Bachelor of Innovation™ in Computer Science

Why consider  BI in CS?  CS is a growing field, and major part of almost every industry.  Learning CS enables many career paths. Despite the impression sometimes given by the media,there actually are more computing jobs than qualified people to fill them in the United States. U.S. IT employment was 17% higher in 2004 than in 1999. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says computing has the greatest potential for new jobs through 2014, with 5 of the 10 ten growth fields related to computing.   Yes, some IT jobs have gone overseas. If you consider the expected growth in computing, it’s easy to see that companies simply need more talent.  And BI in CS students, with the innovation,  team experience and business background, will be the type of student who lead new efforts or even new compnies. 

Before we get into the details, let us tell you about the BI program concept.  If you've aleady read that you can Jump to BI CS Details.

Like a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA), the BI is not a single degree but a family of related majors. The BI has a major field of study, just like a BA or BS, but it also has a common core in innovation and entrepreneurship including a unique long-term, multi-disciplinary team experience. A survey of Colorado companies shows that BI students will have a significant advantage in the market.

Join us in transforming education in Business and Engineering, in transforming UCCS, and in transforming Colorado’s next generation.This program is motivated by a national need for innovation, and builds on our national reputation such as U.S. News and World Report rankingsIn 2006, US News and World Report rankings of masters/bachelors focused engineering schools, the UCCS College of Engineering and Applied Science was ranked nationally 4th among state institutions, and 16th overall. Overall UCCS has been ranked by US News as a "Best in the West", with 2007 ranking 7th among public western regional universities. UCCS has been ranked in the top 10 western regional public universities each year since 2002. that recognize UCCS as a leading university focused on undergraduate education. While one does not have to be a leader to innovate, it certainly helps.

A major component of the program is multi-disciplinary innovation teams working on real projects for real companies. New and exciting projects are being actively pursued everyday by students in the BI program. One example of an active project that involves students and local companies is ALIIVE, which is an innovative project motivated by the need for military training to be more effective. Many companies in our community are actively involved in current projects. The ability to team with the community on projects, a cornerstone of the program, is nothing new for UCCS, which has been recognized for its nationally leading community engagement. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities' last ranking placed UCCS first, tied with Arizona State University-West, as America's most engaged college campus.

The strong multi-disciplinary teaming nature of the BI program provides critical experience working across fields and across ages as well as a positive and diverse social network for the students to draw upon. It is expected to further enhance our efforts toward supporting and retaining minorities and women in engineering.The American Society for Engineering Education ranked universities that grant 50 or more engineering degrees annually by the percentage of degrees awarded to women for 2004 and 2005. At UCCS, 29 percent of the engineering degrees awarded were to women, placing the university seventh nationally among U.S. public universities and the highest in the Rocky Mountain Region. We see 4 major components of innovation, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Creative Communications and Globalization, all of which come together in the BI family. And of course, innovation needs creative people, like you, in the BI program. This is a bold new type of degree for students who want to be innovative, and students who want to change the world and add value to society. If you want to be engaged in real projects with real companies, and if you want to set yourself apart from the same old BS, then this may be the type of degree for you. If you want to be different, then do something different.

Did you notice the trademark (TM) in the name?Bachelor of Innovation™ (BI)Here at UCCS we are not just teaching innovation: We live it and breath it. Now, we own a piece of it. Even our recruiting is innovative. If you have not found the interactive aspects of this page, move your mouse around and find at least 5! ;-)

Who is interested in the BI program?  Our website has had visitors from over 2500 cities in 98 countries. As of Fall 2009 there are 130 students in the program, including 2 interntional students and many states. The BI is, internationally, a unique family of degrees, found only at UCCS. Join us and prepare for your personal innovation.

BI in Computer Science

The degree requirements for the Bachelor of Innovation™ degree in Computer Science requires completion of at least 128 credit hours, a minimum 2.0 grade point average in all computer science courses and courses taken at the University of Colorado, and completion of the Computer Science Major Field Assessment Test. This test will be given on a Saturday morning about three weeks prior to the end of the fall and spring semesters. A student must have completed 110 credit hours before taking the exam. The courses for the degree are outlined as follows:

Computer Science Core (42 credits)

Innovation Core (27 credits)

Cross Discipline Core - Business or Creative Communication or Globalization (15 credits)

General education and open electives (remaining credits)

Objectives

The Bachelor of Innovation  in Computer Science provides students with both the technical and business background to work on innovative computer-related projects, including the ability to: (1) recognize the broader issues in computer technology-related problems; (2) understand the technological, business, legal and societal constraints affecting this technology; and (3) have the ability to communicate the key issues, needs, potential options, and final solution to a challenge. The program seeks to prepare students for successful careers and lifelong learning. In addition to the technical competence expected of a graduate with a bachelors degree in computer science, students will develop the innovtive thinking skills, multi-faceted team oriented skills and basic business background to ensure that they can effectively compete in the changing computer career landscape for positions that are unlikely to be off-shored.

The core computer science elements of the BI in CS are nearly identical to the BS in CS, differing by adding Databases and Networks are required inplace of compilers and automata.    The ABET-style educationl objectives/outcomes include all of those from the BS in  CS plus the following BI specific objectives:

• BI CS Alumni should be able to work in multi-diciplinary teams both as  member and as a team leader
• BI CS Alumni should be able to assess business opportunities and substantially contribute to the development of a business plan
• BI CS Alumni should be able to assess customers needs to develop requirements and technical specifications
• BI CS Alumni should be able to develop an effective response to a call for proposl for funding

BI in Computer Science Sample Degree Program

The following sample plan represents the suggested order and semesters in which students should take course to graduate within 4 years. Since each student starts at a different level of mathematical ability, this listing should only be considered a guide. Specific questions about the sample program should be directed to the Engineering Advisor.

Innovation Core (27 Credits)

Cross Discipline Core - Business (15 Credits)

Cross Discipline Core - Creative Communication (15 Credits)

   
Cross Discipline Core - Globalization (15 Credits)