Degrees

Bachelor in Computer Science

A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science provides students with the breadth and depth to succeed in this rapidly changing field. Graduates of this program are well-prepared for immediate employment in either the computer industry or many other businesses that increasingly rely on computer science as well as for continuing on with graduate studies in computer science.

The general bachelor’s degree allows to student to choose elective courses in any area whereas the various emphases focus a student in certain areas. Available emphases include Cybersecurity, Machine Learning, Entrepreneurship, and Secondary Education. See the following links to the catalog for requirements for the general degree as well all the emphases. See the following sections on this page for more on each emphasis.

Review the Bachelors Degree and Emphasis Requirements

Refer to the Bachelors (without emphasis) Finish in Four academic plan

CS Course Catalog Descriptions

View the CS Courses

Cybersecurity Emphasis

The cybersecurity emphasis educates computer science students to prepare them with knowledge to understand the importance of cybersecurity in the CS or IT industry and effectively design robust software and/or computer systems. Graduates who received this emphasis will be excellent candidates for software and/or IT security positions or graduate studies in the cybersecurity field.
More details about the Cybersecurity Emphasis Refer to the Cybersecurity Emphasis Finish in Four academic plan

Entrepreneurship Emphasis

The Entrepreneurial Emphasis is a joint partnership with the Management department from the College of Business and Economics, the Venture College and the Computer Science Department to offer an entrepreneurship emphasis that provides computer science students with the background and skills to start their own company. Note that the students still learn sufficient skills to be qualified as software engineers.
Refer to the Entrepreneurship Emphasis Finish in Four academic plan

Machine Learning Emphasis

There is an increasing need in industry and academic research for students to graduate with an understanding of theory and practical skills related to data science and machine learning. Knowledge and experience in machine learning requires basic data science skills, knowledge of algorithms used for machine learning, as well as practical experience in common application areas. This emphasis gives the students a clear path of the courses that they can take to gain that important knowledge and hone those critical skills. Graduates from this emphasis can apply to entry level machine learning engineer positions.
Contact: Casey Kennington for additional details at caseykennington@boisestate.edu

Refer to the Machine Learning Emphasis Finish in Four academic plan

Secondary Education Emphasis

The Computer Science, Secondary Education Emphasis combines content knowledge, theories of learning and human development, study of curriculum, and methodology to help students develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions essential for success in teaching computer science at secondary schools. Candidates who complete the Secondary Education Emphasis have demonstrated evidence of meeting the Idaho Beginning Teacher Standards and are eligible for recommendation for state certification.
Refer to the Secondary Education Emphasis Finish in Four academic plan

Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence [Beginning Fall 2025]

A Bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence provides students with the breadth and depth to succeed in this rapidly changing field. Graduates of this program are well-prepared for immediate employment in either the computer industry or many other businesses that increasingly rely on artificial intelligence as well as for continuing on with graduate studies in related fields. This bachelor’s degree allows the student to choose elective courses in areas such as large language models, reinforcement learning, computer vision, deep learning, generative AI for business, and more. See below for degree pathway information with more coming soon!

CS Course Catalog Descriptions

View the CS Courses

Refer to the Bachelors in AI Science Finish in Four academic plan

Bachelors in AI Science FAQs

Minors and Certificates

Computer Science skills are in high demand because it is the driving force behind many of the advances in business, science, math, medicine, and even social sciences and art. Due to the pervasive influence and use of computing in nearly every field, all students should consider a a data science certificate or a minor in computer science or a minor in cybersecurity to plus up their skills in their chosen field!

Please reach out the Computer Science department if you need advise on which minor or certificate is best suited for your career goals by emailing computerscience@boisestate.edu.

Data Science for STEM Certificate

The data science certificate provides students with a strong foundation of data science and machine learning basics so they can confidently apply these skills to their own domain. The certificate is intended for STEM majors. Graduates who received this certificate will be well positioned to jobs that combine their domains with data science.

View the Data Science Certificate: Degree Requirements

Computer Science Minor

The computer science minor provides students with a strong foundation in software development that they can apply to any domain. A wide variety of majors take the computer science minor — engineering, mathematics, business, sciences and others.

View the CS Minor: Degree Requirements

Cybersecurity Minor

To respond to the rapid growing need of cybersecurity knowledge in many fields, the Department of Computer Science created this trans-disciplinary minor.  The objective is to educate students with correct computing ethics and prepare them with enough knowledge to understand the importance of cybersecurity in the workforce as well as the skills to effectively prevent/detect/be aware of possible cyber-crimes. This minor is a good option for students majoring in engineering, mathematics, information technology and management, health sciences and other programs. Graduates who received this minor will be well positioned to jobs that combine their domains with cybersecurity.

View the Cybersecurity Minor: Degree Requirements

Post-Baccalaureate (Second Degree)

If you already have an undergraduate degree in another field, you can get a second Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science through the Post-Baccalaureate (Post-Bacc or Second Degree) program. Graduates of this program will be prepared for further advancement in their current field or for immediate employment in either the software companies or many other businesses that increasingly rely on computer science.

