BA/BS Degree in Computer Science - Computer Science Major

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

General Computer Science Concentration

Quick Facts

Delivery: On campus
Credits: 120

When you Major in Computer Science at Ball State, you’ll complete 11 core courses in your first two years, then dive deep into an area of specialization. The core gives you a foundation in algorithms and computing theory, strengthens your design and development skills, and builds ethical judgment, communication, and the teamwork today’s software industry demands. You can choose from a variety of electives, including courses in applied AI, and every student finishes with a two-semester capstone, building software for a real client.

Choose your path and specialize in one or more of our concentrations: General Computer Science, AI & Data Analytics, Cybersecurity & Secure Software Design, Game Design & Development, or Web & Mobile App Development.

Program Benefits
Computer Requirements

Program Benefits

What Can You Do with a Major in Computer Science?

Our graduates make a difference in the world. At the forefront of the digital age, we put people first, using today’s vast computing power to solve the complex problems of our communities.

The influence of computers and computing algorithms is found in every aspect of modern life, including social media, business decision-making, web applications, self-driving vehicles, AI tools, encrypted secure communication, and data analytics. The Ball State Computer Science major is founded on the most recent curricular guidelines of the Association for Computing Machinery and will position you to launch a successful career in today’s computing world. You will be ready for an outstanding career in roles including software developer, cybersecurity software engineer, quality assurance analyst, AI engineer, full-stack developer, user experience engineer, information security analyst, mobile app developer, project manager, software engineer, business systems analyst, database developer, data scientist, machine learning engineer, and more.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the jobs our graduates are prepared for will grow at 3x to 10x the average ten-year growth rate for all occupations from 2025 to 2035.

Additionally, the Winter 2026 Salary Survey of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) projects that 2026 computer science graduates will earn a starting salary of $81,535, up nearly 7% from last year. NACE also ranks computer science the third-most in-demand bachelor’s degree, behind only finance and mechanical engineering.

Professional Experiences

All students complete a two-semester software engineering capstone sequence, where students work on structured teams shipping real solutions for real-world clients. Over the last 10 years, our department has delivered over 200 projects to more than 100 community partners, including local businesses, startups, nonprofits, and larger corporations.

Students can also gain paid experience without leaving campus. In our Cardinal Academy of Digital Security and Education (CADSE), outside employers hire Ball State students to work real cybersecurity cases in a dedicated campus lab, supervised by our faculty. And at the Digital Corps, students from all majors work together to design the best solutions for University partners. Our faculty mentor students through research projects, from freshman to senior experiences, and regularly publish research papers in the top conferences with students as coauthors.

For example, in fall 2026, three Ball State computer science undergraduates published AI research that began as a classroom exercise. Students also compete in hackathons and capture-the-flag competitions, contribute to humanitarian free and open-source software projects, and meet industry leaders through our weekly TechTalk series.

Potential for Double Majors

Computer science pairs well with other STEM majors, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. In addition, many students choose to add a major or a minor in business, entrepreneurship, accounting, or finance. And, yes, you can pair a computer science concentration in one area, such as Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics with a second concentration in computer science, like Cybersecurity & Secure Software Design.

Computer Requirements

Students majoring in computer science will need a laptop computer. Please view information about the department’s recommendations for laptop specifications. Freshman classes take place in departmental computer labs, but most students prefer to work on homework and projects on their own computers.

Concentrations

AI and Data Analytics

Do you want to build intelligent systems that analyze data, recognize patterns, and support better decisions? In this concentration, you’ll go beyond using AI tools to understand how they work: how machines learn, reason, and interpret information, and how to judge whether their output is correct, secure, and fair. That deeper understanding is exactly what employers are looking for as AI changes the field.

What Can You Do with a Concentration in Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics?

AI and data science roles are among the fastest-growing careers in the country. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 35% job growth for data scientists from 2025 to 2035, far above the 3.5% average for all occupations, with a median salary of $120,230. Graduates of this concentration are prepared for roles such as data scientist, machine learning engineer, AI engineer, data engineer, and business intelligence analyst.

Learn why computer science still matters in the age of AI →

What Will You Learn?

