Utep Free Electives

[Kerby Kolpack]

TheB.S. in Computer Science provides a strong base in programming and problem-solving skills, a theoretical understanding of computer science, and practical experience in applying the computer to the solution of problems. Specialization is provided through numerous upper-division electives. The program offers concentrations in Secure Cyber Systems, Software Engineering, and Data Analytics.

The B.S. in Computer Science program's educational objectives address the department's mission to serve the region, nation, and the world by graduating highly competitive students with the potential to become leaders in their profession.

The Fast-Track Program enables outstanding undergraduate UTEP students to receive both undergraduate and graduate credit for up to 15 hours of UTEP course work as determined by participating Master's and Doctoral programs. Not all undergraduate programs have elected to participate in the Fast Track option, so students should see their departmental graduate advisor for information about requirements and guidelines. A list of courses that have been approved for possible use at the graduate level is found here.

Students earning a B.S. in Computer Science can select a concentration in Secure Cyber-Systems by taking a set of courses with significant computer security content. Students must take the following five courses:

In addition to its many outstanding degree programs, the College offers students many opportunities to enhance their classroom experiences with special activities that promote learning and achievement outside the classroom. All UTEP students can access a variety of instructional services delivered by faculty, staff, and students in the new UTEP Writing Center managed by the Department of English. Students in the performing arts, for example, regularly perform in concert, recitals, and a variety of theatre productions. The world-class UTEP Dinner Theatre gives musical theatre students the opportunity to gain live performance experience with our long-established and well-respected production company.

College of Liberal Arts students learn from first-rate scholars and teachers, and are able to participate in faculty-directed research projects or join research teams of faculty and other students who are studying important contemporary issues. Among many other research opportunities, Psychology students can participate in studies focused on legal decision-making, the accuracy of eyewitness identification, and the effectiveness of various smoking-cessation techniques. Anthropology students are able to participate in important archeological research excavations. Others work with faculty studying life in border communities, or engage in research intended to find better ways to address a variety of social and community problems. Communication students are afforded the opportunity to produce and develop radio and television programs, to produce documentary films, or to design advertising campaigns. Many History students have worked on public history projects for their communities, while Foreign Language and English students can be found working in schools as specialized instructors and tutors. Additionally, many Liberal Arts students serve the community by volunteering their services to nonprofit organizations. Hundreds of Criminal Justice students have served as interns in state and federal law-enforcement agencies.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree are designed to provide an essential unity in the programs of all Liberal Arts students and, at the same time, to offer each student substantial latitude in course selection. The degree consists of a minimum of 120 semester hours, including at least 39 at the advanced (3000-4000) level ** (see exception for foreign language). Twenty-four (24) of the last 30 hours must be taken in residence. When approved by a department,-up to six- credit hours taken to satisfy one degree area requirement (University Core Curriculum, major, or minor) can be used to satisfy any other degree area requirement, except for block electives.

Students complete a major prescribed by an academic department in the College of Liberal Arts (or Science or Business Administration [for the Economics major]) of at least 27 hours, 18 or more of which must be advanced (3000-or 4000-level). Students should refer to the individual departmental listings in this catalog for specific major field requirements.

Nine (9) of the advanced hours in the major must be completed in residence within three years of the date of graduation. No course taken on a Pass/Fail basis can be counted for the major, even if the student changes majors after having taken the course. A completed degree plan must include a minimum grade point average (GPA) of C (2.0) in the major. Up to two courses taken to fulfill the major field requirements can be used to fulfill minor or College of Education field requirements, however, the hours will count only once toward the degree's credit hour requirement.

Students complete electives as needed to bring the total semester hours of credit to at least 120. In most cases students will need to complete 6 credit hours of electives. Elective credit cannot also be used in meeting any other degree requirement. Electives of advanced (3000-4000) level can, however, be applied toward satisfaction of the requirement of 39 advanced hours.

A student who fulfills the specified requirements for two different majors under a single degree from the same college, simultaneously, completes a double major. Students may double major in the same department with the approval of the academic dean. For example, a student may simultaneously complete a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - both B.A. degrees from different departments in the College of Liberal Arts - and earn a double major.

The student must complete a minimum additional 24 credit hours beyond the degree plan with the greater required credit hours and also complete all degree requirements for both degrees. A minimum of 144 total semester credit hours is required for completion of a double major.

The graduation term must be the same for both majors. When applying for graduation, a student should note on the application that he/she will be completing an additional major. One diploma is issued and both majors are recorded on a student's transcript and diploma.

The student must earn a minimum GPA of C (2.0) in both majors. Credit for courses taken to fulfill the major field requirements in one major cannot also be counted to satisfy requirements in the other major field.

A student who fulfills the specified requirements for two different majors from different degrees simultaneously, or who fulfills the specified requirements for two degrees in different colleges simultaneously, will earn dual degrees. For example, a student may simultaneously complete a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, both in the College of Liberal Arts, and earn dual degrees. A student may also simultaneously complete a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the College of Science, and earn dual degrees.

The student must complete a minimum additional 24 credit hours beyond the degree plan with the greater required credit hours and also complete all degree requirements for both degrees. No one course can be counted in the semester credit hours in more than one major. In the event that a single course is listed in the degree requirements for both degrees, a student may receive approval from his/her academic advisor to complete another course to fulfill the semester credit hour requirement of the second degree. A minimum of 144 total semester credit hours is required for completion of dual degrees.

The graduation term must be the same for both degrees. Upon graduation, the student must complete two graduation applications (one application for each degree). Upon graduation a student can attend multiple commencement ceremonies if the majors span across different colleges.

Students will complete a minor of at least 18 or more hours, nine of which must be advanced (3000-or 4000-level). The minor field must be selected from a discipline different from that of the major field. Up to six credit for courses taken to fulfill the minor field requirements can also be counted to satisfy major field requirements; however, they will not be double-counted towards the total credit hours requirement. No course taken on a Pass/Fail basis can be counted for the minor, even though the student changes minors after having taken the course. A completed degree plan must include a minimum GPA of C (2.0) in the minor. Students should refer to the individual departmental listings in this catalog for specific minor requirements.

Liberal Arts minor fields are available in Anthropology, Art, Art History, Communication, Creative Writing, Criminal Justice, Dance, English and American Literature, Film Studies, French, German, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Professional Writing and Rhetoric, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, and Theatre Arts. Students should refer to the departmental listings for requirements.

Interdisciplinary minors are also available. However, no more than six (6) hours from a student's major field can be used to meet a minor's requirement. Courses that are used to meet two fields will count only once toward the degree's credit hour requirement. In addition, no more than nine (9) hours from any one discipline will be counted as part of such a minor. Students electing an interdisciplinary major cannot elect an interdisciplinary minor. The following are approved interdisciplinary minors: African American Studies, Asian Studies, Border Studies, Chicano Studies, Humanities, Latin American Studies, Military Science, Museum Studies, Religious Studies, Russian and Post-Communist Studies, Translation (Spanish/English), Urban Studies, and Women's Studies. (Students should refer to the section below on Interdisciplinary Minors for requirements.)

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