2024-25 Catalog

Computer Science and Business Honors Program

The College of Business and the Computer Science and Engineering Department in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science jointly offer the Computer Science and Business (CSB) Honors Program. The mission of the program is to provide rigorous computer science education integrated with in-depth business training that prepares high-achieving undergraduate students with diverse backgrounds for lifelong learning and to assume positions of leadership in the business community. This carefully crafted 136 credit-hour degree 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.

All CSB students participate in the College of Business Student to Professional Co-curriculum. This program is designed to help students transition from a student to a young professional. They also receive training from the Lehigh Center for Career & Professional Development on technical skills which is integrated in the Computer Science course curriculum. These training combined with academics and experiential learning lead to our students being some of the highest paid upon graduation (see Success after Graduation under College of Business and PC Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Sciences).

After four years, the program leads to a degree in Computer Science and in Business, which is jointly awarded by the College of Business and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. Graduates of the program are ideal candidates for placement within public accounting firms, consulting companies, top software firms, and startup companies. This program provides students with the background needed to become the CIOs, decision makers, and general managers of information age corporations.

The CSB Honors Program is a rigorous program.  Students may matriculate  specifically into  the program or  apply to enter the program at a later point. Students interested in  transferring into the CSB Honors Program after starting at Lehigh  must demonstrate a cumulative 3.25 GPA, and must earn a B- or better in ECO 001 AND CSE 007 AND (MATH 021 OR MATH 031 OR MATH 076) and have satisfied all requirements to change their curriculum at Lehigh by the end of the Spring term in which they are applying: https://catalog.lehigh.edu/undergraduatestudies/curricularflexibility/

Applications are due between Jan. 1 and May 15 and can be obtained by contacting the Academic Advisor, Andrea Goff at ahg212@lehigh.edu. All  transfer applications will be reviewed and considered at the end of May (once Spring grades are posted) and are dependent on space available in the program. Scheduled or anticipated Summer or Fall coursework cannot be used to satisfy these requirements.

Due to impacts on the graduation timeline, applications to join the CSB Honors Program are not recommended beyond a student's second year of study at Lehigh.

 The CSB Honors Program is accredited in Business (AACSB International) and is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

The co-directors of the CSB Honors Program are George Witmer, Professor of Practice in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering  (gsw2@lehigh.edu) and TBD, College of Business. 

For additional information visit the CSB website or contact Andrea Goff,  Academic Advisor at ahg212@lehigh.edu.

Mission for Program

The Computer Science and Business Honors Program's mission 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 Honors 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 expertise in their chosen field.
  • Apply their training to problems where information technologies and business processes converge.

student outcomes

  1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.  
  2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  4. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
  5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
  6. Apply computer science theory and business acumen to produce computing-based business solutions.

Degree Requirements

The required courses for the CSB degree constitute the fundamentals of structured programming, discrete mathematics, algorithms, computer architecture, computer and information systems, 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 Suggested Sequences of Courses.

Required Computer Science courses
CSE 003
CSE 004
Introduction to Programming, Part A
and Introduction to Programming, Part B
4
or CSE 007 Introduction to Programming
CSE 017Programming and Data Structures3
CSE 109Systems Software4
CSE 140Foundations of Discrete Structures and Algorithms3
CSE 202Computer Organization and Architecture3
CSE 216Software Engineering3
CSE 241Database Systems and Applications3
or CSE 341 Database Systems, Algorithms, and Applications
CSE 262Programming Languages3
CSE 303Operating System Design3
CSE 340Design and Analysis of Algorithms3
CSE Elective from approved list 23
Required Business courses
BUS 001Foundations of Business1
ACCT 151Introduction to Financial Accounting3
ACCT 152Introduction to Managerial Accounting3
ECO 001Principles of Economics4
ECO 146Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis3
or ECO 119 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis
FIN 125Introduction to Finance3
LAW 201Legal Environment of Business3
SCM 186Supply Chain Operations Management3
MGT 043Organizational Behavior3
MKT 111Principles of Marketing3
MGT 301Strategic Management in a Global Environment3
Required Math and Science courses
MATH 021Calculus I (or MATH 075 followed by MATH 076)4
MATH 022Calculus II4
MATH 205Linear Methods3
MATH 231Probability and Statistics3
or ECO 045 Statistical Methods
Natural science courses 112
Required CSB courses
CSB 311Advanced Accounting Information Systems3
CSB 312Design of Integrated Business Applications I3
CSB 313Design of Integrated Business Applications II3
Required CSB electives
Courses approved by program co-directors9
Humanities and Social Science requirements
BUS 003Business Communication I1.5
WRT 001Academic and Analytical Writing3
BUS 203Business Communication II1.5
CSE 252Computers, the Internet, and Society3
Humanities (HU) electives6
Social Sciences (SS) electives3
Free electives7
Total Credits136
1

