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In our technological world, computer science majors are in high demand because of their superior computer skills. Computer science is the study of the computer and its applications, from problem-solving to entertainment. The computer scientist at St. Mary's is introduced to programming languages, operating systems, algorithms, files and databases, software engineering, computer architecture and data communications. Students learn to develop not only strong computer skills, but also problem-solving and oral and written communication skills.
The Department of Computer Science offers several tailored degree programs. For those interested in programming as a career—graphics, games and applications development—the Bachelor of Science in computer science is ideal.
For those interested in the application of computers in business as a career—systems analysis, database administration, and business applications—the Bachelor of Arts in computer information systems is recommended.
The Bachelor of Arts in computer science/application systems is recommended for students who are unsure about which path to take or are less inclined to specialize in the mathematic aspects of computer science.
The department also offers a unique combined Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Computer Science in just five years. An intensive course of study, undergraduate students begin graduate course work during their senior years and pursue a master's degree in one year.
To learn about the Information Technology Proficiency (ITP) and testing for it, please visit the Student Psychological and Testing Services site.
Computer Science Office (210) 436-3317
pfink@stmarytx.edu
The Department of Computer Science offers several tailored degree programs. For those interested in programming as a career—graphics, games and applications development—the Bachelor of Science in computer science is ideal.
For those interested in the application of computers in business as a career—systems analysis, database administration, and business applications—the Bachelor of Arts in computer information systems is recommended.
The Bachelor of Arts in computer science/application systems is recommended for students who are unsure about which path to take or are less inclined to specialize in the mathematic aspects of computer science.
The department also offers a unique combined Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Computer Science in just five years. An intensive course of study, undergraduate students begin graduate course work during their senior years and pursue a master's degree in one year.
To learn about the Information Technology Proficiency (ITP) and testing for it, please visit the Student Psychological and Testing Services site.
Contact Us
Pamela K. Fink, Ph.D., ChairComputer Science Office (210) 436-3317
pfink@stmarytx.edu
Program Highlights
Computer science students often participate in faculty research involving the National Science Foundation and other governmental grants, as well as tutor mathematics and computer science in the Learning Assistance Center. Many computer science students have participated in internship programs with local organizations such as AT&T, City Public Service, San Antonio Water System, Southwest Research Institute, USAA and Valero Energy Corp. Students also have done co-ops at IBM and Microsoft Corporation.Graduates often pursue advanced degrees in computer science, software engineering and computer engineering. The Graduate School at St. Mary's University offers combined bachelor's and master's degree programs in computer information systems and computer science. Other institutions where St. Mary's graduates have pursued advanced degrees include Carnegie Mellon University, Rice University, Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, and The University of Texas at San Antonio, among others.
Bachelor of Arts in Computer Information Systems
Suggested schedule| First Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS 1310 or 1410 Programming I | 4 | CS 1311 or 1411 Programming II | 4 | |
| MT 1305 Finite Math | 3 | MT 1306 Calculus for Business | 3 | |
| EN 1311 Rhetoric & Composition | 3 | TH 2301 Theological Foundations | 3 | |
| PL1310 Experience to Meaning | 3 | Social Science | 3 | |
| Foreign language I | Foreign language II | |||
| ND 0101 Personal & Academic Development | 3 | |||
| Second Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | |
| CS 2313 Object Oriented Programming I | 3 | CS 2323 Object Oriented Programming II | 3 | |
| CS 2315 Algorithms | 3 | CS 2350 Computer Architecture | 3 | |
| AC 2310 Accounting I | 3 | AC 2320 Accounting II | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | PL 2332 Foundational Ethics | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | FA 1101/1102/1103 Introduction to Fine Arts | 1 | |
| MT 3323 Discrete Math (recommended) | 3 | Speech | 3 | |
| Third Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | |
| CS 3335 Programming Languages | 3 | CS 3340 Software Engineering | 3 | |
| EC 2301 Macroeconomics | 3 | CS 3000+ | 3 | |
| CS 3350 Survey of Operating Systems | 3 | BA 3323 Managing People and Organizations | 3 | |
| FN 3310 Corporate Finance | 3 | EN 3000 Advanced Writing Composition | ||
| Natural Science | 3 | EC2303 Microeconomics | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |||
| Fourth Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | |
| CS 3000+ | 3 | CS 4395 Senior Project | 3 | |
| CS 4330 Data Communications | 3 | CS 4320 Files & Database | 3 | |
| MK 3310 Principles of Marketing | 3 | Theology | 3 | |
