Are you searching for accredited computer science degree programs in North Carolina? As the 10th most populous state with two of its largest metropolitan areas ranked among the top ten fastest-growing in the United States, North Carolina is a hub for educational opportunities in the Southeast with many of the highest ranked universities in the region. Although the state once had an economy that depended on tobacco, North Carolina has undergone serious transition to have a more diversified economy with strong biotechnology, engineering, energy, and finance industries. The following are the accredited computer science degrees that can unlock professional opportunities in the high-demand computing fields of the “Tar Heel State.”

Appalachian State University

College of Arts and Science

Nestled on a 1,300-acre rural campus in the town of Boone within the heart of heart of the state’s High Country at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian State University is a large comprehensive public research institution that enrolls around 17,000 students. As one of the “Best in the Southeast” by the prestigious Princeton Review, Appalachian State is ranked as the 9th best college, 3rd top public school, and 10th best value university in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. Within the College of Arts and Science, the Computer Science Department is committed to rigorous education that prepares graduates for professional success in the computing industry.

B.S. in Computer Science

Founded with the primary objective of offering a quality accredited program of instruction that will prepare undergraduate students for a successful career in computer science or entry into graduate school, the B.S. in Computer Science program provides students with a strong introduction to the foundations of computer science with a broad variety of experiences with equipment and applications. The program is designed to build a strong sense of professional ethics, written and oral communication skills, analytical abilities, and technological expertise. In addition to the 120-credit curriculum, many students participate in a co-op program to work in the industry for two stints in the junior and senior year.

M.S. in Computer Science

Offered in a 30-credit thesis track or a 36-credit non-thesis track, the M.S. in Computer Science program is geared towards qualified graduate students who would like to receive advanced training beyond the baccalaureate level to develop professional competence or prepare for future doctoral study. Through a balance of theory and applications in the basic areas of computer science, the program can be completed in two years or less with appropriate accredited undergraduate education. For completion, students must be able to achieve a B or higher in each major core course or receive a passing score on a comprehensive examination.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

287 Rivers Street
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-2370
info@cs.appstate.edu
http://compsci.appstate.edu/academics

Fayetteville State University

College of Arts and Sciences

Since being founded in 1867 as the second comprehensive public four-year institution in the state for educating African Americans, Fayetteville State University has rapidly grown to become one of the nation’s most diverse campus communities with over 6,300 students in southeastern North Carolina. Within the country’s 25th best historically black college according to the U.S. News and World Report, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science is dedicated to preparing students from historically underrepresented groups to enter careers in mathematics, computer science, technology, education, and engineering.

B.S. in Computer Science

Designed to prepare undergraduate students with the specialized training needed for careers in teaching, business, industry, and government, the B.S. in Computer Science program is strongly focused on providing a well-rounded education that develops the professional competence needed to apply knowledge of algorithmic principles, mathematical foundations, and computer science theories within the computing discipline. Since computer science is a discipline with strong links to many inter-disciplinary fields, the 120-credit program allows students to obtain unparalleled flexibility in pursuing electives in allied interests and gain depth of applied learning in hands-on field experiences with industry leaders.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 672-1664
dhouse@uncfsu.edu
http://www.uncfsu.edu/macsc/degree-programs

North Carolina A&T State University

College of Engineering

Ranked as the 8th best historically black college with the 157th best online bachelor’s degree programs in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report survey, North Carolina A&T State University is an award-winning public land-grant research institution based on a 713-acre urban campus in downtown Greensboro. With more than 8,900 students, NC A&T is renowned for being the largest agricultural school among historically black universities and the second largest producer of minority agricultural graduates in the United States. Within the College of Engineering, the Department of Computer Science is focused on developing computer scientists for prosperous careers in the creative engineering aspects of software design and development.

B.S. in Computer Science

As an upper-division professional degree, the B.S. in Computer Science program is available for undergraduate students at NC A&T who have already completed at least 32 credit hours of general education requirements in English, Science, Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Foreign Language. Requiring the successful completion of at least 124 total credit hours within four to five years full-time, the program goes beyond basic computer programming to introduce students to game design, cyber security, software engineering, computational science, robotics, computational hip-hop, software design, and more. Graduates will possess a broad understanding of the design, implementation, and application of computer software systems to pursue entry-level positions in the computing industry or further education in graduate school.

