundamentals major. Any exceptions must be approved by the department. Students may choose to graduate under later requirements by updating their date of entry into the major at the college advisement center.

BS Computer Science (78-80 hours*)

Major Requirements

No D credit is allowed in major courses.
Complete the following:
CS 142, 143, 235, 236, 240, 252, 312, 330, 345, 380, 404.
Complete the following supporting courses:
Engl 316.
Math 119, 343.
Phscs 121, 122.
Stat 321.
Select two courses from the following (If you choose to take Chem 106, you must also take Chem 107 concurrently. This will only count as one class to fill this section):
Biol 130, 276.
Chem 105, 106 (must take 107 also).
Geol 111.
Phscs 221, 222.
Zool 204, 205.
Select four courses from 400-level computer science courses.
Select two additional courses from 400- or 500-level computer science courses.
Note: CS 598R requires senior or graduate status in computer science and departmental approval before registering.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.

Minor Computer Science Teaching (20 hours)

Complete the following:

CS 142, 143, 235, 236, 240, 302.

Computer Science (C S)

Class Schedule					Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

103. Elementary Computer Applications. (2:2:0) F, W, Sp, Su

Computer organization, problem solving, and information systems, emphasizing use of the computer for problem solving and developing programming skills.

130. Scientific Computing—C. (2:2:2) F, Su

Computer programming for engineering and science students using C.

142. Introduction to Computer Programming. (3:3:0) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: knowledge of algebra.

Introduction to program design and development. Principles of algorithm formulation and implementation.

143. Introduction to Computer Organization. (3:3:0) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: knowledge of algebra.

Fundamentals of computer organization and operation. Memory structure, registers, arithmetic and logical functions, instruction formats, addressing modes, machine and assembly languages, and internal-external data representation.

235. Foundations of Computer Science 1. (4:4:1) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: CS 142.

Iteration, induction, recursion, lists, trees, sets, relations, functions; mathematical analysis of algorithms and data models; object-oriented implementation of abstract data types.

236. Foundations of Computer Science 2. (4:4:1) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: CS 235.

Continuation of CS 235; relations, graphs, automata, grammars, propositional and predicate logic. Implementation of object-oriented algorithms.

240. Advanced Programming Concepts. (3:3:0) F, W Prerequisite for CS majors: CS 236. Prerequisite for ECEn majors: CS 235, ECEn 325.

Advanced software development with an object-oriented focus. Development and testing of several 1500 to 2000 line modules from formal specifications. UNIX and C++ environment.

252. Introduction to Computational Theory. (3:3:0) F, W, Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 236.

Finite automata, regular expressions, grammars, language, Turing machines, computability.

302. Computer Science Education. (3:3:0) F, W Prerequisite: Math 112 or 119; CS 103 or 142.

Curriculum development and course design for the computer science teacher in secondary schools.

312. Algorithm Analysis. (3:3:0) F, W, Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 240, 252.

Analysis of algorithms including searching, sorting, graphs, and trees.

330. Concepts of Programming Languages. (3:3:0) F, W, Sp Prerequisite: CS 240, 252.

Principles and concepts characterizing high-level computer programming languages, process and data abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, functional programming, logic programming, scanners, and parsers.

345. Operating Systems Design. (3:3:0) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: CS 380; or CS 240, ECEn 325.

Principles and concepts of operating systems design and the implementation of an operating system.

380. Computer Architecture. (3:3:0) F, W, Alt. term Prerequisite: ECEn 220, CS 240.

Memory and addressing, arithmetic schemes, data channels, order codes, microprogramming, and multiprocessors.

404. Ethics and Computers in Society. (3:3:0) F, W, Alt. term Prerequisite: Engl 316; junior standing.

Societal impact of computer technology, the computer scientist's place in society, ethical issues. Reading, discussion, and writing seminar.

428. Software System Design and Implementation. (3:3:0) Alt. sem., Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 312, 330.

