Programme

Learning outcomes

What graduates are able to do

The 2026 curriculum sets out five programme objectives (PO1–PO5) and ten programme learning outcomes (PLO1–PLO10) in five competency groups. Students admitted in 2025 or earlier follow the objectives and outcomes of their own intake (2025: six objectives G1–G6 and twelve outcomes LO1–LO12, Decision 2848/QĐ-KHTN of 19/9/2025); the 2026 version applies once formally issued.

Programme objectives

PO1 · Knowledge and Problem Solving. Apply foundational knowledge of mathematics, natural sciences, and core principles of Information Technology (IT), together with digital competencies, the ability to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI), and specialized knowledge in Computer Science, to analyze, model, evaluate, and solve complex real-world problems.
PO2 · Solution and System Development. Identify problems or formulate requirements to design, develop, evaluate, deploy, operate, and improve solutions, products, or systems that address real-world needs while ensuring effectiveness, safety, security, and sustainability.
PO3 · Personal and Professional Competencies. Demonstrate comprehensive personal and professional competencies, including effective communication in English in international academic and professional environments, systems thinking, critical thinking, creative thinking, an entrepreneurial mindset, adaptability, self-directed learning, and lifelong learning.
PO4 · Independent and Collaborative Work. Work independently and collaborate effectively as a team member or team leader to conduct research, develop solutions, and address real-world problems.
PO5 · Ethics and Social Responsibility. Demonstrate professional ethics and responsibility, comply with applicable laws, identify and evaluate the impacts of IT and AI solutions on people, society, and the environment, and contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of Vietnam and the international community.

Programme learning outcomes

A. Knowledge and Problem Solving

PLO1 Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural sciences, and core principles of information technology to solve professional problems.
PLO2 Analyze, model, and evaluate complex problems in computer science based on disciplinary knowledge and appropriate information sources in order to propose solutions.
PLO3 Select and apply appropriate digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and modern methods, processes, and tools to solve professional problems effectively, safely, and responsibly.
PLO4 Conduct research or professional investigation through literature review, data collection and analysis, experimentation, and reasoning to draw evidence-based conclusions.

B. Solution Design and Development

PLO5 Formulate or elicit and analyze requirements to design, develop, integrate, and test solutions, products, or systems that address real-world needs while ensuring effectiveness, safety, security, privacy, and sustainability.
PLO6 Deploy, operate, maintain, evaluate, and improve solutions, products, or systems using appropriate methods, processes, and tools.

C. Personal and Professional Competencies

PLO7 Communicate effectively in English in academic and professional environments to interpret, present, discuss, and exchange professional information.
PLO8 Apply systems thinking, critical thinking, and creative thinking to adapt to change, engage proactively in self-directed learning, update knowledge, and propose innovative or entrepreneurial ideas.

D. Independent and Collaborative Work

PLO9 Work independently and collaborate effectively in diverse professional environments as a team member or team leader, including organizing, coordinating, and managing assigned tasks.

E. Ethics and Social Responsibility

PLO10 Recognize professional responsibilities, apply ethical and legal principles to make appropriate decisions, and evaluate the impacts of technological solutions on people, organizations, society, and the environment.

The objective–outcome matrix and the course–outcome matrix for each intake are in its Programme Specification (Official documents). A Vietnamese version of the outcomes is published on the University admissions portal.

Structure

At least 163 credits in three blocks

Students complete at least 163 credits, excluding Physical Education and National Defence Education. These requirements must be passed and do not count towards the GPA. The whole programme is equivalent to about 251 ECTS under the University's conversion rules; the ECTS value of each course is stated in the intake's curriculum.

110 credits

Compulsory

Computer Science (56): ten compulsory courses plus 16 credits chosen from six; Mathematics (16) and Physics (12); Non-CS (26): Critical Thinking, Scientific Method, Technical Writing, political theory and law.

≥ 43 credits

Electives

Mathematics (≥ 8): at least two of Calculus III, Group Theory, Number Theory, Applied Statistics II. Computer Science (≈ 35): from 29 four-credit CS4xx electives; CS credits taken beyond the core count here.

