Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Math/Computer Science (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College
Associate degree

Associate of Science: Math/Computer Science

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

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

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.7
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Highest level of math required
  • MATH 307
  • STAT 212
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
2024-2025

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Math/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
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience Year 2
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or College of Engineering-related events.
  • Consider learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two job experiences, (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
  • 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.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Attend cultural events at RBC 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
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Apply to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or College of Engineering-related events.
  • Consider learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two job experiences, (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
  • 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.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Math/Computer Science)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
ENGL 101 Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Research II UNIV 200 3 General education
Language & Ideas Select 1: ENGL 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 211, 214, 215, 216, PHIL 101, 201, 202, 203, 270, REL 201, 209, 210, 270, COMM 101, 102, 201. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Fine Arts Select 1: ART 201, 202, 231, MUS 103, MUS 123, THEA 201. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Human Experience Select 1: ANTH 103, PHIL 101, 121, 201, 202, 203, PSY 201-202, 217, 218, 240, 250, 292, 295, REL 201, 209, 210, SOC 201, 204, 208, 250, 253. VCU equivalent 3 General education
ECON 202 Principles of Economics - Micro (substitute for the ECON 205 requirement) ECON 210 3 Major (Ancillary)
MATH 251 Calculus I MATH 200 4 Major (Ancillary)
MATH 252 Calculus II MATH 201 4 Major (Ancillary)
MATH 261 Multivariable Calculus MATH 307 3 Major (Ancillary)
CSCI 221 Programming for Computer Science & Engineering Majors I CMSC 255 4 Major
CSCI 222 Programming for Computer Science & Engineering Majors II CMSC 2XX 4 Elective
PHYS 201 University Physics I PHYS 207 4 Major (Ancillary)
PHYS 202 University Physics II PHYS 208 4 Major (Ancillary)
Complete requirements for associate degree VCU equivalent 15 Elective
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
CMSC 235 Computing and Data Ethics 3 Major
CMSC 254 Introduction to Problem-solving 4 Major
CMSC 256 Introduction to Data Structures 4 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 304 Programming Languages 3 Major
CMSC 311 Computer Organization 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 408 Algorithm Analysis with Advanced Data Structures 3 Major
CMSC 440 Data Communication and Networking 3 Major
CMSC 441 + CMSC 451 Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) + Senior Project I 3 Major
CMSC 442 + CMSC 452 Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) + Senior Project II 3 Major
CMSC CMSC upper-level electives 9 Major
ENGR 395 Professional Development 1 Major (Ancillary)
STAT 212 Concepts of Statistics 3 Major (Ancillary)
Credits completed at VCU 61
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 30 undergraduate credit hours including six computer science courses CMSC 255, CMSC 256, CMSC 257, CMSC 302, CMSC 303 and CMSC 311; an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.4 in the six courses identified above.