2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Computer Science
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Computer Science (Northern Virginia Community College)
Associate degree
Program description
The Department of Computer Science offers undergraduate and graduate programs. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a rigorous, highly concentrated curriculum of computer science courses. It includes advanced study in several important areas of computer science and provides a strong foundation in this discipline. Every course is taught by full-time faculty members who also serve as advisers to both undergraduate and graduate students.
The master’s degree program
emphasizes continuing self-development of individuals currently engaged in
science-, technology- and engineering-related fields. It prepares persons who
have completed undergraduate majors in these fields for entry into careers in
areas that use computing technology. Both the theoretical and applied aspects
of computer science are emphasized in this program. The program offers courses
in a wide range of areas in computer science, including machine learning,
artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing, data mining,
bioinformatics, and medical informatics.
Career opportunities
Computer science (CS) spans
the range from theory through programming to cutting-edge development of
computing solutions. Computer science offers a foundation that permits
graduates to adapt to new technologies and new ideas. The work of computer
scientists falls into three categories: a) designing and building software; b)
developing effective ways to solve computing problems, such as storing information
in databases, sending data over networks or providing new approaches to
security problems; and c) devising new and better ways of using computers and
addressing particular challenges in areas such as robotics, computer vision, or
digital forensics.
Bachelor-level job titles
- Computer programmer
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Data engineer or architect
- Project manager
- Sales engineer
- Scrum master
- Software engineer or developer
- Software quality assurance and test engineer
- Web or mobile app developer
Graduate and professional level job titles
- College Professor
- Computer Architecture Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Lead Software Engineer
- Machine Learning Engineer/Scientist
- Project Leader
- Research & Development Engineer
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
Review requirements of EngineeringAdmission Agreement
Completion of associate degree (A.S. in Engineering or A.S. in Science)
Minimum GPA of 3.0
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Earn a minimum grade of "B" in all your math, science and engineering classes
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- MATH 201 or higher
Science required
- 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
- No
Additional tuition/fees
- Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- 2.0
Transfer major map
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Computer Science
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: Computer Science)
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Explore | Year 1 |
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| Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the admissions process by speaking with the VCU Transfer Admissions representative at NOVA.
- Visit the VCU Transfer Admissions webpage.
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Review VCU's College of Engineering website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
- Attend cultural events at NOVA and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or College of Engineering-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Computer Science through the NOVA career planning system.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take a career assessment through the NOVA career planning system.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and explore VCU's Career Pathways.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Understand how you will fund your education by taking advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with your academic advisor or counselor.
- Complete requirements for the associate’s degree. Earn at least a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Continue to use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Join a professional organization related to computer science: Association for Computing Machinery, IEEE Computer Society.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Get involved with service-learning opportunities.
- Continue to partner with diversity leader/ facilitator/ mentor to move towards cultural competence.
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL.
- Speak with employers that visit campus throughout the year.
- Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
- Run for leadership in your student organization.
- If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Computer Science
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: Computer Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV | SDV 100 or SDV 101 | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
| Social/Behavioral Science #1 | Select 1: PLS 135 American National Politics OR PLS 211 United States Government I OR PSY 200 Principles of Psychology OR SOC 200 Principles of Sociology OR SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology I | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| MTH 167 | MTH 167 Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry (Students taking the two semester sequence of precalculus must take both MTH 161 and 162 for a total of 6 credits) | MATH 151 | 5 | General education |
| CSC 200 | Introduction to Computer Science | CMSC 2XX | 4 | Elective |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 263 | MTH 263 Calculus I (earn minimum grade of "B") | MATH 200 | 4 | Major |
| CST | CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking OR CST 110 Introduction to Communication | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
| Humanities/Fine Arts #1 | Select 1: ART 101 History and Appreciation of Art I OR ART 102 History and Appreciation of Art II OR PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy I OR PHI 111 Logic I OR PHI 220 Ethics OR REL 100 Introduction to the Study of Religion OR REL 231 Religions of the World I | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| CSC 201 | Computer Science I (earn minimum grade of "B") | CMSC 255 | 4 | Major |
| MTH 264 | MTH 264 Calculus II (earn minimum grade of "B") | MATH 201 | 4 | Major |
| Social/Behavioral Science #2 | Select 1: HIS 101 History of Western Civilization I OR HIS 111 History of World Civilization I OR HIS 121 United States History I OR PSY 200 Principles of Psychology OR SOC 200 Principles of Sociology . | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Science #1 | BIO 101 General Biology I OR CHM 111 College Chemistry I OR PHY 231 General University Physics I (students must select a two-semester sequence) | BIOL/Z 151 or CHEM/Z 101 or PHYS 207 | 4 | Major |
| CSC 202 | CSC 202 Computer Science II (earn minimum grade of "B") | CMSC 256 | 4 | Major |
| Computer Science elective | CSC 205 Computer Organization | CMSC 311 | 4 | Major |
| Social/Behavioral Science #3 | Select 1: HIS 102 History of Western Civilization II OR HIS 112 History of World Civilization II OR HIS 122 United States History II OR PSY 216 Social Psychology OR PSY 230 Developmental Psychology OR SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Humanities/Fine Arts #2 | (Select 1): CST 151 Film Appreciation I OR ENG 241 Survey of American Literature I OR ENG 242 Survey of American Literature II OR ENG 243 Survey of English Literature I OR ENG 244 Survey of English Literature II OR ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I OR ENG 252 Survey of World Literature II | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Science #2 | Select 1: BIO 102 General Biology II OR CHM 112 College Chemistry II OR PHY 232 General University Physics II | BIOL/Z 152 or CHEM/Z 102 or PHYS 208 | 4 | Major |
| Northern Virginia Credits transferred to VCU | 62 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development & Market | 3 | Major |
| MATH | Select 2 upper-level MATH course (300-level) | 6 | Major |
| STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | 3 | Major |
| BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS course that counts toward major in that science | 3 | Major | |
| BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS course that counts toward major in that science | 3 | Major | |
| CMSC 257 | Computer Systems | 4 | Major |
| CMSC 302 | Introduction to Discrete Structures | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 303 | Introduction to the Theory of Computation | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 312 | Introduction to Operating Systems | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 355 | Software Engineering: Specification and Design | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 401 | Algorithm Analysis with Advanced Data Structures | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 403 | Programming Languages | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 440 | Data Communication and Networking | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 451 | Senior Project I | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 452 | Senior Project II | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 508 | Database Theory | 3 | Major |
| CMSC | CMSC upper-level electives (300- or 400-level) | 9 | Major |
| Credits completed at VCU | 61 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 123 | ||