Regardless of their field of study, college students live in the digital information age. The Elements of Computing Program offers a set of courses intended to help students understand the sophisticated technologies they use everyday as well as gain the computer skills that employers value. The goals of the program are to:

• Provide students with knowledge of computer science that employers find valuable.
• Support study in other disciplines requiring computational proficiency.

Elements courses are intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding, and they can supplement any undergraduate program. Click here to see the classes that we are offering each semester. CS 302 and the ones that end in E are Elements classes.

Upcoming Elements Information Sessions: TBD

The Elements of Computing Certificate

While students are welcome to take just one or two Elements courses, some students choose to pursue a coherent set of courses that lead to receipt of an Elements of Computing certificate. The Certificate may be used as part of a resume or as proof of computational knowledge. The Certificate will be accompanied by a letter that explains the program.

Students can earn the certificate in one of two ways:

• Students who complete an approved sequence of 12 semester hours of Elements courses will earn a certificate from the Department of Computer Sciences.
• Students who complete an approved sequence of 18 semester hours of Elements course will earn a certificate from the University of Texas and have it recognized on their official transcripts.

An approved Elements sequence consists of the following, all with a grade of C- or better:

• 1 Core Course
  • CS 303E Elements of Computers and Programming or equivalent (such as CS 305J)
• 3-5 Elective Courses, 2 of which must be upper-division:
  • CS 301K Foundations of Logical Thought
  • CS 302 Computer Fluency
  • CS 313E Elements of Software Design
  • CS 320N Topics in Computer Science. Example topics include:
    • Computers from the Ground up
  • CS 324E Elements of Graphics and Digital Media
  • CS 326E Elements of Networking
  • CS 327E Elements of Databases
  • CS 329E Topics in Elements of Computing. Example topics include:
    • Elements of Web Programming
    • Elements of Computing in Society

Once you have completed the Certificate requirements, you should submit the certification form (found under the "Undergraduate Program" Tab in the Forms Section on this website) and submit it to the Undergraduate Advising Office. You will be awarded the Certificate once the form has been approved.