Fort Hays State University Computer Science Degree Programs
Fort Hays State University appears in our ranking of the Top 5 Cheapest Bachelor’s in Web Design Degrees Online.
Fort Hays State University (FHSU) offers a bachelor degree in computer science as well as related bachelor and master degrees in informatics. The Department of Computer Science is a recent addition to the FHSU campus, and the B.S. program is offered both on campus and completely online. Students work through a rigorous track of advanced mathematics and programming classes like Calculus, Object-Oriented Programming, and Assembly Language as well as courses in graphics, software engineering, and databases. Faculty members have designed the curriculum to prepare graduates for industry jobs immediately after graduation, most notably through the inclusion of a series of four web development classes that teach both back-end and front-end programming as well as design concepts.
Informatics degrees related to the computer science field include online undergraduate and graduate programs in Computer Networking and Telecommunications (CNT) along with Web and Mobile Application Development as well as a Cyber Security master’s degree. Students pursuing any undergraduate degree in the Informatics Department at FHSU must complete the same core classes featuring an introduction to the field with courses like Foundations of Information Networking and Public Policy, Ethics and Law in Telecommunications. This core also includes a research class and capstone project which are typically completed in the final year of the program. Students can choose a concentration, CNT or App Development, and have an opportunity to customize their program with a variety of elective options. The Computer Networking and Telecommunications curriculum does prepare students to pass four industry-standard certification exams.
The graduate programs in the computer science field at Fort Hays State are available online and on campus and culminate in the Master of Professional Studies degree which means they are designed to be flexible, allowing students to develop skills across disciplines based on individual career goals. Each program involves a total of 30 credit hours including a 3-credit-hour experiential capstone project. The CNT specialty includes courses like Information Risk Management and Wireless and Cellular Systems. Students in the Cyber Security program take electives including Network Defense, Penetration Testing, and Information Systems Forensics. The Web Development MPS focuses more on programming and includes both Android Application Development and Introduction to iOS Programming.
About Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University began in the infirmary building of an abandoned military base in 1902 and moved to its current location in Hays, Kansas, two years later. Hays, a college town just northwest of the center of Kansas, is home to roughly 20,000 permanent residents, so with a total enrollment of about 15,000 students, FHSU almost doubles the town’s population. While the university began primarily as an agricultural school, today it offers a variety of degrees in five colleges including the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics. Fort Hays is part of the state university system in Kansas and is currently the third largest of the six state schools.
In all disciplines of study, a focus on the entrepreneurial spirit stands out at FHSU, and the campus is home to The Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) which offers workshops and resources for students as well as the Dane G. Hansen Scholarship Hall which serves as both a residence and workspace for select students involved in the CFE. The Virtual College is another renowned program at Fort Hays and serves as the platform for over 200 entirely online degree and certificate programs. In fact, the U.S. News and World Report has ranked FHSU as having the 35th best online bachelor’s programs in the country.
Fort Hays State University Accreditation Details
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has provided continuous accreditation to Fort Hays State University since 1915. This means the university has met certain standards in the categories of Mission, Integrity, Teaching and Learning, and Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness. After initial certification, the school undergoes regular reevaluations on a 10-year cycle. FHSU was last recertified during the 2014/2015 school year. During each cycle a university must demonstrate a commitment to self-improvement by identifying an area that needs improvement in their organization, implementing a solution, and documenting the results.
Fort Hays State University Application Requirements
Undergraduate admission to Fort Hays State University for freshmen varies slightly for in-state and out-of-state applicants. All students must have completed the Kansas Qualified Admissions Pre-College Curriculum with in-state students requiring at least a 2.0 GPA and all others needing a 2.5. In addition, applicants need to submit an ACT score of at least 21 or an SAT score above 1080. The test score requirement can be waived with a final ranking in the top one-third of a student’s high school class. The main requirement for transfer students is a prior college GPA above 2.0. Prospective students applying for admission into a Master of Professional Studies program need to demonstrate completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school with at least a 2.5 GPA in their final 60 credit hours. Additional departmental requirements include two letters of recommendation in addition to a personal statement in which the applicant can describe previous relevant experience and motivations for attending Fort Hays State University.
Tuition and Financial Aid
FHSU has the lowest tuition of all schools in the Kansas public university system. Tuition rates are dependent on the state of residence. Undergraduate students with permanent resident status in Kansas can expect to pay about $5000 per year, while the out-of-state rate is $15,000 annually. Students from surrounding states as well as Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin receive a discount, only paying about $7000. Undergraduate Virtual College tuition is billed at $218 per credit hour which calculates to about $6500 per year. Graduate school rates on campus are $237, $336, and $605 per credit hour for in-state, surrounding-state, and out-of-state categories respectively with Virtual College students paying $287. Along with relatively low costs, Fort Hays State also offers scholarship and work-study programs for all students. Graduate students can apply for paid research assistant positions or assistantships, teaching undergrad classes in exchange for tuition vouchers.
For more information on the various computer science programs at Fort Hays State University as well as admissions and financial information, prospective students can visit the department’s website.
Related Resources:
