Major map compass icon
2021-2022

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

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Science with a specialization in computer science (Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway))
Reynolds Community College
Reynolds 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)

Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Science with a specialization in 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 Reynolds Orientation (SOAR).
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse careers related to computer science through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • ake a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
Experience Year 2
  • 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 Engineering-related events.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • 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.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • 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
  • Attend Reynolds Orientation (SOAR).
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
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
  • Browse careers related to computer science through the Virginia Wizard.
  • 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
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • ake 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
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 Engineering-related events.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • 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.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
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)

Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Science with a specialization in computer science)

Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 101 Orientation to STEM Disciplines UNIV 101 1 Elective
CSC 201 Computer Science I CMSC 255 4 Major
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
History elective U.S. or Western Civilization History (select 1): HIS 101, 102, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts Select 1: PHI 111, ENG 251, MUS 121, CST 151 VCU equivalent 3 General education
CSC 202 Computer Science I CMSC 256 4 Major
MTH 263 Calculus I MATH 200 4 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
History elective U.S. or Western Civilization History (select 1): HIS 101, 102, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
CSC 208 Introduction to Discrete Structures CSMC 302 3 Major
Laboratory Science I Select 1: BIO 101, CHM 111, or PHY 241 VCU equivalent 4 Major
MTH 264 Calculus II MATH 201 4 Major
Humanities Select one: PHI 220, ENG 241, ART 100, or CST 229 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Approved elective MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 212 3 Major
CSC 205 Computer Organization CMSC 311 4 Major
Laboratory Science II Take second course in the sequence of BIO (102), CHM (112), or PHY (242) VCU equivalent 4 Major
Approved elective Approved MTH elective: MTH 266 or MTH 267 MATH 3 to 4 Major
Social/Behavioral Science Select 1: ECO 201, ECO 202, PSY 200, SOC 200 VCU equivalent 3 General education
HLT/PED Personal Wellness Elective VCU equivalent 1 Elective
Reynolds credits transferred to VCU 61
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
CMSC 257 Computer Systems 4 Major
CSMC 303 Introduction to the Theory of Computation 3 Major
CMSC 312 Introduction to Operating Systems 3 Major
CMSC 355 Fundamentals of Software Engineering 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 (select 9 credits) 9 Major
ECON 205 The Economics of Product Development & Market 3 Major (Ancillary)
MATH Select one upper-level MATH course (300- or 400-) 3 Major (Ancillary)
Natural science elective BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS course that counts toward major in that science 3 Major
Natural science elective BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS course that counts toward major in that science 3 Major
Open electives 7 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 59
Bachelor's degree total 120