B.S. Computer Science

Are you interested in designing and writing computer programs?
Degree Type Bachelor of Science
Careers & Salaries Career Outcomes
Delivery On Campus

Merging Analysis, Tech & Practicality

UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (CS) program goes beyond traditional learning. It immerses you in a world where your interests and career goals shape your educational journey. This program combines analytical skill-building, technical mastery, and hands-on experiences. Here, you will be crafting user-friendly, graphically rich software solutions tailored for numerous industries and applications, all through our distinctive polytechnic approach that emphasizes applied learning and real-world problem-solving.

UW-Stout's B.S. in Computer Science is Abet Accredited.

UW-Stout's Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

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$68K Average Salary for Graduates

Career-Defining Curriculum

UW-Stout's Computer Science program offers a dynamic blend of theory and practice, equipping students with in-demand skills in areas like cybersecurity, game development, and web programming. Its comprehensive curriculum—emphasizing hands-on learning in programming, algorithm design, and database management—prepares graduates for successful careers in the rapidly evolving tech industry.

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Program Overview

View program plans, credit requirements and course descriptions.

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Program Concentrations

You'll obtain industry experience applying your computing skills through a co-op or internship during the summer prior to your junior or senior year. This is in addition to hands-on capstone courses in which you work in a team to design, implement, test and deliver a fully-functional software application to a client. 

Cybersecurity & Secure Software Development (CSSSD)

Obtain the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certification.

Game Design & Development (GDD)

Design and develop game software in interdisciplinary teams.

Interdisciplinary

Combine Computer Science with a field of your choice. Direct your career by designing your curriculum to match your care
And as part of your final project, you’ll work in a team to design, implement, test and deliver a software application to a real-world client. / UW-Stout

National Ranking

Our game design and development concentration is among the very best in the nation. That’s according to new rankings from Princeton Review, an educational services company that surveyed 150 colleges and universities with game design majors. The 2021 rankings put UW-Stout at No. 6 in the U.S. among public universities, as well as the No. 1 ranking in Wisconsin.

Modern games are among the most demanding of computer programming applications, requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics and physics which form the basis of the 3D graphics, artificial intelligence and game engines that make up the game programs.

Mobile device use is exploding. New data storage, processing and display technologies have allowed tablets and other portable devices to do nearly anything that had previously been done with larger personal computers. To be successful in either industry, you must be skilled in computer science and be able to work in teams.

We are living in the 'Digital Age.' Computer programs continue to permeate every aspect of our lives. Every industry uses computers and requires professionals that have skills in computer science. Individuals depend on computing for everyday activities from social networking to entertainment.

The Computer Science program consists of a full computer science major and a mathematics minor, as well as a concentration area. Courses emphasis the need for user-friendly, graphically-based software.

"At UW-Stout, I acquired top-notch skills that deepened my knowledge in Computer Science. The internships I took taught me how to be efficient. I am grateful to my professors, classmates, advisors, and co-workers for their keen hospitality, ideas, and instructions."

-- Hassen Maamri
B.S. Computer Science

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Admissions Requirements

New First-Year Students

  • There are no additional requirements for new first-year students.

Transfer Students - Spring 2023

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

  • earn a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5 or higher from the last institution attended
    and
  • earn a grade of "C" or higher for all math and computer science courses already taken
    and
  • complete the equivalent of UW-Stout's MATH 121 Intro to College Math II (trigonometry or pre-calculus) or a higher level math course with a grade of "C" or better.

If you do not meet all of the academic requirements above, but you do meet the requirements for general admission to the university, you will be admitted as an Undeclared student. You may then apply for a change of major in subsequent semesters.

Transfer Students - Fall 2023+

  • There are no additional requirements for new transfer students. Students accepted into the university will be admitted directly into the major.
Prepare for Your Computer Science Degree

High school preparation should include four years of English as well as four years of mathematics. A physics course and as many computer science or other science classes as possible are recommended.

During your first semesters at UW-Stout, you'll enroll in a combination of general education and major courses. General education courses, including English composition, speech, science and others, are required of all students at UW-Stout. Your schedule will include introductory major courses in computer science and mathematics. To discuss your academic progress and future course work, you'll meet regularly with your adviser. Together you'll develop an academic plan for graduation to help you achieve your career objectives. Good student-faculty rapport is a UW-Stout tradition, and you'll get to know your teachers during your first year.

