Assessment-Based Curriculum Changes

Changes to the Program since Previous ABET Accreditation (2014)

Semester Student Outcome How Measured Identified Improvements Implemented Improvements
Fall 2025 SO2, SO6 SES, IAC Students and IAC partners express the desire for more time spent using real-world tools and techniques that will be encountered after graduation Introduced new courses including CS 5311 - Technology Startup Business Principles, and CS 5312 - Modern Technology Stacks, which gives students hands-on practice working in a large-scale project using the same tools used by professionals
Fall 2024   SES, SEI Graduating seniors report that many AI/ML/DS courses have significant topical overlap Factor common topics out into a new course CS 4320 - Applied Machine Learning, which will become a prerequisite to following AI/ML/DS courses
Fall 2022 SO5 SES, IAC Students need more experience working in teams. Added a TEAMWORK requirement to the curriculum. Student must take at least one of 4 TEAMWORK-designated courses: CS5030/6030, CS5410, CS5110/6110, CS5510/6510.
Sp. 2022 SO2, SO6 SES, IAC Students want the option for additional web development course work, and students need more options for the CS3000/4000 elective requirement. Created new course CS4610 - Modern Web Development (3 credits), which can be used as a CS major elective.
Sp. 2022 SO1 SES Students need access to computer security topics throughout the curriculum, not just at the senior level. Also, students need more options for the CS3000/4000 elective requirement. Created new course CS4460 - Introduction to CyberSecurity (3 credits), which can be used as a CS major elective.
Sp. 2020     There are requests to offer an online CS program.  Worked with the Utah State Board of Education and high school teachers to design a series of CS online courses.
Sp. 2020     CS recitations lack uniformity and usefulness. Changed CS 1400 from the use of recitations to the Phanon learning exercises tool. Took effect in Fall 2020.
Fall 2019   SES Student math regimen unsuited to CS.  Approved that CS students must choose Math 1210 & 3310 and 15 credits from the CS-approved Math list. Took effect in Fall 2021.
Fall 2018   SES There are overlapping topics for three courses.  Re-evaluated course content for CS 2410, CS 2610, and CS 3200.
Fall 2018     There are new changes in ABET criteria.  Adopted an amended set of SOs to comply with the new ABET criteria.
Fall 2018     Engineering offered a new Engineering Management class.  Included a new course ENGR 5900 as a Technical Elective.
Sp. 2018     Intro. language changes affected students who want a CS minor.  Approved a revision to the CS minor to better accommodate other students.
Sp. 2018     Need to get high-quality students in the CS program.  Approved to increase admission GPA from 2.3 to 2.5 for all course work at USU.
Fall 2017   SES Student math regimen unsuited to CS.  Used Discrete Math II to replace Calc II as a required course. No changes occurred due to no offering.
Fall 2017   SES, IAC Students need to learn C++ with memory management.  Added CS 3460 (C++) as an elective class and offered CS 3460 in Fall 2019.
Fall 2017     CS 3450 has ethics & complex group project management.  Extended credits of CS 3450 to 4.
Fall 2017 SO(4)   Limited faculty resources can’t handle large number of CS students. Eliminated two capstone courses, CS 5070 and CS 5071, to address the issues.
Fall 2017   CDM Students need to be introduced to computer ethics earlier on. Eliminated 1-credit CS 3000 and moved fundamental ethics to CS 1440.
Sp. 2017 SO(1)SO(2) CDM, IAC Students need to learn algorithms instead of getting caught up in language syntax. Changed the introductory language from C++ to Python/Java. Taught CS 1400 (Python) & CS 1410 (Java) in Sp. 18; CS 1440 (Python) & CS 2420 (Java) in Fall 18; CS 3100 (Java) in Sp. 19.