Overview
The BS Computer Science (CS) degree program will educate you in the theory, systems, and applications of CS: what can and cannot be computed, how computation can be made more efficient, how to build machines that can compute, and which spheres of human activity can benefit from computational approaches.
In general, there are two classifications of Computer Scientists:
- Theoretical Computer Scientists, who push the frontiers of computation by inventing new computational approaches
- Practical Computer Scientists, who apply the theory of Computer Science to different application areas like science, finance, medicine, business, transportation, entertainment, education, communication, engineering, art, and the humanities.
Interventions stemming from CS are just beginning to disrupt and reinvent Pakistani society. The CS program will provide you the intellectual and technical foundation to assess these interventions and to contribute meaningfully and thoughtfully to the transition of our society to the information age.
With an education grounded in the Liberal Arts, you will have an unrivalled understanding of our society and the ethical ramifications of technology.
The National Computing Education Accreditation Council has also recognized and accredited Habib University’s Computer Science Program.
Program Educational Objectives
Computer Science program at Habib University aims to produce competent computer scientists who;
- Have strong foundational knowledge of mathematics and computer science subjects, and the accompanying skills both in breadth and in depth, to position themselves equally well in the Information Technology industry, as technology entrepreneurs and/or in graduate programs in Computer Science or other technical and scientific fields.
- Have a hands-on approach to self-learning and research, and will continually update their knowledge, skills and technical know-how.
- Will be able to assess the societal, cultural, social, religious, legal, environmental, local, and global impact of their actions and will choose an ethical course of action in their professional, personal, and daily lives.
- Will be able to effectively communicate and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and in a variety of settings.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students will have the following abilities:
- Analysis: analyze a given situation and reduce it to one or more problems that can be solved via computer intervention.
- Design: design one or more computer-based solutions of a given problem and select the solution that is best under the circumstances.
- Programming: program a given solution in a variety of programming languages belonging to different paradigm.
- Implementation: design and implement software systems of varying complexity.
- Tools: work with the latest tools that support development, e.g., IDE’s, version control systems, debuggers, profilers, and continuous build systems.
- Self-learning: research, learn, and apply requirements needed to implement a solution for a given high level problem description.
- Ethics and Awareness: foresee both impact and possible ramifications of computing practices.
- Communication and Teamwork: work effectively in inter-disciplinary teams.
Requirements for the Major
A major in BS Computer Science requires completion of (40) courses and a minimum of 130 credit-hours of coursework, with a minimum CGPA of 2.33, as shown in the table below:
| Requirements | Course Category | Number of Courses to complete |
| Habib Liberal Core1 | University Core | 101 |
| CS Requirement (4 courses + 1 field Practice2) |
Design Your Habib Experience | 1 |
| Digital Logic and Design | 1 | |
| Kaavish I (Capstone 1) | 1 | |
| Kaavish II (Capstone 2) | 1 | |
| Khidmat (Field Practice) | Non-credit component2 | |
| Foundation courses 3 (3 courses) |
Algorithmic Problem Solving | 11 |
| Data Structures and Algorithm | 1 | |
| Discrete Mathematics | 1 | |
| Kernel courses 3 (9 courses) |
Database systems | 1 |
| Object Oriented Programming | 1 | |
| Data Structures II | 1 | |
| System course | 1 | |
| Nature of computing | 1 | |
| Operating systems | 1 | |
| Artificial Intelligence | 1 | |
| Algorithms: Design and Analysis | 1 | |
| Software Engineering | 11 | |
| CS Electives | Electives | 5 |
| Natural Science | Natural Science Elective | 2 |
| Mathematics | Required Math courses | 51 |
| Professional Practices | Professional Practice Elective | 1 |
| Free Electives | Free Electives | 44 |
| Over All | 40 (minimum) | |
1 Three courses double counted in Habib Liberal core as well as one each in Mathematics, CS Foundation, and CS Kernel courses.