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. Note that there are some NS courses that, though in a laboratory science, do not include a laboratory; instead the "attached lab" has a separate course number. See Suggested Sequences of Natural Science Courses.

2

Computer Science & Business Electives approved list.

CSB Tracks

Students may choose to 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 program co-directors may also approve courses from other departments. See some examples of CSB tracks. Note: that it is not required that a student complete a track, just that students fulfill the 9-credit professional elective requirement.

Sample Sequences of Courses

Below are several sample course sequences that fulfill the CSB degree requirements.  These are only examples and nothing here is intended to suggest implicit requirements.  It should be clear in particular that electives can easily be rearranged.  All sample sequences assume a non-Physics science sequence; the first Physics  course in the Physics sequence is 5 credits (4-credit course plus 1-credit lab).

None of these samples assume AP credit.  Generally, students with AP move courses in the sequence earlier to leave room for more electives in the junior and/or senior years.

Sample A1 assumes MATH 021 in the fall of first year.  Sample A2 assumes that MATH 021 is replaced by the sequence of MATH 075 in the fall and MATH 076 in the spring with MATH 022 deferred until sophomore year.

Students contemplating graduate study in computer science or employment at  major computing software firms (e.g. Microsoft, Google, Oracle, IBM) should choose MATH 231 instead of ECO 045 and CSE 341 instead of CSE 241 if possible. These student must take  CSE 340 prior to senior year. CSE 326 is strongly recommended as an elective choice for these students.

Students seeking to transfer into CSB from Engineering, Business, College of Health or Arts and Sciences, should consult as soon as possible with the program academic advisor. Note that to graduate in the normal 4 years it is necessary for CSB students to:

  • Complete CSE 007 by spring of first year
  • Complete CSE 017 by fall of second year
  • Complete CSE 241 by spring of second year

CSE 007 and CSE 017 are offered fall and spring. CSE 241 is guaranteed only for fall semester.

Computer Science and Business - SAMPLE A1 (MATH 021)

First Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
BUS 0011CSE 0173
BUS 0031.5MATH 0224
CSE 0074MATH 231 or ECO 0453
ECO 0014MGT 0433
MATH 0214Science elective-first course in two-course sequence4
WRT 0013BZX 0020
 17.5 17
Second Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
ACCT 1513ACCT 1523
CSE 1094CSE 2023
MATH 2053Science elective or second course in science sequence4
Science elective or second course in science sequence4CSE 2623
CSE 1403CSE 3403
 17 16
Third Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
CSE 2163BUS 2031.5
CSE 2413CSB 3113
FIN 1253CSB 3123
Free Elective3ECO 146 or 1193
MKT 1113SCM 1863
Humanities elective3LAW 2013
 18 16.5
Fourth Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
CSB 3133MGT 3013
CSE 3033CSE elective (See Computer Science & Business Electives)3
Human electives3CSB professional elective3
CSE 2523CSB professional elective3
CSB professional elective3Free electives1
Free elective3Social Science elective3
 18 16
Total Credits: 136

Computer Science and Business - SAMPLE A2 (MATH 075/076)

First Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
BUS 0011CSE 0173
BUS 0031.5MATH 0762
CSE 0074ECO 0453
ECO 0014MGT 0433
MATH 0752MKT 1113
WRT 0013Science elective - first course in two-course sequence4
 BZX 0020
 15.5 18
Second Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
ACCT 1513ACCT 1523
CSE 1094CSE 2023
MATH 0224CSE 1403
SCM 1863Science elective or second course in science sequence4
Science elective or second course in science sequence4CSE 2163
 18 16
Third Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
CSE 3403BUS 2031.5
FIN 1253CSB 3113
CSE 2413CSB 3123
MATH 2053CSE 2523
CSB Professional Elective3ECO 146 or 1193
CSB Professional Elective3LAW 2013
 18 16.5
Fourth Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
CSB 3133MGT 3013
CSE 3033CSE elective (See Computer Science & Business electives)3
CSE 2623CSB professional elective 3
HU Elective4HU elective24
SS Elective14Free elective4
 17 17
Total Credits: 136
1

One credit counts as free elective

2

 Two credits count as free elective. Note that most HU and SS courses are 4 credits and the credits beyond the total required by CSB contribute towards satisfying the free elective requirement.