Analysis, design, implementation, and testing of significant software systems.

429. Software Testing. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: CS 312, 330.

Strategies for testing large systems compared and critiqued, with opportunities to test actual systems.

431. Algorithmic Languages and Compilers. (3:3:0) Alt. sem., Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 312, 330.

Formal description of algorithmic languages and techniques used in their compilation: semantics, ambiguities, procedures, replication, iteration, recursion.

450. Introduction to Digital Signal and Image Processing. (3:3:0) On dem. Prerequisite: CS 312, Math 119, 343, or equivalent.

One- and two-dimensional signal-processing fundamentals, including sampling, noise, transforms, filtering, enhancement, and compression. Hands-on experimentation with speech, music, still images, and full-motion video.

452. Database Modeling Concepts. (3:3:0) F, W, Prerequisite: CS 312, 330.

Database models: relational, network, hierarchical, deductive, object-oriented. Integrity constraints, query languages, database design.

453. Advanced Data Structures. (3:3:0) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: CS 312, 330.

File organization and management, external data structures, database implementation, including concurrency control, transaction processing, and distributed databases.

455. Computer Graphics. (3:3:0) Alt. sem., Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 312, 330, and instructor's consent.

Interactive computer graphics systems programming and architecture.

456. Introduction to User Interface Software. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CS 312, 330.

Introduction to software architectures and techniques for graphical user interfaces. Input devices, windowing systems, event-driven programming, interactive geometry.

460. Computer Communications and Networking. (3:3:0) F, W Prerequisite: CS 312, 380.

Introduction to data communications and computer networking. Communications fundamentals, computer networks, software, architecture, telecommunications, regulation, standards.

470. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: CS 312, 330.

Introduction to core areas of artificial intelligence; intelligent agents, problem solving and search, knowledge-based systems and inference, planning, uncertainty, learning, and perception.

500-Level Graduate Courses (available to advanced undergraduates)

501R. Special Topics in Computer Science. (1–3:Arr.:0 ea.) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Special subjects as announced before each semester.

510. Formal Languages and Syntactic Analysis. (3:3:0) F, Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 431 or instructor's consent.

Definition of formal grammars and algorithms for syntactic analysis.

512. Analysis of Algorithms. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: CS 252, 312, or instructor's consent.

Survey of important algorithms. Connections to theoretical computer science and the analysis of algorithms.

521. Pattern Recognition. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: CS 450, or equivalent.

Design and use of pattern classifiers for recognition and classification of one- and two-dimensional signals such as voice, images, and handwriting. Emphasis on images.

525. Software Creation. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: CS 428.

Concepts of object-oriented software development and their incorporation into various object-oriented analysis and design techniques.

531. Compiler Theory and Design. (3:3:0) Alt. yr. Prerequisite: CS 431.

Theory and design of compilers and interpreters, including syntax-directed compilers and metacompilers.

532. Advanced Programming Languages and Models. (3:3:0) Alt. yr. Prerequisite: CS 431.

Definitions and implementation techniques for functional languages, logic languages, and object-oriented languages. Interactive languages and interactive programming environments.

535. (CS-Psych 577) Human-Computer Interaction. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: graduate or senior standing.

Human/machine interfaces for hardware/ software integration. Psychological principles of computer interfacing. Human engineering, ergonomics, and software design principles for user-friendly applications.

544. Advanced Operating Systems. (3:3:0) F, Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 345.

Advanced operating system concepts and design techniques, including concurrency, distributed systems, networking, synchronization, multitasking, etc.

545. Process Control Systems. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: CS 345.

Concurrent and distributed real-time operating systems and programming environments for industrial automation.

550. Computer Vision 1. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: CS 450 or equivalent.

Machine vision, image segmentation, mathematical morphology, image enhancement and filtering edge detection, feature extraction, neighborhood operators, region growing, boundary detection, scene segmentation, and matching.

