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2025-2026

Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science in Engineering (Brightpoint Community College)
Brightpoint Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Science in Engineering

Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

Computer engineers are responsible for developing the powerful computer systems that have become a part of our everyday life. Applications for computer engineering span the spectrum from high-performance, general-purpose computing systems such as desktop workstations used in all facets of business, to small microprocessors embedded in larger systems and functioning as controllers. These latter applications, known as embedded systems, can be found in control systems for trains, aircraft and automobiles; medical equipment; telecommunications systems; and consumer electronics and appliances. This explosive growth of computer systems in use in almost every new appliance or vehicle has resulted in a strong demand for engineers trained in the development of these systems, and all indications are that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.

Career opportunities

Computer engineers (or computer hardware engineers) research, design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacture and installation of computer hardware, including computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, routers, and printers.


This field should not be confused with computer software engineers, who design and develop the software systems that control computers. The work of computer hardware engineers is similar to that of electrical engineers in that they may design and test circuits and other electronic components; however, computer hardware engineers do that work only as it relates to computers and computer-related equipment. They work on the design, planning, development, testing, and even the supervision of manufacturing of computer hardware -- including everything from chips to device controllers. They also focus on computer networks for the transmission of data and multimedia. The work of a computer engineer is grounded in the hardware -- from circuits to architecture -- but also focuses on operating systems and software. Computer engineers must understand logic design, microprocessor system design, computer architecture, computer interfacing, and continually focus on system requirements and design.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Computer engineer
  • Computer network architects
  • Computer systems engineer
  • Controls engineer
  • Hardware design engineer
  • Mechatronics engineer
  • Microsystems engineer
  • Network engineer
  • Product engineer
  • Test engineer
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • College Professor
  • Lead Research Scientist
  • Research & Development Engineer
  • Senior Embedded Software Engineer
  • System Architect
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

Students are guaranteed admission to this degree program with:

  • Completion of associate degree (A.S. in Engineering)
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5
  • 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 307
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
Additional tuition/fees
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 3.0+ cumulative GPA to declare
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Computer Engineering

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Brightpoint Community College (Associate of Science in Engineering)

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
  • Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
  • Schedule an advising appointment with your Brightpoint advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Explore the concentrations of computer engineering: autonomy and artificial intelligence and digital hardware design.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU College of Engineering, 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.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
  • Schedule an advising appointment with your Brightpoint advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Explore the concentrations of computer engineering: autonomy and artificial intelligence and digital hardware design.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU College of Engineering, 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.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Brightpoint Community College (Associate of Science in Engineering)

Brightpoint Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
EGR 121 Foundations of Engineering (both EGR 121 and EGR 122 must be completed to receive credit for VCU equivalents) EGRE 101 2 Major
EGR 122 Engineering Design (both EGR 121 and EGR 122 must be completed to receive credit for VCU equivalents) EGRE 101 3 Major
MTH 263 Calculus I (consult with your Brightpoint advisor about prerequisites for this class) MATH 200 4 Major
MTH 264 Calculus II MATH 201 4 Major
PHY 241 University Physics I PHYS 207 4 Major
PHY 242 University Physics II PHYS 208 4 Major
MTH 266 Linear Algebra MATH 310 3 Major
MTH 267 Differential Equations MATH 301 3 Major
Arts Select one: ART 101, ART 102, CST 151, CST 130, MUS 121, MUS 226 VCU equivalent 3 General education
History Select one: HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122 HIST 3 General education
Humanities/Literature PHI 220 Ethics PHIL 201 3 Major
Social/Behavioral ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics (substitute for the ECON 205 requirement) ECON 210 3 Major
CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major
EGR 125 Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers (programming language must be C++ to receive credit for VCU equivalent) EGRE 245 3 Major
EGR 270 Fundamentals of Computer Engineering EGRE 254 4 Major
EGR 271 Electric Circuits I EGRE 206 4 Major
EGR 272 Electric Circuits II EGRE 207 4 Major
Brightpoint credits transferred to VCU 65
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
ENGR 395 Professional Development(consider taking this class over the summer prior to your enrollment at VCU) 1 Major
CMSC 302 Introduction to Discrete Structures 3 Major
EGRE 201 Fundamentals of Electrical and Computer Engineering 3 Major
EGRE 246 Advanced Engineering Programming 3 Major
EGRE 335 Signals and Systems 4 Major
EGRE 337 Statistical Information Processing 3 Major
EGRE 399 Fundamentals of Design and Analysis 3 Major
Select one of the following sequences: EGRE 404 + EGRE 405 or EGRE 406 + EGRE 407 4 Major
EGRE 347 Applied Embedded Programming 3 Major
EGRE 364 Microcomputer Systems 4 Major
EGRE 365 Digital Systems 4 Major
EGRE 426 Computer Organization and Design 3 Major
EGRE 526 Computer Networks and Communications 3 Major
CMSC 405 Operating Systems 3 Major
Math/Science elective (see VCU advisor for course options) 3 Major
Major elective (see VCU advisor for course options) 3 Major
Technical and professional electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 15 Major
Credits completed at VCU 65
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 127
VCU offers students four options for accelerated B.S. and M.S. programs: B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, B.S. and M.S. in Engineering, and B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. These accelerated programs allow academically talented students to earn both the B.S. in Computer Engineering and M.S. degree in a minimum of five and a half years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Please consult with a VCU advisor for information about minimum qualifications for entrance to the accelerated programs.