The beautiful state of Arkansas offers students several choices for higher education and accredited computer science degree programs in Arkansas are some of the best in the nation. The people of Arkansas appreciate the outdoors and the state is home to many significant features that draw visitors from all over the United States. For example, North Little Rock is the site of one of the largest municipal parks in the entire country. There are over 9,500 miles of streams and rivers that flow through the state as well as a massive 600,000 acres of lakes, which means there are many places to relax and enjoy the day when responsibilities at school aren’t calling.

Arkansas State University

College of Sciences and Mathematics

Arkansas State University was established a little over a century ago and is the second largest university in the state with over 13,500 students attending classes at main campus in Jonesboro. The school has offered graduate level programs since 1955 and offered its first doctoral degree in 1992 in education. Further doctoral programs would follow in the succeeding years. Over 70,000 people are counted as ASU alumni and the college has expanded to provide students with several locations for learning. Associate degree programs are offered in Beebe, Mountain Home, and Newport.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Computer Science

The focus of the BA program in Computer Science at Arkansas State University is upon the problem solving required in computer applications and what students need to know to operate in a business environment. The program provides instruction on programming, software development, and networking, which helps ensure students have a broad level of information on common business machines. In addition, students are exposed to class work on algorithms, database systems, and building operating systems, which further the significant variety of information granted to students in the program. Students also have the opportunity to take several electives in areas like artificial intelligence, graphics, and advanced programming.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Science option for Computer Science investigates computers from the perspective of a scientist and basic computer problem solving. As with the B.A. program, students enroll in a broad set of classes that feature topics like programming, software development, and operating systems. Additionally, students are exposed to lessons on database systems, algorithms, and computer organization. The Bachelor of Science program also focuses heavily on mathematics and science so as to ensure students can approach computer science issues from a mathematical and scientific viewpoint. Arkansas State University also offers students the chance to take several different electives such as distributed systems and advanced programming.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science

Students with the knowledge gained at a bachelor’s degree level who wish to expand upon their computing knowledge will want to consider the advanced coursework of the master’s degree program in computer science. Students who already have a background in computer science are encouraged to apply. Advanced topics covered during study include computational problem solving and work within highly complex programming environments. Students spend time learning about algorithms, advanced programming systems, and computation theory at an advanced level. In addition, students at the graduate level must be able to successfully work within a complex software environment and solve problems for a variety of systems.

Accreditations

  • ABET
  • Higher Learning Commission North Central Association

Contact

Arkansas State University
P.O. Box 9
State University, AR 72467
Phone: 870.972.3978
Fax: 870.972.3950
cs_info@astate.edu
Website

Arkansas Tech University

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Arkansas Tech University is a public school that was established in 1909. The university offers several bachelor’s degree and graduate degree programs in many fields. The main campus is located in Russellville while a two-year satellite campus is located in the town of Ozark. The campus in Ozark was originally the Arkansas Valley Technical Institute, but ATU took over the campus in 2003. In recent years, the number of students at Arkansas Tech has increased substantially. From 1997 to 2010, the college says its enrollment increased by 131%. Current enrollment at the school is over 11,000, and the school expects further growth in the next several years.

B.S. in Computer Science

Students earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science will take a variety of basic core classes in areas like English, fine arts, and history and will also take several classes within the major. The program is designed to ensure students can communicate smartly using the common terms of the computer science industry. Additionally, students are taught to solve problems by working efficiently to obtain a solution as well as work well in a group atmosphere. Students are taught how to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner in a business environment where problem solving skills may be required. At the end of the program students may be able to find careers as systems programmers or anywhere that computers are used.

Accreditations

  • ABET
  • Higher Learning Commission North Central Association

Contact

Arkansas Tech University
Office of Admissions & Student Recruitment
1605 Coliseum Drive, Suite 141
Russellville, AR 72801
Phone: 479.968.0343
Fax: 479.964.0522
tech.enroll@atu.edu
https://www.atu.edu/academics/catalog/colleges/applied_sciences/dept_comp_info_sci.html

Harding University

College of Science

Located in Searcy, Harding University is a Christian university that was established in 1924 by members of the Churches of Christ. The university is located about 50 miles northeast of the state’s capital of Little Rock. The name of the school comes from one of the early leaders of the church. The college has a very diverse student body with students hailing from each of the 50 states, in addition to 48 foreign countries. The school isn’t exceptionally large with just under 6,300 students; however, there are several international campuses counted as part of the university in distant countries like Australia, Chile, England, and Greece.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science

The B.S. degree in Computer Science requires a heavy number of math courses and is representative of a scientific approach to computer science. Students will take somewhere between 42 to 44 credit hours of computer science courses as well as 19 credit hours of math. Students who wish to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree should have an active interest in math or be mathematically inclined. The university suggests that students who are able to demonstrate high scores in math on standardized tests like the ACT and SAT are the best likely candidates for pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree.