551. Object-Oriented Database Theory. (3:3:0) F, Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 452 or instructor's consent.

Application of model and proof theory to OODBs; theoretical foundations of analysis, specification, and design; conceptual model formalization.

552. Object-Oriented Database Systems. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CS 452.

Analysis, specification, design, and implementation of object-oriented database systems; theory of object-oriented database models and systems.

554. Distributed Databases. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CS 452 or equivalent.

Distributed DBMS design, architecture, query processing and optimization, data allocation, transaction management, concurrency control, recovery, integrity and security, deadlock handling.

555. Advanced Computer Graphics. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: CS 455 or instructor's consent.

Advanced computer graphics systems programming and architecture, including ray tracing, radiosity, animator, and physically based modeling.

556. Interactive Software Systems. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: CS 330, 455.

Techniques to implement human/ computer interfaces. Primitive interactive techniques. Grammar, automata, procedure, object- based dialogue descriptions. Tools for automatically generating and evaluating user interfaces. Screen layout; data presentation tools.

557. (CS-CEEn 572-MeEn 572) Computer-Aided Geometric Design. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: FORTRAN or C, or similar computer language background.

Mathematical theory of free-form curves and surfaces and solid geometric modeling. Bezier and B-spine curve and surface theory, parametric and implicit forms, intersection algorithms, topics in computer algebra, free-form deformation. Several programming projects.

560. Computer Networks. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: CS 460, Stat 321.

Computer networking, software architecture, organization, protocols, routing, global networks, local networks, internetworking, standards, and applications.

561. Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science. (3:3:0) W, Su Prerequisite: CS 312 or instructor's consent.

Formal languages, automata theory, sequential machines, enumerability, computability, and undecidability.

565. Data Security. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: CS 404. Recommended: CS 453, 560.

Data security problems and solutions. Protection of stored or transported data. Data security principles. Hardware and software systems; mathematical, technical, and legal considerations.

572. Machine Learning. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CS 250, 470; or instructor's consent.

Algorithms; approaches and philosophy of machine learning emphasizing symbolic/AI approaches.

575. Expert Systems Design. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: CS 470 or instructor's consent.

Knowledge-based systems, fundamentals of knowledge engineering, rule-based systems, tools for expert system development.

576. Intelligent Tutoring. (3:3:0) Alt. term Prerequisite: CS 575 or instructor's consent.

Taxonomy of knowledge-based computer-assisted instruction; design and evaluation of intelligent tutoring models.

578. Neural Networks and Connectionist Computing. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: CS 252, 380; or equivalent. Recommended: CS 470 or equivalent.

Neurally inspired computer architectures and methods of computation and learning using massively parallel networks.

580. High-Performance Computer Architecture. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CS 380, ECEn 425, or equivalent.

Advanced topics in computer architecture, including pipelining, superpipelining, VLIW, superscalar, branch prediction, and speculative execution.

584. Parallel Processing. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CS 380 or equivalent.

Theoretical and practical study of parallel processing, including a discussion of parallel architectures, parallel programming languages, and parallel algorithms.

586. Formal Methods in Computer System Design. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CS 236, 380, or equivalent.

Use of specification and verification in the design of computer systems. Introduction to mechanical theorem-proving environments.

598R. Special Projects. (1–3:0:0 ea.) Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Graduate Courses

For 600- and 700-level courses, see the 1998-99 BYU Graduate Catalog.

Computer Science Faculty

Professors

Barrett, William A. (1987) BA, PhD, U. of Utah, 1974, 1978.

Burton, Robert Preece (1974) PhD, U. of Utah, 1973.

Campbell, Douglas M. (1971) BA, Harvard U., 1967; PhD, U. of North Carolina, 1971.

Christensen, Larry C. (1983) BA, Brigham Young U., 1963; MA, Central Michigan U., 1968; EdD, Brigham Young U., 1981.

