Computer Science Degree Online – Bachelor of Science | WGU (2024)

Computer Architecture introduces students to concepts and characteristics of organization and architecture applied to modern computer systems including performance, processor, memory, input/output, and multiprocessors to optimize system design, performance, and efficiency.

Data Structures and Algorithms I covers the fundamentals of dynamic data structures, such as bags, lists, stacks, queues, trees, and hash tables with their associated algorithms. This course discusses object-oriented design and abstract data types as design paradigms. The course emphasizes problem-solving and techniques for designing efficient, maintainable software applications. Students will implement simple applications using the techniques learned.

Data Structures and Algorithms II explores the analysis and implementation of high-performance data structures and supporting algorithms, including graphs, hashing, self-adjusting data structures, set representations, and dynamic programming. The course also introduces students to NP-complete problems. The course discusses how to use Python techniques to implement software solutions for problems of memory management and data compression. This course has two prerequisites: Data Structures and Algorithms I and Discrete Math II.

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence explores the foundational principles and practices of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and robotics. The course prepares students to analyze relationships, build agents, and create models relevant to AI problems. The prerequisites for this course are Introduction to Probability and Statistics as well as Data Structures and Algorithms II.

The Computer Science Capstone course allows the student to demonstrate their application of the academic and professional abilities developed during the BSCS program. The capstone challenges students to integrate skills and knowledge from all program domains into one project.

Introduction to IT examines information technology as a discipline and the various roles and functions of the IT department as business support. Students are presented with various IT disciplines including systems and services, network and security, scripting and programming, data management, and business of IT, with a survey of technologies in every area and how they relate to each other and to the business.

Linux Foundations prepares learners for the LPI Linux Essentials certification, and is an introduction to Linux as an operating system as well as an introduction to open-source concepts and the basics of the Linux command line. Learners will gain skills in identifying the fundamentals of open-source software and to develop resources for data access and security.

This course covers operating systems from the perspective of a programmer, including the placement of the operating system in the layered application development model. Primarily, OSs provide memory management, task scheduling, and CPU allocation. Secondarily, OSs provide tools for file storage/access, permission control, event handling, network access, and cross-process interaction. OSs also provide tools for debugging problems within a single process or within groups of programs. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Web Development Foundations introduces students to web design and development using HTML, XML, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), the foundational languages of the web. This course also covers how to troubleshoot problems using developer tools and integrated development environments commonly employed in web development. There are no prerequisites for this course. 

Business of IT - Applications examines Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) terminology, structure, policies, and concepts. Focusing on the management of information technology (IT) infrastructure, development, and operations, learners will explore the core principles of ITIL practices for service management to prepare them for careers as IT professionals, business managers, and business process owners. This course has no prerequisites.

IT Leadership Foundations is an introductory course that provides students with an overview of organizational structures, communication, and leadership styles specific to information technology in organizations. It also introduces students to some of the power skills that help make successful IT professionals, including time management, problem solving, and emotional intelligence. Students in this course explore their own strengths and passions in relation to the field. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Data Management Foundations offers an introduction in creating conceptual, logical and physical data models.  Students gain skills in creating databases and tables in SQL-enabled database management systems, as well as skills in normalizing databases. No prerequisites are required for this course

Data Management - Applications covers conceptual data modeling and introduces MySQL. Students will learn how to create simple to complex SELECT queries, including subqueries and joins, and how to use SQL to update and delete data. Topics covered in this course include exposure to MySQL; creating and modifying databases, tables, views, foreign keys and primary keys (FKs and PKs), and indexes; populating tables; and developing simple Select-From-Where (SFW) queries to complex 3+ table join queries. The following course is a prerequisite: Data Management - Foundations.

Advanced Data Management enables learners to extract and analyze raw data. Skillful data management allows organizations to discover and explore data in ways that uncover trends, issues, and their root causes. In turn, businesses are better equipped to capitalize on opportunities and more accurately plan for the future. As organizations continue to extract larger and more detailed volumes of data, the need is rapidly growing for IT professionals who possess data management skills. The skills gained in this course include performing advanced relational data modeling as well as designing data marts, lakes, and warehouses. This course will empower learners with the skills to build business logic at the database layer to employ more stability and higher data-processing speeds. Learners will gain the ability to automate common tasks to summarize and integrate data as they prepare it for analysis. Data Management - Foundations is a prerequisite for this course.