Computer Science & Business Electives

In addition to the CSB electives, students are required to take one Computer Science course from the follow

CSE 160Introduction to Data Science3
CSE 242Blockchain Algorithms and Systems3
CSE 264Web Systems Programming3
CSE 265System and Network Administration3
CSE 271Programming in Linux and Windows Operating Systems3
CSE 302Compiler Design3
CSE 313Computer Graphics3
CSE 318Introduction to the Theory of Computation3
CSE 319Image Analysis and Graphics3
CSE 325Natural Language Processing3
CSE 326Fundamentals of Machine Learning3
CSE 327Artificial Intelligence Theory and Practice3
CSE 331User Interface Systems and Techniques3
CSE 335Topics on Intelligent Decision Support Systems3
CSE 336Embedded Systems3
CSE 337Reinforcement Learning3
CSE 342Fundamentals of Internetworking3
CSE 343Network Security3
CSE 345WWW Search Engines3
CSE 347Data Mining3
CSE 348AI Game Programming3
CSE 349Big Data Analytics3
CSE 360Introduction to Mobile Robotics3
CSE 371Principles of Mobile Computing3
CSE 375Principles of Practice of Parallel Computing3
CSE 376Distributed Systems3
Or other courses as approved by the program co-directors

Suggested Sequences of Natural Science Courses

The following is an incomplete list of course sequences that satisfy the requirement: "two courses are in a laboratory science with the first course prerequisite to the second course."  The exact set of courses depends on what each science department offers each semester.

Any course used for the science requirement must have an "NS" designation in the catalog (and there are some CHM, BIOS, and EES courses that are not "NS" but rather "ND", meaning "not designated"). The sum of all the NS-designated science credits must be at least 12.

We list here only courses that contribute to a prerequisite sequence.  These sequences add up to between 7 and 9 credits.  The remaining credits to reach a total of 12 may consist of any NS-designated courses.

Astronomy Sequence
PHY 005
ASTR 105
Concepts In Physics
and Introduction to Planetary Astronomy
7
PHY 010
ASTR 105
General Physics I
and Introduction to Planetary Astronomy 2
3-7
PHY 011
ASTR 105
Introductory Physics I
and Introduction to Planetary Astronomy 2
3-7
Biology Sequence
CHM 030
BIOS 041
Introduction to Chemical Principles
and Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
7
Chemistry Sequences
CHM 030
CHM 031
Introduction to Chemical Principles
and Chemical Equilibria in Aqueous Systems
8
CHM 030
CHM 110
Introduction to Chemical Principles
and Organic Chemistry I
7
CHM 030
BIOS 041
Introduction to Chemical Principles
and Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
7
CHM 040
CHM 041
Honors General Chemistry I
and Honors General Chemistry II
8
CHM 040
CHM 110
Honors General Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I 1
7
CHM 040
BIOS 041
Honors General Chemistry I
and Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
7
Physics Sequences
PHY 011
PHY 021
Introductory Physics I
and Introductory Physics II 2
8
PHY 010
PHY 013
General Physics I
and General Physics II 2
7
PHY 011
PHY 013
Introductory Physics I
and General Physics II 2
7
Earth and Environmental Science Sequence
EES 021
EES 022
EES 131
Dynamic Earth
and Exploring Earth: A Natural Science Laboratory Course
and Introduction to Rocks and Minerals
8
EES 025
EES 022
EES 152
The Environment and Living Systems
and Exploring Earth: A Natural Science Laboratory Course
and Ecology
8
EES 028
EES 022
EES 152
Conservation and Biodiversity
and Exploring Earth: A Natural Science Laboratory Course
and Ecology
8
EES 002
EES 022
EES 102
Introduction to Environmental Science
and Exploring Earth: A Natural Science Laboratory Course
and Environmental Science and Sustainability
8
1