Cornell, Aurel (1980) MS, PhD, Polytechnic Inst. of Timisoara, Rumania, 1960, 1971.

Embley, David W. (1982) BA, MS, U. of Utah, 1970, 1972; PhD, U. of Illinois, 1976.

Hays, Bill (1970) BS, East Texas State U., 1963; MS, U. of Iowa, 1967; PhD, Northwestern U., 1970.

Higgins, John C. (1961) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1958, 1960; PhD, U. of California, Berkeley, 1966.

Norman, Theodore A. (1970) BS, U. of Utah, 1962; MS, PhD, Washington State U., 1968, 1970.

Olsen, Dan R. (1985) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1976, 1978; PhD, U. of Pennsylvania, 1981.

Sederberg, Thomas W. (1978) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1975, 1977; PhD, Purdue U., 1983.

Stokes, Gordon E. (1969) BS, Brigham Young U., 1961; MS, U. of Idaho, 1969; EdD, Brigham Young U., 1981.

Woodfield, Scott N. (1985) BA, MS, Brigham Young U., 1975, 1978; PhD, Purdue U., 1980.

Associate Professors

Beus, H. Lynn (1971) BA, Brigham Young U., 1961; MS, Case Inst. of Technology, 1964; PhD, Case Western Reserve U., 1967.

Martinez, Tony R. (1987) BA, Brigham Young U., 1982, MS, PhD, U. of California, Los Angeles, 1983, 1986.

Ng, Yiu Kai (Dennis) (1991) BS, Brigham Young U., 1982; MS, Brigham Young U., 1984; PhD, Kansas State U., 1991.

Windley, Phillip J. (1993) BS, U. of Idaho, 1982; MS, PhD, U. of California, Davis, 1988, 1990.

Assistant Professors

Clement, Mark J. (1994) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1985, 1989; PhD, Oregon State U., 1994.

Egbert, Parris (1992) BS, Utah State U., 1986; MS, PhD, U. of Illinois, 1990, 1992.

Flanagan, Kelly J. (1993) BS, MS, PhD, Brigham Young U., 1988, 1989, 1993.

Morse, Bryan S. (1994) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1986, 1990; PhD, U. of North Carolina, 1994.

Whitehurst, Alan (1995) BS, Brigham Young U., 1983; MS, Johns Hopkins U., 1985; PhD, U. of Illinois, 1995.

Lecturer

Ivie, William E. (1964) BS, Brigham Young U., 1974.

Emeriti

Burton, Robert C. (1964) BS, Brigham Young U., 1956; PhD, U. of North Carolina, 1963.

Dean, C. Edwin (1949) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1948, 1952; MS, U. of Michigan, 1955.

Ivie, Evan Leon (1979) BS, BES, Brigham Young U., 1956, 1956; MS, Stanford U., 1957; PhD, Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, 1966.

McClurg, Lynn E. (1972) BGE, U. of Nebraska, 1966; MS, U. of Southern California, 1972; EdD, Brigham Young U., 1978.

Robison, Parley P. (1967) BS, U. of Utah, 1958.

Todd, Henry S. (1982) BES, MS, Brigham Young U., 1960, 1965; MS, U. of Rochester, 1968; PhD, U. of Arizona, 1973.

Wright, Norman Edward (1963) BS, Brigham Young U., 1951.

Adjunct Professors

Ashton, Alan C. (1972) BA, PhD, U. of Utah, 1966, 1970.

Tate, Karen E. (1989) BA, PhD, U. of Utah, 1977, 1988.

Urie, Paul McKay (1989) BS, Brigham Young U., 1971; PhD, MD, U of Utah, 1975, 1979.

James K. Archibald and Brent E. Nelson of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department are assisting with computer science courses and graduate programs by approval of the Computer Science Department.

Back

Catalog Homepage

BYU Homepage

Please report any errors. Updated 20 March 1998 by web_ugrad_cat@byu.edu