Software Engineering introduces the concepts of software engineering to students who have completed the core courses in programming and project management. The principles build on previously acquired concepts, switching the emphasis from programming simple routines to engineering robust and scalable software solutions. This course does not cover programming, but it provides an overview of software engineering processes and their challenging nature, focusing on the need for a disciplined approach to software engineering. A generic process framework provides the groundwork for formal process models. Prescriptive process models such as the Waterfall Model and Agile Development are included. This course also introduces the elements and phases of software engineering, including requirements engineering, design concepts, and software quality. There are no prerequisites for this course.

This course lays the foundation for understanding terminology, principles, processes, and best practices of information security at local and global levels. It further provides an overview of basic security vulnerabilities and countermeasures for protecting information assets through planning and administrative controls within an organization. This course has no prerequisites.

Back-End Programming introduces students to creating back-end components of a web application with the support of framework packages. This course also teaches students how to implement database functionality in a web application and how to create web services. This course requires intermediate expertise in object-oriented programming and the Java language.

Java Fundamentals introduces you to object-oriented programming in the Java language. You will create and call methods, design Java classes, and other object-oriented principles and constructs to develop software that meets business requirements. This course requires foundational knowledge of programming including variables, type, program flow and debugging.

Java Frameworks builds object-oriented programming expertise and introduces powerful new tools for Java application development. Students will execute exception handling, Java frameworks, and other object-oriented principles and constructs to develop a complete application including a user interface. This course requires foundational knowledge of object-oriented programming and the Java language.

Advanced Java refines object-oriented programming expertise and skills. You will implement multithreaded, object-oriented code with the features of Java necessary to develop software that meets business requirements. Additionally, you will determine how to deploy software applications using cloud services. This course requires intermediate expertise in object-oriented programming and the Java language.

Software Design and Quality Assurance applies a QA focus to every phase of the software development life cycle. This course investigates best practices for quality analysis, quality planning, and testing strategies as they pertain to the everyday practice of software development. Students will come to understand how their work fits into the bigger picture: how QA, testing, and code-writing practices interact within specific process models; the potential impact of new code on existing code or on other applications; the importance of usability and the influence users have on the ultimate success of an application. Students will explore test plans, test cases, unit tests, integration tests, regression tests, usability tests, and test and review tools.

Scripting and Programming - Applications for undergraduates explores the various aspects of the C++ programming language by examining its syntax, the development environment, and tools and techniques to solve some real-world problems.

Version control is critical to maintaining software and enabling scalability solutions. A best practice for any programming project that requires multiple files uses version control. Version control enables teams to have collaborative workflows and enhances the software development lifecycle. This course introduces students to the basics of publishing, retrieving, branching, and cloning. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Scripting and Programming - Foundations introduces programming basics such as variables, data types, flow control, and design concepts. The course is language-agnostic in nature, ending in a survey of languages, and introduces the distinction between interpreted and compiled languages. Learners will gain skills in identifying scripts for computer program requirements and in using fundamental programming elements as part of common computer programming tasks. Learners will also gain an understanding of the logic and outcome of simple algorithms.

Network and Security - Foundations introduces learners to the basic network systems and concepts related to networking technologies. Learners will gain skills in applying network security concepts for business continuity, data access, and confidentiality, and in identifying solutions for compliance with security guidance.

This is Introduction to Physical and Human Geography, a three-module course that addresses the question of what geography really is in today's complex world; how migration affects—and has been affected by—geography; and one of the biggest present problems related to geography: climate change. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to, with the goal of demonstrating proficiency in the five competencies covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge of this material, you can expect to spend 30–40 hours on the course content.

Welcome to Composition: Successful Self-Expression! In this course, you will focus on four main topics: professional writing for a cross-cultural audience, narrowing research topics and questions, researching for content to support a topic, and referencing research sources. Each section includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to check your learning, practice, and show how well you understand course content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to gain proficiency in the seven competencies that will be covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge or experience, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content. You will demonstrate competency through a performance assessment. There is no prerequisite for this course and there is no specific technical knowledge needed.

