Bachelor of Science Non-technical Track Requirement
The Bulletin carries the definitive requirements for all students, and is updated to reflect and archive the requirements for each entering class. This page gives a snapshot of the non-technical track requirements for students who enrolled in the BS (CS) program in Spring 2022 or earlier and is designed to help you understand the program, but may not reflect the rules that apply to you. You must choose courses in consultation with your advisors and ensure that they meet the requirements for your Bulletin year.
Bachelor of Science program only
All BS in computer science students must complete a non-technical track that consists of at least three non-technical courses (for a minimum of 9 credits) with prior approval of the faculty advisor. To satisfy this requirement, students may choose one of the following:
Technology and law: This track is ideal for students considering a career in law, especially in patent-law or intellectual property law by covering topics related to engineering and law. To satisfy this track you must take a total of 9 credits of coursework in pre-law related courses. Examples include: CSCI 4532, MAE 3171, MAE 4172, EMSE 6018, GEOL 3193 (Environmental Law).
Business:This track provides students with a sense of the business enterprise, and basic business skills and knowledge. To satisfy this track you must take a total of 9 credits of Business Administration (BADM) courses from the Business Concentration for SEAS majors (see relevant document). These include, for example: ACCY 2001, ACCY 2002, BADM 2101, BADM 3401, BADM 3501.
Pre-Med non-technical track: This non-technical track, to be taken along with one of the technical tracks (for B.S. students), is intended to help students meet the course requirements for medical school. For this track, you must take three of the following courses (at least 9 credits) beyond the BS/CS science requirement: CHEM 1111-1112, Organic chemistry CHEM 2151, 2152, 2153, 2154, BISC 1111-1112, PHYS 1011-1012 or PHYS 1021-1022. Note that a student taking PHYS 1011 towards the curriculum requirements (Science, a pre-med non tech track, a selected elective) may not also use PHYS 1021 towards the curriculum, as the material in the courses overlaps significantly. Similarly for PHYS 1012 and PHYS 1022.
Project management and Leadership:This track provides students with leadership and communication skills and knowledge to take on the role of a project manager and systems integrator. To satisfy this track you must take a total of 9 credits of coursework in project management, communication, leadership or engineering management. Examples of courses in this category include: EMSE 4410, EMSE 6010, EMSE 6005, EMSE 6001, MGT 3201 (Management dept), NSC 2175 (Naval sciences dept), NSC 4176, ORSC 1109 (Organizational sciences dept), ORSC 2116, COMM 1041, COMM 1042, COMM 3174.
Global Engineering: This track prepares you to enter the global economy by exposing you to world cultures, languages, international affairs, and study abroad programs. To satisfy this track you must either: (1) study abroad for a semester and take 3 non-technical courses (which can be from different non-technical areas); or (2) take three courses in a single foreign language; or (3) take three courses in International Affairs; or (4) take three courses in aspects of non-English speaking cultures from the fields of anthropology, history, literatures, geography, political science, or religion.
Environment and Climate Change: This track is ideal for students interested in the application of computing to broader challenges in society. To satisfy this track you must take a total of 9 credits of advisor-approved courses relating to the environment and climate change. Examples include: BISC 2454, BISC 2455, BISC 3456, BISC 3457, BISC 3460, CHEM 2085, CEE 6503, GEOG 2108, GEOG 2110, GEOG 3132, GEOG 2134, GEOG 2136, ECON 2136, EMSE 6200, EMSE 6220, EMSE 6260, EMSE 6225, EMSE 6235, EMSE 6230.
Public Health:This track exposes you to a variety of public health issues and enables you to study the impact of information technology in public health. To satisfy this track you must take 9 credits of coursework in public health fields. Example courses include: PUBH 1101, PUBH 1102, PUBH 3133, PUBH 2114, PUBH 2115.
A secondary field/minor or second major in a field outside Engineering, Science or Mathematics. In consultation with your advisor you will combine the three courses allotted to your non-technical track with your selected electives to create a secondary field (minor). There is no restriction on what you elect for your secondary field, but you need to discuss your choice with your advisor.
Individually designed non-technical track: This track is designed by you with the agreement of your advisor. It will comprise at least three courses, related to each other in some way, but the content must meet a broad requirement that it not be closely related to the discipline of computing.
As a guideline for individual courses allowed towards an individually-designed non-tech track, we will generally approve thematically-linked courses from the HSS lists. You should not assume that any other non-CS courses will be approved without explicit documented approval from your adviser, even when such courses are required for a minor or have transferred through AP credit.
In particular, note that we will not allow courses that significantly overlap with---or are not as advanced as---the required content for the CS degree program. For example, we will not allow courses such as (but not limited to) the following: EMSE 4197; ISTM 3119, 4120, 4121, 4123; BADM 2301; STAT 1051, 1053, 1091, 1129. Finally, some courses may be approved for one student and not for another, based on other courses the student has taken. For example, if a student is using PHYS 1021 towards the science, math/science, or selected elective requirement, PHYS 1011 is not permitted in the pre-med non-tech track, but it would be permitted for students who have not taken PHYS 1021. Finally, no courses, independent of which department they are from, will be allowed if they overlap significantly with any other course(s) used towards the computer science program