M.S. in Computer Science

With the goal of combining basic fundamentals of computer science with practical skills and technical experience in the most advanced technologies, the M.S. in Computer Science program is designed to cover a broad range of aspects in computational science while performing innovative research for the furthering of knowledge in the computing industry. In addition to the General Track, master’s students can choose a specialization in Software Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering, Information Assurance, Secure Software Engineering, or Artificial Intelligence. While the traditional Thesis option consists of 30 credit hours, students can also pursue the Project option of 33 credits to work on a team-based project.

Ph.D. in Computer Science

Available with tracks for qualified graduate students with a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an ABET-accredited institution in computer science, the Ph.D. in Computer Science program is strongly focused on boosting the number of African American doctoral students working in the intelligence community to provide innovative solutions to critical computer security issues. The program is intended for graduate students who are seeking advanced professional opportunities for a career in teaching or research at the university level. Depending on personal interests, the 73-credit curriculum offers hands-on research experience in biometrics, computational science, cyber security, genetic evolutionary computing, multiagent systems, and software engineering.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1601 East Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27411
(336) 285-3693
compsci@ncat.edu
http://www.ncat.edu/academics/schools-colleges1/coe/comp/

North Carolina State University

College of Engineering

Standing proudly as the largest four-year comprehensive public research institution in the state with a total headcount of over 34,000 students, North Carolina State University is based on a 2,200-acre urban campus in the center of the state’s world-famous Research Triangle in the capital city of Raleigh. Consistently recognized as a “Best Value” by the prestigious Princeton Review, NC State is ranked as the 101st best college, 47th top public school, and 8th best up-and-coming university in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. In the College of Engineering, the Department of Computer Science is also acclaimed for having the 48th best graduate computer science programs.

B.S. in Computer Science

Offered with or without an optional concentration in Game Development, the B.S. in Computer Science degree program has been structured to provide a first-rate undergraduate preparation for obtaining entry-level employment or graduate school admissions. As a top-tier program that ranks third nationwide in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in computer science, the curriculum is focused on blending fundamental scientific and engineering principles with extensive exposure to the latest cutting-edge technologies. In addition to the 120-credit traditional undergraduate program, students can join the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) degree program to pursue both an undergraduate and graduate degree in computer science within just five years total.

Master of Computer Science

As a terminal professional degree program that provides a variety of excellent educational opportunities to graduate students from all over the world, the Master of Computer Science program can be obtained through on-campus enrollment as well as distance learning with online computer science degree courses available anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. With no Master’s thesis or comprehensive examination required, the program requires the completion of just 31 credits within one year full-time or two to three years part-time. For students seeking a more research-oriented degree with a thesis option, there is a pathway to pursue a Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science with 31 graduate credits as well.

Ph.D. in Computer Science

Designed to provide the most-advanced education that can be attained in the computing industry with a distinctive focus on research participation, the Ph.D. in Computer Science program enables qualified graduate students to work closely with a faculty mentor and advisory committee to conduct original research. In addition to 72 credit hours earned in the classroom, the curriculum includes internships with government or industry leading research firms, international trips to conferences to network with researchers all over the world, and a culminating doctoral dissertation. Students with an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science who have a desire to do cutting-edge research are welcome to apply.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

890 Oval Drive Box 8206
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 515-2011
advising@csc.ncsu.edu
http://www.csc.ncsu.edu/academics/

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Department of Computer Science

First chartered in 1891 as one of the three original public research institutions in the statewide university system, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is now home to more than 17,500 students on a 210-acre urban campus in the central region of the state at the strategic midway point between our nation’s capital and the booming metropolitan hub of Atlanta. According to the U.S. News and World Report, UNCG is ranked as the 190th best college and 108th top public school in the nation. Within the student-centered research university, the Department of Computer Science is focused on fostering intellectual growth through high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs designed for preparing computer scientists.

B.S. in Computer Science

Fully accredited through the Computing Accreditation Commission of the ABET, the B.S. in Computer Science program is designed to educate undergraduate students on the basic fundamentals of computer with the goal of preparing graduates to make positive contributions in the computing industry with world-changing technologies. As a popular and thriving program at UNCG, the curriculum introduces students to the programming languages of Java, C++, Prolog, and PHP as well as the platforms for Windows and Unix/Linux machines. Although credit is not given, the program’s faculty assists all undergraduate students with obtaining part-time employment to gain hands-on experience in computer science and enhance their long-term potential with top industry employers.