| Philosophy PL 3000+ | 3 | Literature | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | Natural Science | 3 |
Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science/Application Systems
Suggested Schedule| First Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS 1410 Programming I | 4 | CS 1411 Programming II | 4 |
| MT 1305 Finite Math | 3 | MT 1306 Calculus for Business | 3 |
| EN 1311 Rhetoric & Composition | 3 | TH 2301 Theological Foundations | 3 |
| PL 1310 Experience to Meaning | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Foreign Language I | 3 | Foreign Language II | 3 |
| ND 0101 Personal & Academic Development | 1 | ||
| Second Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 2313 Object Oriented Programming I | 3 | CS 2323 Object Oriented Programming II | 3 |
| CS 2315 Algorithms | 3 | CS 2350 Computer Architecture | 3 |
| MT 3323 Discrete Math (recommended) | 3 | Speech | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Literature | 3 | Literature | 3 |
| Third Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 3335 Programming Languages | 3 | CS 3340 Software Engineering | 3 |
| CS 3350 Survey of Operating Systems | 3 | CS 3000 series | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | EN 3000 Advanced Writing Composition | 3 |
| Natural Science | 3 | PL 2332 Foundational Ethics | 3 |
| FA 1101/1102/1103 Introduction to Fine Arts | 1 | Social Science | 3 |
| Natural Science | 3 | ||
| Fourth Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 3000 series | 3 | CS 4395 Senior Project | 3 |
| CS 4330 Data Communications | 3 | CS 4320 Files & Database | 3 |
| Fine Arts | 3 | Philosophy PL 3000 series | 3 |
| Natural Science | 3 | Theology TH 3000 series | 3 |
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Suggested schedule| First Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS 1410 Programming I | 4 | CS 1411 Programming II | 4 |
| MT 2412 Calculus I | 4 | MT 2413 Calculus II | 4 |
| EN 1311 Rhetoric & Composition | 3 | TH 2301 Theological Foundations | 3 |
| PL 1310 Experience to Meaning | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Foreign Language I | 3 | Foreign Language II | 3 |
| ND 0101 Personal & Academic Development | 1 | ||
| Second Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 2313 Object Oriented Programming I | 3 | CS 2323 Object Oriented Programming II | 3 |
| CS 2315 Algorithms | 3 | CS 2350 Computer Architecture | 3 |
| MT 3323 Discrete Math (recommended) | 3 | MT 3324 Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PL 2332 Foundational Ethics | 3 | FA 1101/1102/1103 Introduction to Fine Arts | 1 |
| Literature | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Third Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 3335 Programming Languages | 3 | CS 3340 Software Engineering | 3 |
| CS 3350 Survey of Operating Systems | 3 | CS 3000 series | 3 |
| Speech | 3 | MT 4351 Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| Fine Arts | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Natural Science | 3 | Natural Science | 3 |
| Literature | 3 | EN 3000 Advanced Writing Composition | 3 |
| Fourth Year Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 3000 series | 3 | CS 4395 Senior Project | 3 |
| CS 4330 Data Communications | 3 | CS 4320 Files & Database | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Philosophy PL 3000 series | 3 |
| Natural Science | 3 | Theology TH 3000 series | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 |
Choosing Your Degree
Who should major in computer science? Below are questions students commonly ask that can help you decide on the specific degree you want to earn in the Department of Computer Science.Why would I major in computer science at St. Mary's?
- Small classes (average 15)
- Individual attention
- Involved faculty
- Department activities
- Leadership, research, and internship opportunities given to our students.
What kinds of activities does the Computer Science Department have?
For fun activities, we have:- Nerd's Night Out (a night of video games and food)
- Video Game Academy (students learn how to develop computer games)
- AITP (professional organization that allows students to network with professionals)
- Activities planned for the new SET Dorm (movies, games, speakers)
- Fall Recruitment Series with Career Services (potential employers come and make their pitch as to why you would want to work for them)
- I.T. Symposium (students in upper division and graduate courses present their research and projects to industry experts)
- CS Advisory Board (made up of current students, alumni, and industry to advise the department on curriculum)
- San Antonio Learning and Science Academy (SALSA), an opportunity to mentor 4th and 5th graders who are interested in computers and science
Will I be able to get a job?
American universities do not graduate enough computer scientists to fill the need. In fact, the demand is so great that we place freshmen and sophomore students in internships that pay between $17 and $30 per hour at major companies, such as Rackspace, Valero and USAA. Many students aspire to eventually move from a programmer position into a Project Manager, Database Administrator or Network Administrator position. Your "value add" is your ability to solve problems, and St. Mary's Computer Science prepares you to do just that.Where do alumni of the Computer Science Department work?
We have alumni at every major company in San Antonio: USAA, Rackspace, Valero, HEB, CPS Energy, Southwest Research, CapGroup (as well as national companies) Microsoft, Symantec, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and NSA.I like computer games. Do you have anything for me?