May also take optional 1-credit lab: CHM 111

2

May also take optional 1-credit lab: PHY 012

Courses

CSB 242 Blockchain Concepts and Applications 3 Credits

Blockchain is the technology underlying Bitcoin, along with other digital currencies, and a data-management technology applicable broadly in finance, accounting, marketing, supply-chain, and "smart" contracts. It offers the ability to decentralize financial transactions, automate record keeping, and increase privacy. This course gives students the basis for understanding the technological foundations of blockchain and the business impact of blockchain.
Prerequisites: ECO 001 and (BIS 111 or CSE 003 or CSE 007 or CSE 012) and (CSE 017 or MKT 111 or FIN 125 or SCM 186)

CSB 256 Computing/Business Seminar 3 Credits

Business, technical, and cultural aspects of developing, managing, and marketing computing products from the perspectives of researchers, developers, and management. Influences of patents, open source, corporate- and government-funded research, and standards. Case studies show why the best technology may not always win, unexpected impact of technical disruptions, advantages and pitfalls of technical leadership versus “following aggressively”, etc. Studies include startups, mature companies, corporate R&D labs, and academic labs. Course relates to both specific computer-related technology, and current business events.
Prerequisites: ECO 001 and (CSE 109 or CSE 241 or CSE 341)

CSB 273 Leveraging Technology 3 Credits

Explores the types and manner in which technology can improve business outcomes. Lectures and assigned readings cover topics such as business context for leveraging technology, various common and disruptive technologies, and estimating ROI. Using consulting engagements and/or real-world scenarios, students develop and present proposals based on their acquired knowledge. Emphasis is placed on learning how to discover opportunities, determine technologies to address those opportunities, and correlate the application of technology to business metrics to garner the support of decision-makers.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Prerequisites: CSE 012 or CSE 017 or BIS 111

CSB 304 (ENTP 304) Technology and Software Ventures 3 Credits

Designed from the perspective of functional leaders, course provides a holistic perspective of developing successful software ventures across various industries in an interdisciplinary and experiential environment. Students develop a software-oriented idea, concurrent with module delivery containing best practices, case studies, and subject-matter experts. Examines business model fundamentals, customer discovery, translating requirements to a minimum viable product, agile development, user acquisition, and traction. ENTP Capstone. Prior programming experience or technical background not required. Open to students in any college and major.
Prerequisites: ENTP 101 or CSE 002 or BIS 111

CSB 311 Advanced Accounting Information Systems 3 Credits

Application of computer technology to accounting information systems. Transaction processing systems that support the revenue, conversion, and expenditure cycles of manufacturing, service, and retail business organizations. Topics include process modeling, data modeling, internal controls, corporate IT governance, IT audit techniques, SAP and application of Generalized Audit Software.
Prerequisites: (ACCT 152 or ACCT 108) and (CSE 241 or CSE 341)
Can be taken Concurrently: CSE 241, CSE 341

CSB 312 Design of Integrated Business Applications I 3 Credits

Integrated Product Development (IPD) Capstone 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.
Prerequisites: CSB 311 and (CSE 241 or CSE 341) and CSE 216
Can be taken Concurrently: CSB 311

CSB 313 Design of Integrated Business Applications II 3 Credits

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.
Prerequisites: CSB 312

CSB 314 International Practicum 3 Credits

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.

CSB 389 Honors Project 1-12 Credits

CSB 392 Independent Study 1-3 Credits

An intensive study, with report, of a topic spanning both business and computer science that is not treated in any other courses.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

CSB 442 Blockchain: Mathematical Foundations and Financial Applications 3 Credits

Technical and mathematical foundations of blockchain (algorithms, data structures, cryptography) with application to finance. Blockchain properties (immutability, irrefutability), security, consensus (proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, Byzantine consensus). Blockchain governance and trust models. Blockchain and finance: policy, regulation, compliance, systemic risk, relative power of nation-states, the role of central banks, economic justice. Broader impacts in such areas as foreign policy, surveillance and individual freedoms, non-financial applications. Smart contract coding and issues in blockchain software development. Lab experience interacting with a blockchain.
Prerequisites: MATH 021 and FIN 125 and (CSE 007 or CSE 012 or CSE 017)

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