Health, Fitness, and Wellness focuses on the importance and foundations of good health and physical fitness—particularly for children and adolescents—addressing health, nutrition, fitness, and substance use and abuse.

Ethics in Technology examines the ethical considerations of technology use in the 21st century and introduces students to a decision-making process informed by ethical frameworks. Students will study specific cases related to important topics such as surveillance, social media, hacking, data manipulation, plagiarism and piracy, artificial intelligence, responsible innovation, and the digital divide. This course has no prerequisites.

American Politics and the U.S. Constitution examines the evolution of representative government in the United States and the changing interpretations of the civil rights and civil liberties protected by the Constitution. This course will give candidates an understanding of the powers of the branches of the federal government, the continual tensions inherent in a federal system, the shifting relationship between state and federal governments, and the interactions between elected officials and the ever-changing electorate. This course will focus on such topics as the role of a free press in a democracy, the impact of changing demographics on American politics, and the debates over and expansion of civil rights. Upon completion of the course, candidates should be able to explain the basic functions of the federal government, describe the forces that shape American policy and politics, and be better prepared to participate in America’s civic institutions. This course has no prerequisite.

Welcome to Introduction to Communication: Connecting with Others! It may seem like common knowledge that communication skills are important, and that communicating with others is inescapable in our everyday lives. While this may appear simplistic, the study of communication is actually complex, dynamic, and multifaceted. Strong communication skills are invaluable to strengthening a multitude of aspects of life. Specifically, this course will focus on communication in the professional setting, and present material from multiple vantage points, including communicating with others in a variety of contexts, across situations, and with diverse populations. Upon completion, you will have a deeper understanding of both your own and others’ communication behaviors, and a toolbox of effective behaviors to enhance your experience in the workplace.

This is a Global Arts and Humanities course that contains three modules with corresponding lessons. This course is an invitation to see the world through the humanities, examine the humanities during the Information Age, and explore the global origins of music—essentially questioning what makes us human, and how people are connected across culture and time. Each module includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to practice and check learning. With no prior knowledge or experience, a learner can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.

Technical Communication introduces skills in editing professional communications, evaluating the impact of professional etiquette in digital environments, and in creating artifacts that are persuasive, informational, and research-based. The course also introduces skills in delivering multimedia presentations using professional verbal communication skills.

Applied Probability and Statistics is designed to help students develop competence in the fundamental concepts of basic statistics including: introductory algebra and graphing; descriptive statistics; regression and correlation; and probability. Statistical data and probability are often used in everyday life, science, business, information technology, and educational settings to make informed decisions about the validity of studies and the effect of data on decisions. This course discusses what constitutes sound research design and how to appropriately model phenomena using statistical data. Additionally, the content covers simple probability calculations, based on events that occur in the business and IT industries. No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course guides candidates to apply theoretical concepts of calculus to real-world situations, demonstrating a developing mathematical mindset. This course focuses on limits, derivatives, integrals, and differential equations; it also prepares students for Discrete Mathematics. Prerequisites may include an entrance exam that assesses pre-calculus skills, or readiness; alternatively, completion of pre-calculus within the past 3 – 5 years.

Discrete Mathematics I helps candidates develop competence in the use of abstract, discrete structures fundamental to computer science. In particular, this course will introduce candidates to logic and proofs; Boolean algebra and functions; set theory; finite and infinite sequences and series; and relations, graphs, and trees. The course emphasizes applications in computer science. Calculus I is a prerequisite for this course.

Discrete Mathematics II addresses abstract, discrete, computational methods used in computer science. In particular, this class introduces searching and sorting algorithms; big-O estimates; number theory and cryptography; recursion and induction; counting and advanced counting techniques; discrete probability; and modeling computation. This course emphasizes applications in computer science. Discrete Mathematics I is a prerequisite for this course.

This course provides students an introduction to using the scientific method and engaging in scientific research to reach conclusions about the natural world. Students will design and carry out an experiment to investigate a hypothesis by gathering quantitative data. They will also research a specific ecosystem using academic sources and draw conclusions from their findings.