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Computer Science and Business Program

Program Directors. James A. Hall, Ph.D. (Oklahoma State University) associate professor of accounting and information systems; Edwin Kay, Ph.D. (Lehigh University) professor of computer science and engineering.

The computer science and business (CSB) program is offered jointly by the College of Business and Economics and the Computer Science and Engineering department in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. This carefully crafted 136 credit hour program integrates technology skills in software development with a solid background in business and economics. Deep immersion in both of these areas distinguishes CSB from programs offered by other universities. At the same time it is well balanced with approximately one third of the courses in liberal arts, one-third in computer science, and one-third in business.

Students enrolled in the CSB program obtain the skills and training needed to understand business functions and business related problems, to analyze business-user information needs, to design computer based information systems, and to implement systems solutions within business organizations. Graduates of the program are ideal candidates for placement within public accounting firms, large consulting companies, and startup companies. This program also prepares students to become the Chief Information Officers, decision makers, and general managers of information age corporations.

The four year program constitutes a degree in Computer Science and in Business, which is jointly awarded by the College of Business and Economics and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. The CSB major is accredited in Business (AACSB International) and is accredited by the Computer Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone (410) 347-7700.

Mission for Program

The CSE department’s mission for its Computer Science and Business program is to provide its students with a strong education in mathematics, science, business, and computer science fundamentals and to prepare them to be able to adapt to future changes in the practice of Computer Science.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business Program will:

• Apply their education in computer science to the analysis and solution of business and industrial problems.

• Account for ethical and social issues when solving business and industrial problems.

• Function effectively in a collaborative team and effectively communicate with members of the team.

• Engage in continued education in their field of expertise.

• Attain positions of leadership in their chosen field.

• Apply their training to problems where information technologies and business processes converge.

Degree Requirements:

The required courses for the CSB degree constitute the fundamentals of structured programming, discrete mathematics, algorithms, computer architecture, programming languages, software engineering, accounting, finance, marketing, management, and economics. None of the program requirements for the CSB major may be taken pass/fail.

The requirements are stated below. To view a number of suggested sequences of courses for satisfying these requirements see www.cse.lehigh.edu/CSBSEQUENCE.

Total required credit hours: 136

Required Computer Science courses (35-36 credit hours):

One 300-level course drawn from the list at www.cse.lehigh.edu/CSBCHOICE

Required Business courses (34 credit hours):

Required Math and Science courses (26 credit hours):

Twelve credits of natural science, such that one course has an attached laboratory and such that two courses are in a laboratory science with the first course a prerequisite to the second course. Suggested sequences can be found at www.cse.lehigh.edu/SCISEQ

Required CSB courses (9 credit hours):

Required CSB electives (9 credit hours):

Courses approved by the student’s advisor. See “CSB TRACKS” below

Humanities and Social Science requirements (18 credit hours):

An additional 6 credit hours in the humanities (HU).

An additional 3 credit hours in the social sciences (SS).

Free electives (4) four credits of free electives.

CSB Tracks

Students can use their CSB professional electives to develop areas of concentrations or tracks from courses offered within the CSE department or CBE. In certain cases, the student’s advisor may also approve courses from other departments. Some examples of CSB tracks are presented at www.cse.lehigh.edu/CSBSEQUENCE

Course Descriptions

CSB 311. Computer Applications in Business (3) fall

Application of computer technology to business problems. Transaction processing systems that support the revenue, conversion, and expenditure cycles of manufacturing, service, and retail business organizations. Process modeling, data modeling, internal control, corporate IT governance, and systems development techniques. Application of CASE technology to a hypothetical business project. Prerequisites: ACCT 152 or ACCT 108, and CSE 17 or equivalent. Not available to students who have credit for ACCT 311.

CSB 312. Design of Integrated Business Applications I (3) spring

Integrated Product Development (IPD) Capstone Course I. Industry-based business information systems design project. Information systems design methodology, user needs analysis, project feasibility analysis of design alternatives, and integrated product development methodology. Formal oral and written presentations to clients. Prerequisite: CSB 311.

CSB 313. Design of Integrated Business Applications II (3) fall

Integrated Product Development (IPD) Capstone Course II. This course extends the industry-based project initiated in CSB 312 into its implementation phase. Detailed design, in-house system construction and delivery, commercial software options, and systems maintenance and support. The practical component of the course is supplemented by several classroom-based modules dealing with topics that lie at the boundary of computer science and business. Formal, oral, and written presentations to clients. Prerequisite: CSB 312

CSB 314. International Practicum (1-3)

A faculty led, foreign-based activity to provide students the opportunity to work on consulting, assurance, or other IT–related projects with business organizations, consulting companies, and public accounting firms. Typical projects: systems analysis and design, systems configuration and implementation, database design, user interface design, and internal control assessment. Students complete written reports and make formal presentations to client firms. Prerequisites: ACCT 311, or CSB 311, or permission of the instructor.

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