After you complete introductory courses in the major, your schedule each semester will include core courses in your concentration along with course work in computer science.

A co-op/internship experience is required as an integral part of your education. It will give you hands-on experience in industry, allowing you to acquire an appreciation of career expectations and an understanding of the relevance of your academic course work. You'll develop communication and interpersonal skills while obtaining valuable work experience in your field. In addition, these are salaried positions so the experience helps to pay your educational costs. 

Objectives & Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives

The Computer Science program’s educational objectives are based on the mission of the university to create career-focused graduates who solve real-world problems, grow the economy and serve a global society.  The educational objectives of the program, which the graduates can achieve within a few years of graduation, are: 

  • To obtain employment in industry, government, small businesses and organizations successfully using the skills they acquired in computer science and related fields.
  • To contribute to the advancement of computing through leadership, teamwork, communication, and applying computing expertise to solving problems in a dynamically changing world.
  • To continuously learn and adapt to the changing environment created by societal and technical influences through continued career growth and professional development.

Student Outcomes

The Computer Science program develops graduates who have an ability to:

  • Analyze a complex computing problem and to 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.
  • Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions. 
Career Opportunities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Guide to Industries states that " Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices or that control networks.”  Employment in software development is projected to increase nationally by 22 percent through 2029. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development predicts a 16.4 percent increase in the number of software developers.

The knowledge and skills gained in the Game Design and Development concentration are applicable in any software development position. The game entertainment industry is the most recognized, but game development skills are also used for serious purposes, such as military training, education, personal medical assistance, and business simulations. The video game industry is an emerging industry in Wisconsin. Raven Software, of Middleton, is the largest and most established (1990). Other Wisconsin companies include Human Head Studios (Madison), Guild Software (Milwaukee), Filament Games (Madison), Learning Games Network (Madison), PerBlue (Madison), ZyMo Entertainment (Green Bay), and Digital Iris (Milwaukee).

Mobile applications are developed by many industries for customer convenience and internal use. Creating successful apps requires knowledge in various areas such as programming, human-computer interface, databases, graphics, security, and web/internet programming. Personally, we use apps to interact with our mobile devices, but ultimately with each other. Social media continues to grow and apps allow us to get our daily news and information, talk to our friends, post our photos, watch videos, and more.

Job Titles

  • Game Software Engineer
  • Game Programmer
  • Mobile Software Engineer
  • Software Engineer
  • Software Developer
  • Web Application Developer
  • Programmer
  • Information Assurance Engineer

Companies

  • Big John Games (Nintendo games)
  • King Show Games (casino games
  • HB Studios (console games for EA)
  • Concrete Software (mobile games
  • Degica (publisher of RPG Maker)
  • Acuity
  • Boeing Defense Products
  • Thomson-Reuters
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Rockwell Automation
  • Target Corporation
  • 3KeyLogic
  • Magenic Technologies
  • Menards/Midwest Manufacturing
Program Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee Members

SethBerrierProgram DirectorUW-Stout
MatthewChristianAssociate Game ProgrammerRoundhouse Studios
GregCollinsLead Software Configuration Management EngineerThomson Reuters
AdamDuquaineChief Information OfficerMenard Inc.
SethDutterApplied Mathematics & Computer Science Program DirectorUW-Stout
BenGeislerChief Executive OfficerThawed Codebase
Petre (Nelu)GhenciuDepartment ChairUW-Stout
RickHalletDirector of R&DThe Village Companies
RyanKettererDirector of IT Development ServicesMarshfield Clinic
RyanKonwinskiIT ManagerLeerburg
TerrenceMasonProfessorUW-Stout
JeffNewquistSenior Engine ProgrammerEpic Games
TravisPhillipsTechnical ArchitectTerso Solutions
MichaelRooneyGameplay ProgrammerEpic Games
CraigRykalSoftware EngineerOptum/United Health Group
DennisSchmidtLecturerUW-Stout
JamesSextonSite ManagerLeidos
LillianSommerStudent 
ScottTurnerAssistant ProfessorUW-Stout

Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program

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