Building machine learning and AI models that learn from data and make predictions
Applying the principles of data analytics to support decision making
Mining large data sets to find patterns and extract meaning
Visualizing data to communicate findings clearly
Evaluating AI and model output for accuracy, bias, fairness, and reliability
Working effectively with modern AI-assisted development tools
Applying these skills in fields such as science, business, and beyond

Cybersecurity and Secure Software Design

Do you want to protect the systems people rely on every day by building software that’s secure from the start? Students in this concentration learn to design, test, and evaluate secure software; analyze networks and operating systems for vulnerabilities; and investigate incidents through digital and mobile forensics. Whether you’re drawn to secure software development, network defense, or forensics, this concentration is right for you.

What Can You Do with a Concentration in Cybersecurity & Secure Software Design?

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields in tech. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for information security analysts will grow 21% from 2025 to 2035, about seven times the average for all occupations, with a median salary of $129,180. Software developers, who are increasingly expected to build security into their code, earn a median of $135,980. Graduates are prepared for roles such as information security analyst, application security engineer, security-focused software developer, digital forensics analyst, and more.

What Will You Learn?

Core cybersecurity principles and threat modeling
Secure software design and development
Computer networks and cryptography
Operating system vulnerabilities and defenses
Advanced network security
Digital and mobile forensics

Game Design and Development

Have you ever thought about turning a passion for games into a rewarding career? As a computer science major with a concentration in game design and development, you will be part of an interdisciplinary program that helps you build all the skills you need to design and implement original video games. You will follow player-centered design processes for creating original interactive media while taking cross-disciplinary courses in 3D animation and digital audio manipulation. You will collaborate on multidisciplinary teams in a three-semester sequence of courses to create an original game in a modern studio environment, using contemporary best practices and industrial-strength tools, and publicly release the game on major distribution platforms.

What Can You Do with a Concentration in Game Design & Development?

The games industry values "T-shaped skills," where a team shares common skills with each person focusing on one area of specialization. Our program positions our students for success by combining a foundation in programming skills with the knowledge of the fundamentals of game design, 3D animation, and digital audio. Game developers earn an average salary in the range of $75,000-$100,000, although actual salary depends on specialization, location, and studio size; additionally, many game developers enjoy freelance work. Students in this concentration can also pursue other fulfilling careers such as a mobile app developer, UX Designer, front-end engineer, software developer, and product manager.

What Will You Learn?

Principles of game design
Programming techniques on modern game engines
Game production methods
Advanced game development
Principles of animation
Digital signal processing for music

General Computer Science

Do you want to dive deeper into the core computer science knowledge areas, gaining an in-depth understanding of computer science theory, networks, operating systems, programming languages, and database design? Then this concentration is for you—students in the General Computer Science concentration are poised to continue their studies into graduate school, tackle advanced problems in computer science research, or transition into a career in many different specialty areas.

What Can You Do with a Concentration in General Computer Science?

This concentration is designed to open the most possible directions for your next steps after graduation. You will learn the underlying foundations of computer science, the theory behind the practice, and the application of these to modern problems. You'll be positioned to find a job in industry or go straight into graduate school for a master’s or doctoral degree.

What Will You Learn?

Computer networks
Design and querying of complex databases
Operating systems function and composition
Foundational principles in programming language schemes
Higher-level theories of computation and algorithms

Web and Mobile App Development

Do you want to focus on one of the most in-demand specialties in the field, where dynamic software is delivered on-demand to mobile devices or accessed through web browsers? Students in this concentration gain experience designing and deploying web-based and mobile-based applications following a user-centered design process, with a focus on effective user interface design. Whether you want to specialize on front-end development, back-end programming, or become a full-stack developer, this concentration is right for you.

What Can You Do with a Concentration in Web & Mobile App Development?

Full-stack engineers, listed at No. 2 on Glassdoor’s ranking of the 50 Best Jobs in America for 2022, earn a median salary of $101,794. Other related jobs include front-end designer, back-end developer, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, and site-reliability engineer, all of which fall in the top 40 of Glassdoor's ranking.

What Will You Learn?

Front-end client-side programming
Back-end server-side programming
Full stack development
Mobile application development
Database design
Computer networks
Human-computer interaction
User interface design

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Take the Next Step

Do you want to learn more about our Bachelor's degree in Computer Science program or have questions about the application process or financial aid? We’re here to help! One of the best ways to understand why Ball State is right for you is to schedule a visit through our Office of Undergraduate Admissions to see it for yourself. Or if you’d like to speak directly to someone in our department, please feel free to call or email us.

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Department of Computer Science

Robert Bell Building (RB), Room 353
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306

765-285-8641