2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Computer Science
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Computer Science (Piedmont 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
Piedmont 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explore | Year 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Experience | Year 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Review PVCC Steps to Enrollment information.
- Register for SDV 100.
- Schedule an advising appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use Academic Support Services or the Student Success Office to get ahead.
- Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Review VCU's College of Engineering website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Computer Science through the Virginia Wizard.
- Review the resources of the Student Financial Resource Center to look into building a financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Schedule an advising appointment every semester.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use Academic Support Services or the Student Success Office to get ahead.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Explore the VCU College of Engineering website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU College of Engineering and consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Consider learning a second foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- 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
- Find out about VCU REAL.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
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
Piedmont Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: Computer Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 | College Success Skills | 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 |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| CSC 110 | Introduction to Computing | INFO 160, 161, 162 | 3 | Elective |
| CSC 201 | Computer Science I (minimum grade of "B") | CMSC 255 | 4 | Major |
| CSC 202 | Computer Science I (minimum grade of "B") | CMSC 256 | 4 | Major |
| CSC 205 | Computer Organization (minimum grade of "B") | CMSC 311 | 4 | Major |
| MTH 167 | Precalculus with Trigonometry (or 3 credits elective if placed into MTH 263) | MATH 151 | 3 to 5 | General education |
| MTH 263 | Calculus I (minimum grade of "B") | MATH 200 | 4 | Major |
| MTH 264 | Calculus II (minimum grade of "B") | MATH 201 | 4 | Major |
| MTH 288 | Discrete Mathematics (minimum grade of "B") | MATH 211 | 3 | Elective |
| Laboratory Science I | Select 1: BIO 101, CHM 111, or PHY 241 (minimum grade of "B") | BIOL/Z 151 or CHEM/Z 101 or PHYS 207 | 4 | Major |
| Laboratory Science II | Take second course in the sequence of BIO (102), CHM (112), or PHY (242) (minimum grade of "B") | BIOL/Z 152 or CHEM/Z 102 or PHYS 208 | 4 | Major |
| Humanities | Select 1: ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 250; PHI 100, 200; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Humanities | Select 1: ENG 200-level literature; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 250; PHI 100, 200; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Social Science | Select 1: PSY 200, SOC 200, 210, PLS 135, 211, 241 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Social Science | ECO 201 Macroeconomics (the combination of ECO 201-202 fulfills the ECON 205 requirement at VCU) | ECON 211 | 3 | Major |
| Social Science | ECO 202 Microeconomics (the combination of ECO 201-202 fulfills the ECON 205 requirement at VCU) | ECON 210 | 3 | Major |
| Transfer elective | Laboratory science (select 1 not selected for the two semester laboratory science requirement): BIO 101, CHM 111, or PHY 241 | VCU equivalent | 4 | Major |
| PVCC credits transferred to VCU | 65 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATH | Select 2 upper-level MATH course | 6 | Major |
| Natural Science | BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS course that counts toward major in that science | 3 | Major |
| STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | 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 I | 3 | Major |
| CMSC 508 | Database Theory | 3 | Major |
| CMSC | CMSC upper-level electives | 9 | Major |
| Credits completed at VCU | 55 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||