10 credits

Graduation

Thesis (CS468, 10 credits) or Capstone Project I and II (CS469 + CS470, 5 + 5 credits). Thesis & Capstone.

not counted

Conditions

Physical Education 1–2 and National Defence Education must be passed but are excluded from the 163 credits and the GPA. The programme has no formal tracks; students shape their own focus through electives.

Credit figures follow the 2025 Programme Specification. Students follow their own intake documents.

Courses

Course list

Courses carry four credits unless stated otherwise. Codes follow the Portland State University scheme. Check the curriculum for your intake for the applicable course list.

Code	Course	Credits
CS160	Introduction to Computer Science	4
CS163	Data Structures	4
CS201	Computer Systems Programming	4
CS202	Programming Systems	4
CS250	Discrete Structures I	4
CS300	Elements of Software Engineering	4
CS323	Social, Ethical, and Legal Issues	4
CS333	Introduction to Operating Systems	4
CS486	Introduction to Database Systems	4
ECE341	Computer Hardware	4

Choose 16 credits from

Code	Course	Credits
CS251	Logical Structures	4
CS252	Computational Thinking	4
CS311	Computational Structures	4
CS320	Principles of Programming Languages	4
CS350	Algorithms and Complexity	4
CS420	Artificial Intelligence	4

Code	Course	Credits
MTH251	Calculus I	4
MTH252	Calculus II	4
MTH261	Introduction to Linear Algebra	4
STAT451	Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I	4
PH211	General Physics I	4
PH212	General Physics II	4
PH213	General Physics III	4

Mathematics electives — at least two courses (8 credits)

MTH253 Calculus IIIMTH344 Group TheoryMTH346 Number TheorySTAT452 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists II

Code	Course	Credits
CM102	Critical Thinking	4
SC203	Scientific Method	4
WR227	Technical Writing	4
BAA00101	Marxist–Leninist Philosophy	3
BAA00102	Marxist–Leninist Political Economics	2
BAA00103	Scientific Socialism	2
BAA00104	History of the Communist Party of Vietnam	2
BAA00003	Ho Chi Minh's Ideology	2
BAA00004	General Law	3

Physical Education 1–2 (BAA00021, BAA00022) and National Defence Education (BAA00030) must be passed but are not counted.

AI and data

CS412 Computer VisionCS414 Machine LearningCS415 Optimization MethodsCS416 Data Modeling and IntegrationCS417 Game Theory, Multi-Agent and Social AlgorithmsCS418 Introduction to Natural Language ProcessingCS419 Introduction to Information RetrievalCS435 Introduction to Big Data AnalyticsCS436 Deep LearningCS437 Large Language Model

Software and applications

CS421 Software Requirements EngineeringCS422 Software Analysis and DesignCS423 Software TestingCS424 Web Application DevelopmentCS426 Mobile Application DevelopmentCS428 E-commerceCS430 Human Computer Interaction

Graphics and games

CS411 Computer GraphicsCS427 3D Visualization and Game Development

Networks and security

CS431 Wireless NetworkCS432 CryptographyCS433 Network SecurityCS434 Computer SecurityCS494 Internetworking Protocols

Innovation, entrepreneurship and practice

CS404 InternshipCS405 Open Economy, Entrepreneurship and EducationCS407 Technology Innovation and LeadershipCS408 Computational FinanceCS409 Entrepreneurship

CS468 Thesis (10 credits), or CS469 Capstone Project I (5) + CS470 Capstone Project II (5). See Thesis & Capstone.

Course descriptions and the curriculum of each intake (2016–2025) are published by the Office of Project-based Programmes; detailed syllabi are being published on the Faculty's Module Handbook.

Curricula and course descriptions (ctda) Module Handbook

Study plan

The model plan over twelve quarters

The model plan from the Programme Specification, without Physical Education and National Defence Education. Credits per quarter are typical values; electives are examples of what is offered in that quarter.