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Arts Degree is a little different from the B.S. tract in that students aren’t required to take as many math courses and must sign up to take a minor. While the B.S. requires that students take at least 19 courses in math, the B.A. requires just three math credits and 18 in a minor. The school suggests that the jobs available to students for each of the different degrees are almost identical but that students should pick the degree that appeals to their talents. Students who wish to enter the work force immediately will be well-served by a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Accreditations

  • ABET
  • Higher Learning Commission North Central Association

Contact

Harding University
915 E. Market Ave.
Searcy, AR 72149
Phone: 501.279.4361
comp@harding.edu
http://www.harding.edu/comp/

University of Central Arkansas

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

The University of Central Arkansas is part of the state system of universities and is located in the city of Conway, which is north of Little Rock. The college is the fourth largest in the state and was established in 1907 as Arkansas State Normal School. There are nearly 14,000 students attending the University of Central Arkansas and the college has seen its programs in education, occupational therapy, and physical therapy noted as some of the best in the country. The school’s purpose was once dedicated to readying teachers for work, but the college would expand and change in the 1960s. By the time 1975 rolled around, the school would look very much like it does today with its modern name and focus on 4-year and graduate degrees.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

As an accredited program, the B.S. in Computer Science at UCA is designed to prepare students for the work world and to also ensure that students can enter a graduate program as knowledgeable students if that’s a student’s eventual goal. If a student chooses to enter work after graduation, he or she will be able to understand the design, implementation, and application of systems related to computer software. If a student’s goal is to enter graduate school, knowledge will be gained in areas of computer science, engineering, and related areas. The program offers students a very broad scope in knowledge gained and also expects students to develop creatively so as to be able to solve common problems in computer science as well as develop solutions.

Master of Science in Applied Computing

UCA’s M.S. in Applied Computing is a broad program that offers students instruction in a variety of essential areas in computer systems, technology, and concepts. The program also allows students to focus in a specific area for specialization. Students must complete at least 34 credit hours to graduate and must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 to be awarded a degree. In addition, students are given the option to pursue their M.S. with a thesis option where six credit hours are devoted to the thesis and the defense of that paper. Alternatively, a student may also pursue a non-thesis option which requires three credit hours which result in a project and presentation of the project.

Accreditations

  • ABET
  • Higher Learning Commission North Central Association

Contact

Computer Science Department
University of Central Arkansas
Math & Technology Building
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
Phone: 501.450.3401
Fax: 501.450.5615
chu@uca.edu
http://uca.edu/computerscience/

University of Arkansas

College of Engineering

Located in Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas is the flagship university of the statewide system of colleges and is considered a land-grant research campus. There are six total campuses in the state system around Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas has a healthy number of students attending school with over 25,000 students enrolled. The college was originally established in 1871 and was called Arkansas Industrial University. The name of the school was changed to the University of Arkansas in 1899. The school is recognized for strong programs in several areas of agriculture, such as poultry science and animal science.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The University of Arkansas says that students in computer science must seek new approaches to problem solving and that methods must be developed that will make everyday work easier. New information must be interpreted efficiently so that technology may be utilized to “enhance the human experience.” The BS in Computer Science offers students several classes on a broad scope of computer science topics which cover information and computation as well as the methods used in practical application of modern computer science theory and techniques. Students have the opportunity to take related courses during study in areas like biology, chemistry and art.

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

Students who enroll in the B.A. program in Computer Science will learn about several different types of computer applications, which ensures a healthy base for study in a related area. The University of Arkansas offers a unique approach to this type of degree in that there is a significant amount of freedom in the types of classes a student can take and in the direction of their chosen curriculum. Interestingly, the school doesn’t put a limit on how a student may compose their focus. Classes taken may either be in a related focus, such as engineering or math, or in an entirely different area, such as the arts. This freedom allows students to prepare for the type of work they will want to pursue after graduation.

