Computing Applications, B.S. – Online

About the Computing Applications, B.S.

The B.S. in Computing Applications is offered by University Studies  in TTU Online.  All courses are offered 100% online and on an eight-week calendar. 

Information technology touches every aspect of our lives today. The evolving job market has seen an increasing use of computing in jobs that are outside the computer science realm. To meet the demands of an expanding and evolving workplace, our vision, in developing the Bachelor of Science degree in Computing Applications, is to formalize student information technology training by providing students with a novel education modality: computing applications in typically non-STEM or soft-STEM fields. This program will provide students with the opportunity to customize their education in a manner that would not be feasible if they are restricted to the one-degree, one-department, one-job paradigm.

Education has indeed evolved to incorporate computing in non-STEM disciplines, but traditional curricula do not allow students to customize courses across different departments and colleges. At TTU, faculty conduct education and research in computing applications in the areas of music, arts, language, biotechnology, and wind energy. The availability of these courses, however, is siloed in departments or in degree or certificate programs offered within that department. The proposed degree program in Computing Applications, geared towards non-STEM disciplines, will allow students to tailor their education to meet their aptitudes and career goals.

The undergraduate program is transformative and innovative. The program will achieve at least three major transformative innovations for undergraduate students. When implemented, these innovations will have positive impacts for students academically and professionally.

First, bridging diverse areas of education—Computer Science (STEM) with the Humanities (non-STEM). Programs of this kind do not exist, at least at the undergraduate level. Engineering and computer science departments at public universities throughout the state of Texas do not have such an interdisciplinary computing applications major.

Second, removing restrictions on students taking courses across disciplines and departments. This course-choice option allows a student to customize their degree plans to meet their specific career goals. This degree will take the traditional intra-departmental education and make it inter-departmental. Indeed, other than the required courses and core courses, it is very likely that two students who obtain a degree in Computing Applications will have done so having taken no common courses.

Third, offering a dynamic education matched with a career goals management plan. Students will be counseled at every step of their educational careers, continually making the student aware of the evolving job market. We will facilitate a student’s continual involvement with the partner institutions’ career services. Students will explore job market trends throughout the collegiate career, a departure from the “job hunting” that a student typically undertakes closer to graduation. 

Communication Literacy Requirement. The Communication Literacy course for the Computing Applications, B.S. is CMPA 4304 .