Year	Quarter 1	Quarter 2	Quarter 3
Year 1	CS160 Intro to CS · CM102 Critical Thinking · MTH251 Calculus I · PH211 Physics I (16 cr.)	CS163 Data Structures · MTH252 Calculus II · PH212 Physics II · BAA00004 General Law (15 cr.)	CS202 Programming Systems · MTH261 Linear Algebra · PH213 Physics III · BAA00101 Philosophy (15 cr.)
Year 2	CS201 Computer Systems Programming · CS252 Computational Thinking · CS250 Discrete Structures I · SC203 Scientific Method (16 cr.)	CS251 Logical Structures · ECE341 Computer Hardware · WR227 Technical Writing · STAT451 Statistics I (16 cr.)	CS323 Social, Ethical & Legal Issues · CS486 Databases · MTH253 Calculus III · CS426 Mobile Development · STAT452 Statistics II (16 cr.)
Year 3	CS300 Software Engineering · BAA00102 · electives: CS311, CS420 AI, CS320, CS414 Machine Learning, MTH346, CS424 Web (≥ 14 cr.)	CS333 Operating Systems · BAA00103 · electives: CS350 Algorithms, CS411 Graphics, CS430 HCI, CS422, CS436 Deep Learning, CS418 NLP (14 cr.)	Electives: CS427 3D & Games, CS494, CS404 Internship, CS428, CS434 Security, CS405, CS416, CS417 (12 cr.)
Year 4	BAA00003 · electives: CS412 Vision, CS419, CS435 Big Data, CS415, CS423 Testing, MTH344, CS437 LLM (10 cr.)	CS468 Thesis or CS469 Capstone I · BAA00104 · electives: CS421, CS407, CS409, CS408 (10 cr.)	CS468 Thesis or CS470 Capstone II · electives: CS431, CS432 Cryptography, CS433 (10 cr.)

Prerequisites and the exact sequence follow the curriculum and syllabi; the timetable of each cohort is announced by the programme office.

Thesis & Capstone

Two ways to complete the 10-credit graduation block

Students complete the graduation block in one of two forms (Programme Specification §7.3).

Thesis CS468 · 10 cr.

An individual research or development project of about 300 project hours under a lecturer's supervision, defended before a committee. Suited to students heading for research and postgraduate study.

Capstone Project I + II CS469 + CS470 · 5 + 5 cr.

A two-quarter project, usually in a team and often with an industry problem. Both parts are required: CS469 is only recognised if CS470 is completed, and CS470 cannot be taken without completing CS469.

Graduation requirements

Credits

At least 163 credits accumulated across the blocks of the curriculum, including the 10-credit graduation block.

Physical and defence education

Physical Education 1–2 and National Defence Education passed.

English

Exit language requirements follow the University rules for each intake. Check the applicable requirement with the programme office.

Regulations

Other conditions under Article 17 of the University's undergraduate training regulations (Decision 1175/QĐ-KHTN, 24/9/2021), published in the Student Handbook.

Registration conditions for Thesis and Capstone, deadlines, forms and committee schedules are announced by the programme office and the Faculty's academic affairs unit for each round.

Office of Project-based Programmes Graduation procedure (Faculty)

Teaching and assessment

How you learn and how you are assessed

Teaching

Courses are taught in English through lectures, practical work, group activities, projects and case studies. Materials and submissions are managed through the programme Moodle.

Assessment

The syllabus specifies each course assessment, including assignments, tests, projects, examinations or presentations. Weights are published at the start of the course. A committee assesses Thesis and Capstone work; University rules govern examinations, appeals and retakes.

Official documents

Curriculum issued by cohort

Each intake has its own curriculum issued by the Rector. Open the PDF for your intake (hosted by the Office of Project-based Programmes; most are in Vietnamese); the 2026 curriculum is being prepared.

K2025

Decision 2848/QĐ-KHTN

PDF

Course descriptions (APCS Program Descriptions)

Summary descriptions of the programme's courses, in English.

Open PDF

ctda

Equivalent-course lists

General list and annexes for the 2023 and 2024 intakes: 2023 · 2024.

Open general list

Faculty site

Module Handbook

Syllabi cover objectives, weekly content, assessment and reading. The Faculty is updating this resource.

Open Module Handbook

This site summarises the Programme Specification of the 2025 intake (Decision 2848/QĐ-KHTN). Where it differs from the issued curriculum of your cohort, the issued document prevails.