Life-Changing Innovation: Concordia's Computer Science Program

The life-changing innovation of the Computer Science program at Concordia University Texas better prepares students to succeed as leading computer science professionals.

The top skills industry leaders seek from Computer Science graduates include effective communication, practical work experience, problem solving and teamwork. Concordia's Computer Science program equips students with both technical knowledge and these high-demand skills.

Concordia's interdisciplinary approach to Computer Science makes the program unique.

1. Develop Strong Communication Skills

Communication skills are integrated into every Computer Science course. The program collaborates with the Speaking Center, which is an on-campus resource that coaches students in all forms of verbal communication.

The Speaking Center team provides workshops to help students develop strong communication and presentation skills. Throughout the program, Computer Science students will also receive coaching for their presentations.

2. Business View of Computer Science

It's important for students to understand how the business of software development aligns software design and development decisions with company objectives.

Tanja Horan, a global product executive with 25+ years of experience in the tech industry, teaches Business of Software Development, a course required for all Computer Science majors. In Business of Software Development, students learn a variety of core principles:

• Software business models
• How software companies make a profit
• Different licensing structures with customers
• Factors influencing software development priorities for a company
• Types of development and go-to-market partnerships

With a foundational understanding of the software business, Concordia's Computer Science graduates are equipped to make better design decisions.

3. Concentration in Data Science

Students seeking a Computer Science degree can earn either a Bachelor of Arts (online or on campus) or a Bachelor of Science (on campus only). Students who pursue the Bachelor of Science have the option to add the Data Science concentration.

The Data Science concentration consists of five required courses (15 credit hours):

• Data Structure & Algorithms
• Database Design & Analytics
• Data Analytics
• Data Visualization
• Python — Advanced for Data Mining

4. Practical Experience Before Graduation

Practical experience is built into the program. Seniors take the Computer Science Experiential Capstone (two semesters). For the Capstone course, student teams partner with a local tech company to develop a project intended to provide them experience with the entire software development life cycle.

Students gain valuable hands-on experience before graduation with the benefit of having a CTX faculty member available for guidance throughout the entire project.