2 A Khidmat module is an additional CS requirement that is to be ideally taken in summer 2 or 3. Khimdat aims for students to engage in society and make meaningful contributions to it in a manner that utilizes their computer science skills. Students engage in fieldwork immersing themselves in an environment that exposes them to real life challenges/issues occurring in society and make a positive impact.
3Students must obtain a minimum grade of C+ in each CS Foundation and Kernel course.
4The number of free electives attempted must be such that the total number of credit-hours is at least 130. Any course offered at the university, including CS electives, can be counted as a free elective. The quantity of the free electives shown above is for guidance only.
4-Year Academic Journey
The students of CS Major are required to complete a minimum of 40 courses and 130 credit-hours over their 4-year journey (8 semesters). A set of recommended courses (semester-wise) fall under the following course categories:
Category 1 – Habib Liberal Core (HLC), also known as the University Core, is a common curriculum designed for all Habib University students as a mandatory requirement. A total of 10 courses are included in the HLC/University Core.
Category 2 – Mathematics Requirement. Each student has to complete a total of 05 courses under the Mathematics Requirement category.
Category 3 – Natural Science Elective. Each student has to complete a total of 02 courses under the NS Elective category.
Category 4 – CS Requirement. Each student has to complete a total of 04 courses under the CS Requirement category.
Category 5 – CS Foundation. Each student has to complete a total of 03 courses under the CS Foundation category.
Category 6 – CS Kernel. Each student has to complete a total of 09 courses under the CS Kernel category.
Category 7 – CS Electives. Each student has to complete 05 courses under the CS Electives category.
Category 8 – Professional Practices. Each student has to complete 01 course under the Professional Practices category.
Category 9 – Free Electives. The number of free electives attempted must be such that the total number of credit hours is at least 130.
| Courses to complete | Credit hours | Course Category | Comments |
| First Semester (5/6 Courses) | |||
| CORE 101 – Rhetoric and Communication | 4 | University Core (1 of 10) | |
| MATH 101 – Calculus I | 3 | Mathematics Requirement (1 of 5) | |
| Natural Science Elective | 3-1 | Natural Science Elective (1 of 2) | Amongst the 2 NS electives (in 1st and 2nd semester), one of them (preferrably in 1st semester) must be taken with a lab. |
| CS 101 – Algorithmic Problem Solving | 3-1 | CS Foundation (1 of 3) and University Core (2 of 10) | Double-counted towards CS Foundation as well as Habib Liberal Core. |
| PLAY 113 – Design Your Habib Experience | 0-1 | CS Requirement (1 of 4) | The course can only be taken either in the 1st or 2nd semester. |
| Second Semester (5/6 Courses) | |||
| CORE 102 – What is Modernity | 4 | University Core (3 of 10) | |
| MATH 102 – Calculus II | 3 | Mathematics Requirement (2 of 5) | |
| Natural Science Elective | 3-0/1 | Natural Science Elective (2 of 2) | Amongst the 2 NS electives (in 1st and 2nd semester), one of them (preferrably in 1st semester) must be taken with a lab. |
| CS 113 – Discrete Mathematics | 3 | CS Foundation (2 of 3) | |
| CS 102 – Data Structures & Algorithms | 3-1 | CS Foundation (3 of 3) | |
| PLAY 113 – Design Your Habib Experience | 0-1 | CS Requirement (1 of 4) | The course can only be taken either in the 1st or 2nd semester. |
| Third Semester (5 Courses) | |||
| CORE 201 – Pakistan and Modern South Asia | 4 | University Core (4 of 10) | |
| MATH 202 – Engineering Mathematics | 3 | Mathematics Requirement (3 of 5) | |