The second degree program requires you to complete only the classes (and their pre-requisites) that are specifically required for the undergraduate Computer Science program. You would not have to repeat most of the general education classes. For most students, this second degree can be completed in two to two-and-a-half years. That can take longer if the prior major did not include many math courses. Summer courses can be a great way to catch up on those and other pre-reqs/required courses.

Application and Admission Requirements

Interested students must:

• Submit the Boise State University Undergraduate Admission Application, along with nonrefundable application fee, to the Admissions Office. You can apply online through the Admissions Office website. The application form may also be obtained by contacting the Admissions Office at (208) 426-1156 or 1-800-824-7017 or by email at admissions@boisestate.edu.
• Arrange for official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended to be sent directly to the Admissions Office.
• After admission: contact the Computer Science Department (computerscience@boisestate.edu) to request advising. Department staff will connect you with the second degree coordinator who will look at your application and transcripts to develop a customized checklist of courses that would be required for your second degree. The creation of your customized plan cannot occur prior to admission.
• What if I have questions but I am not ready to apply yet? If you have general questions prior to admission, department staff will be connect you with an advisor that can answer general questions about the second degree program.

Accelerated Masters in Computer Science

The Accelerated Master of Science in Computer Science is an exciting opportunity for selected Boise State University undergraduate students in the Boise State Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program. This program allows current Boise State undergrads to work with their CS faculty advisor to select up to three graduate courses that can be taken during their undergraduate career for application to both Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Master of Science in Computer Science degree requirements. This “double-dipping” allows students to potentially complete a bachelors and masters in five years.

Application and Admission Requirements

1. Completion of at least 75 credits applicable to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program at Boise State University
2. Overall GPA of at least 3.0
3. GPA of at least 3.3 in all completed CS classes
4. Submission of application no later than two weeks prior to the start of final semester. It’s recommended to submit a year early to help with enrollment in graduate level courses.

Application Procedure and Materials

Procedure

1. Complete the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program in Computer Science form which will be sent to the graduate coordinator.
2. Create an online application form.  Note that you don’t need to pay the application fee because the department will cover it. After you fill out the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program in Computer Science form, please send an email to computerscience@boisestate.edu and we will provide a discount code for the application fee.

Application Materials

1. Submit your unofficial transcript.
2. Write a Statement of Purpose. Be sure to include information such as educational and professional background, motivation for graduate study, areas of interest and future career goals.
3. Resume.
4. 2 Letters of Recommendation. Ask a computer science faculty member (i.e., your prospective research advisor) to submit a recommendation letter through the graduate college application. One of the letters can be from the graduate coordinator upon consulting with them.

Apply for the Accelerated Masters Program through the CS department

NOTE: Applicants are not required to take the GRE test. Students are strongly encouraged to review the graduate catalog before applying.

Master of Science in Computer Science

The Master of Science in Computer Science program allows a student to specialize deeper in the field of Computer Science. The Master of Science in Computer Science program is a very flexible program that can be customized in many ways.  Students can focus on cybersecurity, data science, machine learning, software engineering, human computer interaction, systems, or other areas via courses and research. Or they can pursue a broader set of courses with a capstone course.

Explore the Master of Science in Computer Science program for more information

Master of Science in Cybersecurity

The M.S. in Cybersecurity builds knowledge and skills of security specialists to effectively protect the safety and prosperity of companies, communities, and the nation. The mission of the program is to engage students in an interdisciplinary approach on the security aspects of software, modern cryptographic systems, and security program management. The program is jointly managed by Computer Science, Information Technology Management, and Mathematics departments.

The program has three emphases:

• Computer Science emphasis focuses on the protection of computer systems, networks, programs, critical infrastructures, and data from unintended or unauthorized access, change, or destruction.
• Cryptanalysis and Signals Analysis emphasis focuses on modern and emerging cryptographic systems, weaknesses of the underlying mathematics of a cryptographic system, weaknesses in implementation including side-channel attacks, and weak entropy inputs.
• Management emphasis focuses on managing the many complex systems required to run a successful information security program. These systems include governance systems, change management systems, identity, and access management systems, and managing the people running them.
  Explore the Master’s in Cybersecurity program website for more information

PhD in Computing

The interdisciplinary Computing PhD program integrates research efforts across more than ten disciplinary departments at Boise State with foundations in computer science and mathematics. The program offers emphasis in Computer Science, Data Science, Cybersecurity, or Computational Math Science & Engineering.

Explore the PhD in Computing site

Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning

Learn more about this certificate on the Machine Learning webpage.

Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity

Learn more about this certificate on the Cybersecurity webpage.

Graduate Certificate in Data Science

Learn more about this certificate on the Data Science webpage.

Graduate Certificate in Computer Science Teacher Endorsement

The online graduate certificate in Computer Science Teacher Endorsement is for current high school teachers that wish to add a computer science endorsement to their portfolio and be prepared to teach computer science in high school (or K-8).

New cohort’s form each summer and the certificate can generally be finished in one year.  The application deadline for the next cohort is April 15th.  This deadline is sometimes extended to accept later applicants. For more information, contact the certificate coordinator Kathryn Rodgers.

View the Graduate Certificate CS Teaching Endorsement Degree Requirements
Explore the IDoCode Program

Sample CS Teacher Endorsement Plan

Apply for the Graduate Certificate Program