Minor in Computer Science

Computer science knowledge is essential in today’s learning environment and in the work world. Understanding different and important concepts of computer science enriches any major taken at the University of Arkansas. The Minor in Computer Science at UA provides students with a healthy base of computer science information on which to build upon in later work. Students who have an interest in computers and know that they want a job in a computer-centric industry will want to consider obtaining a minor in Computer Science.

M.S. in Computer Science

The master’s program in Computer Science is designed to further the knowledge a student has on the subject of computers and technology. At the graduate level, students are encouraged to engage in a variety of research projects within the department and may end up deciding to go onto a Ph.D. after completing their initial graduate study. Advanced coursework at the graduate level requires students to have prior knowledge of standard computer science methods and theories. Students will also work on a thesis project with the help of faculty. Most students already have a bachelor’s degree in computer science; however, students with a degree in math or computer engineering are also encouraged to consider this major.

Ph.D. in Computer Science

Obtaining a doctorate in Computer Science is a chance to engage in cutting-edge research and new theories on the subject. The university is proud of the research opportunities it provides students and says that its research facilities are active and vibrant places to conduct research and learn. Students have the opportunity to obtain knowledge directly within computer science as well as related areas. Most students who apply for this program already have a master’s degree in computer science or a related field. Computer engineering students sometimes consider a Ph.D. in Computer Science rather than a doctorate in Computer Engineering.

Accreditations

  • ABET
  • Higher Learning Commission North Central Association

Contact

Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering
504 J. B. Hunt Building
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: 479.575.6197
Fax: 479.575.5339
info@csce.uark.edu
http://www.csce.uark.edu/

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology

As a national public research university, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been providing education to students since the late 1920s. The college was initially a private institution, but it was made a public university in 1957 when it was brought under the banner of the University of Arkansas system. The college today consists of 200 acres and over 40 buildings in which more than 13,000 students take classes. There are several cultural buildings on the campus like art galleries, a radio station, and a television station. The university’s proximity to the state capital offers students the opportunity for important interaction with state leaders.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The Computer Science Department at UALR offers a broad curriculum on many topics that include programming, different programming languages, and algorithms. During study students will also be exposed to computer architecture, file structures, and database systems, in addition to several other vital topics. The department’s goal with its degree is to ensure students are ready for the workforce upon graduation and also that students can move onto graduate school with the knowledge needed to pursue studies in an advanced degree program. Students have the opportunity to intern with local companies and are also given recommendations by professors to valuable business contacts and potential future employers.

Master of Science in Computer Science

The graduate program in Computer Science at the UALR offers students advanced courses on various topics, which are designed to ensure a student can enter the work force at a high level immediately after graduation. The curriculum features advanced study on several topics like software engineering, computer architecture, and networking. In addition, students will undertake analysis of algorithms, study telecommunications, and have the opportunity to take electives in other areas to create a full, rounded degree tract. Students must prepare to create a thesis, take a comprehensive exam, and create a major project as part of the process for getting a graduate degree.

Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Computing

When students enroll in the Ph.D. program in Integrated Computing, they will have access to several different resources for study including curriculum from the departments of computer science, systems engineering, and information science. The degree is designed to provide an exceptionally broad yet comprehensive level of learning on the different types of disciplines which impact computer science today. Students will focus on several important topics like computer engineering, net integrated computing, and general computer science and architecture. Before applying to the program, students should already have a graduate degree in a direct or related discipline.

Accreditations

  • ABET
  • Higher Learning Commission North Central Association

Contact

Department of Computer Science
2801 South University
EIT 579
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: 501.569.8130
Fax: 501.569.8144
cxchiang@ualr.edu
http://ualr.edu/computerscience/

The central state of Arkansas is a small yet mighty state of beautiful landscapes, historic architecture, and friendly residents. A diverse set of people has come from Arkansas with singer Johnny Cash’s birth in Kingsland and billionaire Sam Walton founding his store Wal-Mart in Bentonville. No matter the type of educational experience a student seeks, there are accredited computer science degree programs in Arkansas that will offer a fascinating and valuable educational experience.