For the serious gamer, we have a Game Development track as well as the Video Game Academy. For slightly less serious (if there are any), we have tournaments and other activities.I'm interested in computer science but not sure what path to pursue.
All students in the Computer Science Department at St. Mary take the same core of computer science courses regardless of degree. You are, first and foremost, a computer scientist. As a rule of thumb, we recommend a particular degree on the following criteria:You are good in math.
The Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science (CS). You will minor in math.
You are okay in math but are really interested in the business side of computers.
The Bachelor's of Arts in Computer Information Systems (CIS). You will minor in business.
You want to study computers, but you're also interested in music, art, criminal justice, etc.
The Bachelor's of Arts in Computer Science/Application Systems (CSAS). We don't care what you minor in.
You are coming from a community college or from experience in the IT field with a number of "credits" in IT.
The Bachelor's of Applied Information Technology (BATI). We accept up to 27 technical hours, 66 academic hours, and you start as a junior in computer science.
You are interested in computer game development.
Any of the degrees, but you will take certain courses in physics, art, music, English, and Computer Science electives that will earn you the certification.
You want to continue on for your Master's degree.
The combined Master's program in CS or CIS that will allow you to get both your Bachelor's and your Master's in about 5 years.
Faculty
Pamela Fink, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Chair of Computer ScienceOffice: Richter 222
Phone: (210) 431-8095
pfink@stmarytx.edu
Full Bio Details
B.S., Eckerd College, 1979
A.M., Duke University, 1982
Ph.D., Duke University, 1983
Pamela Fink, Ph.D., joined St. Mary's in 2002 after having been in industry for more than 17 years. From 1984-1994 at Southwest Research Institute, Fink started and managed a group in applied R&D in artificial intelligence. During that time she acquired and lead programs ranging from basic research in knowledge acquisition and representation to highly applied software development efforts in support of the U.S. Department of Defense and other large customers. Fink left the Institute to take a position in a small, start-up biotechnology company, Medical Science Systems (later renamed Interleukin Genetics), in which she built computer models of biological processes to support drug development and was an inventor/author on three patents. She and two colleagues founded Kenna Technologies, a start-up focused entirely on biological modeling to support drug development.
Her research interests include artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, knowledge acquisition and representation, intelligent tutoring systems, modeling and simulation, and applications of computers to improve healthcare and biological research.
Arthur Hanna, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer ScienceOffice: Richter 224
Phone: (210) 431-2021
ahanna@stmarytx.edu
Full Bio Details
B.S., St. Mary's University, 1975
B.A., St. Mary's University, 1975
M.S., University of Texas-Dallas, 1976
Ph.D., University of Texas-Austin, 1996
Arthur Hanna, Ph.D., has more than 30 years of experience as a consulting software engineer in systems, scientific and business applications. He has managed software development and hardware maintenance operations for several computer-based systems. He has a broad data-processing background encompassing a variety of computer systems, programming languages and application packages.
Hanna served as an officer in the U.S. Army for six years prior to returning to St. Mary's University as a full-time faculty member in August 1982. He also was honored as the Distinguished Faculty member of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology in 1994.
His research interests include computer science education, critical thinking and learning, programming and programming languages, algorithm design and analysis, software engineering, compilers and operating systems.
Carol Luckhardt Redfield, Ph.D.
Professor and Graduate Program Director of Computer Science/Computer Information SystemsOffice: Richter 227
Phone: (210) 436-3298
credfield@stmarytx.edu
Full Bio Details
B.S., University of Michigan, 1980
M.S., in Mathematics, University of Michigan, 1982
M.S., in Computer, Information and Control Engineering, University of Michigan, 1982
Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1989
Carol Luckhardt Redfield joined St. Mary’s in 1998 after having been in industry for more than a dozen years. Including summer jobs at Bell Labs, LLNL, and IBM, she worked in artificial intelligence as a Senior Research Engineer at Southwest Research Institute and as a Senior Scientist at Mei Technology Corporation. She has taught mathematics and computer science since 1980 at various universities, including the University of Michigan, UTSA, and St. Phillips College.
She has volunteered for the San Antonio Space Society and Friends Meeting of San Antonio; brought Landmark Education courses to San Antonio, founded a charter school in the city; and chaired conferences, including the 10th International Space Development Conference in 1991, Intelligent Tutoring Systems in 1998, and Artificial Intelligence in Education in 2001. Redfield was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame for the 1992 Science category, given the Alice Wright Franzke Feminist Award in 2007, and received the Distinguished Faculty Award for 2008-2009 from St. Mary’s Graduate School. She is married to an engineer and has two children.
Her research interests include artificial intelligence, expert systems/knowledge engineering, educational software, and game/computer-based training/intelligent tutoring, eLearning, game development, and search engine optimization.
