Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Computer Science (Piedmont Virginia Community College)
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
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 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

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Review requirements of Engineering Admission 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

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)
  • 3.0+ cumulative GPA

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

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
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
Experience Year 2
  • 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.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a 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.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
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
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
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 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.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • 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.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

Piedmont Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: Computer Science)

Piedmont Virginia Community College courses
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 (Ancillary)
MTH 264 Calculus II (minimum grade of "B") MATH 201 4 Major (Ancillary)
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 (Ancillary)
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 (Ancillary)
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 (Ancillary)
PVCC credits transferred to VCU 65
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
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
STAT 212 Concepts of Statistics 3 Major (Ancillary)
MATH Select 2 upper-level MATH course 6 Major (Ancillary)
Natural Science BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS course that counts toward major in that science 3 Major (Ancillary)
Credits completed at VCU 55
Bachelor's degree total 120