| CS 130 – Digital Logic and Design | 3-1 | CS Requirement (2 of 4) | This course is also offered with the code EE 172 and CE 222. |
| CS 355 – Database Systems | 3-1 | CS Kernel (1 of 9) | |
| CS 224 – Object Oriented Programming | 3-1 | CS Kernel (2 of 9) | |
| Fourth Semester (5 Courses) | |||
| CORE 202 – Hikma I | 4 | University Core (5 of 10) | |
| MATH 205 – Linear Algebra | 3 | Mathematics Requirement (4 of 5) | |
| MATH 310 – Probability and Statistics | 3 | Mathematics Requirement (5 of 5) and University Core (6 of 10) | The course is also offered with the code EE 354 and CE 361. It is double-counted towards Mathematics requirement as well as Habib Liberal Core (Quantitative Reasoning Form of Thought) |
| CS 201 – Data Structures II | 3 | CS Kernel (3 of 9) | |
| A course in CS Systems | 3-1 | CS Kernel (4 of 9) | Currently, CS 330 – Computer Architecture is being offered under CS Systems category. |
| Fifth Semester (5 Courses) | |||
| CORE 200 – Scientific Methods | 3 | University Core (7 of 10) | |
| CORE 121 – Jehan-e-Urdu | 4 | University Core (8 of 10) | |
| CS 212 – Nature of Computation | 3 | CS Kernel (5 of 9) | |
| CS 232 – Operating Systems | 3-1 | CS Kernel (6 of 9) | |
| CS Elective* | 3-0/1 | CS Elective (1 of 5) | |
| Sixth Semester (5 Courses) | |||
| A course in Philosophical Form of Thought | 3/4 | University Core (9 of 10) | |
| CS 351 – Artificial Intelligence | 3 | CS Kernel (7 of 9) | |
| CS 353 – Software Engineering | 3 | University Core (10 of 10) and CS Kernel (8 of 9) | Double-counted towards CS Kernel as well as Habib Liberal Core (Creative Practice Form of Thought) |
| CS 412 – Algorithms: Design and Analysis | 3 | CS Kernel (9 of 9) | |
| CS Elective* | 3-0/1 | CS Elective (2 of 5) | |
| Seventh Semester (6 Courses) | |||
| CS 491 – Kaavish I | 0-3 | CS Requirement (3 of 4) | |
| CS Elective* (02 courses) | 3-0/1 | CS Elective (3 & 4 of 5) | |
| Professional Practices | 3 | Professional Practices (1 of 1) | |
| Free Elective** (03 courses) | 3-0/1 | Free Elective (1 & 2 of 4) | |
| Eighth Semester (4 Courses) | |||
| CS 492 – Kaavish II | 0-3 | CS Requirement (4 of 4) | |
| CS Elective* | 3-0/1 | CS Elective (5 of 5) | |
| Free Elective** (02 courses) | 3-0/1 | Free Elective (3 & 4 of 4) | |
Note 1 -*CS Electives with lab (3+1) will be counted as one complete course. The student has to pass both theory and lab section for these.
**The number of free electives attempted must be such that the total number of credit hours is at least 130. Any course offered at the university, including CS electives, can be counted as a free elective. The quantity and semester placement of the free electives shown above is for guidance only.
Note 2 – Students must obtain a minimum grade of C+ in each CS Foundation and Kernel course. However, university policy for CS 101 – Programming Fundamentals course (taken in 1st semester), will be followed.
Note 3 – A Khidmat module is an additional CS requirement that is to be ideally taken in summer 2 or 3. Khimdat aims for students to engage in society and make meaningful contributions to it in a manner that utilizes their computer science skills. Students engage in fieldwork immersing themselves in an environment that exposes them to real life challenges/issues occurring in society and make a positive impact.
Career Prospects
The holistic academic experience of a Computer Science degree at Habib University will prepare you to pursue any career of your choice.
You will have the knowledge and skill base to develop your expertise in a broad range of areas, including:
- Artificial intelligence
- Computer graphics
- Computer networking
- Computer science theory
- Information security
- Machine learning
- Robotics
- Software design and engineering