M.S. in Computer Science

Available for qualified graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from an accredited institution who have a basic understanding of object-oriented programming, data structures, computer organization, and algorithms, the M.S. in Computer Science program is intended to build depth in preparation for advanced careers in computing fields. Since the program also seeks to develop research competence through participation in active research projects and graduate assistantships, students are also well-prepared for gaining admissions into a Ph.D. program in computer science. For completion, students must earn at least 30 semester hours with a comprehensive exam, project, or Master’s thesis.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1400 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27402
(336) 256-1112
ComputerScience@uncg.edu
http://www.uncg.edu/cmp/about/

University of North Carolina Wilmington

College of Arts and Sciences

Situated on a 661-acre urban campus in the historical seaport community of Wilmington between the Cape Fear River and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, the University of North Carolina Wilmington is a comprehensive four-year public research institution with more than 12,200 students.  UNCW is currently ranked as the 15th best college and 6th top public school in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. In the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Computer Science is dedicated to integrating quality teaching and mentoring with research in an enriching student-centered environment.

B.S. in Computer Science

Intended to produce graduates who can entry into professions of computer science as well as continue their education at the graduate level, the B.S. in Computer Science program features a broad-based foundation for undergraduate students to have a perspective of the rapidly growing and evolving science behind technological advances. Depending on career goals, students have the freedom to select a concentration in Biology, Business, Chemistry, Digital Arts, Geographic Information Science, or Statistics. Regardless of concentration area, all students will need at least 120 credits for graduation with coursework in computer programming, operating systems, 3-D computer graphics, data structures, computer organization, artificial intelligence, and software engineering.

Master of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems (MSCSIS)

In partnership with the Cameron School of Business’ Information Systems and operations Management Department, the Master of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems (MSCSIS) program follows an intensive graduate curriculum aimed at preparing students to assume leadership roles in the development and implement of computer and/or information systems in a fast-paced industry. Through a blend of theoretical underpinning and technical skills in practical experience, the program requires the completion of 36 semester hours. Graduates have gone on to excel at ATMC, AT&T, Boeing, Corning, EMC, GE Hitachi, IBM, Mitsubishi, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Tritech Software Systems, and more.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 962-7182
pattersonl@uncw.edu
http://uncw.edu/csc/about/index.html

Winston-Salem State University

College of Arts and Sciences

As a comprehensive four-year public historically black institution with more than 6,100 diverse students, Winston-Salem State University is situated on a 117-acre urban campus in the metropolitan hub of Winston-Salem in the central Piedmont Triad region. With its outstanding commitment to its students, WSSU is currently ranked as the 62nd best college and 26th top public school in the South as well as the 17th top historically black college in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. In the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Computer Science provides a balanced approach to preparing graduates for careers in a wide variety of computer technology fields.

B.S. in Computer Science

With the goal of providing undergraduate students with a broad knowledge base in computer science as well as the freedom to pursue further concentrated areas of specific interests, the B.S. in Computer Science program offers in-depth understanding on the foundations of computer programming languages, computer architecture, artificial intelligence, simulation, computational science, and data structures. Along with formal class instruction for a grand total of at least 122 credit hours, students are strongly encouraged to participate in a co-operative training or internship program as early as the end of the sophomore year to develop work experience.

Minor in Computer Science

For undergraduate students at Winston-Salem State University who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree outside of the Department of Computer Science, there is a Minor in Computer Science available to supplement major core coursework from all academic disciplines. With the goal of developing increased computer literacy and professional competence to enhance career advancement opportunities within one’s own field of study, the minor requires the completion of at least 19 credits in good standing. Computer science minors must take courses in computer programming, computer science lab, data structures, programming language, database management, computer architecture, and a free elective.

M.S. in Computer Science and Information Technology

Featuring a total of 30-33 credit hours with a Master’s thesis or comprehensive examination, the M.S. in Computer Science and Information Technology program is designed to provide a unique pedagogic composition to further knowledge beyond the undergraduate level for students with an accredited bachelor’s degree in any technical field. Combining a traditional computer science core with applied learning courses in information technology, the program is focused on building the skill sets needed to solve a variety of information need problems. Since the program is intended to satisfy post-baccalaureate development for working professionals, all courses within the core curriculum are offered in a convenient evening format.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

601 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
(336) 750-2480
jonese@wssu.edu
Website

In order to ensure that you have the right mix of skills and hands-on experience to qualify for a broad range of career paths in thriving technical fields, do not forget to check out these accredited computer science degree programs in North Carolina that are focused on cutting-edge innovative technologies.