What's happening
This bill requires New York colleges to allow computer science courses to count toward liberal arts math or science degree requirements.
Why it matters
Expanding Degree Flexibility. By allowing computer science courses to fulfill math or science liberal arts requirements, students have more options for meeting graduation criteria, potentially making it easier to design a degree path that aligns with their interests and career goals.
Aligning with Workforce Needs. The change reflects the growing importance of computing skills in nearly all fields, not just traditional STEM careers, and helps ensure graduates are better prepared for current job market demands.
Clarifying Scope of Computer Science. The bill provides a broad and explicit definition of computer science, covering topics from programming and artificial intelligence to the social impacts of computing, ensuring that a wide range of relevant courses can count toward requirements.
Encouraging Modernization of Curriculum. Requiring colleges to count computer science as a core liberal arts subject signals a shift toward recognizing technology’s foundational role in modern education and could prompt institutions to update or expand their course offerings.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Computer Science Count
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 61
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 50–12
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.103
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Count Coding as Liberal Arts
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3026
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 19, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring regulations authorizing computer science courses to count towards liberal arts content at institutions of higher learning
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 208-b to read as follows:
§ 208-b. Course requirements. 1. The commissioner and the board of regents are authorized and directed to establish rules and/or regulations authorizing computer science courses to count towards the liberal arts content in math or science required for each degree at institutions of higher learning in New York state.
2. For purposes of this section, "computer science" means the study of computers and algorithmic processes including the study of computing principles, computer hardware and computer software design, computer applications, and the impact of computers on society. Courses may include, but not be limited to:
a. software design;
b. hardware design;
c. creation of digital artifacts;
d. abstraction;
e. logic;
f. algorithm development and implementation;
g. programming paradigms and languages;
h. theoretical foundations;
i. networks;
j. graphics;
k. databases and information retrieval;
l. information security and privacy;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02475-01-7
S. 3026 2
m. artificial intelligence;
n. the relationship between computing and mathematics;
o. the limits of computation;
p. applications in information technology;
q. the social impacts of computing.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring regulations authorizing computer science courses to count towards liberal arts content at institutions of higher learning
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to expand math and science content areas by authorizing computer science courses to count towards liberal arts subjects at higher education institutions.
Summary of provisions
This bill amends the education law by adding a new section 208-b.
Justification
This bill develops a framework aimed at strengthening computer science education. Computer science is transforming industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation in all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in established economic sectors. Providing students with computer science education is critical for their success in the 21st century and for strengthening the workforce. Computer science education has been encumbered by confusion regarding the related but distinct concepts of computer science education, technology education, and the use of technology in education. Computer science courses have often been placed within the vocational education pathways in schools, or have been counted as elective courses, creating a focus on applied information technology skills rather than a focus on developing core computer science knowledge.
With the growing importance of computing in society, the need for students to understand the fundamentals of developing and using computing skills, and the significant challenges computer education faces, broad support for computer science education is needed to catalyze reform. These goals must be supported by a policy framework that supports appropriate curriculum development and student access and interest.
Legislative history
2014 - S.6158/A.6543 - PASSED SENATE/Higher Ed 2015-16 - S.2645/A.529 - PASSED SENATE/Higher Ed
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately .
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.