If you’re considering accredited computer science degree programs in South Carolina, you should know that you have a wide variety of schools and programs to choose from within this state. With degrees ranging from minors in computer science to bachelors through doctorate degrees, there’s something for everyone within this field. Although known for its mild climate and agricultural contributions, South Carolina is also home to some of the best university programs in the Southeast and industries that welcome graduates of these programs. With the continuous growth of technology in today’s business climate, careers in computer science fields exist just about everywhere, contributing to the ongoing value of these degrees. To see more accredited computer science degree programs in South Carolina, visit Computer Science Degree Programs in South Carolina (A-S).

The Citadel

School of Science and Mathematics

The Citadel is a private, military institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees to more than 3,000 students, the majority of which make up the South Carolina Corps of Cadets who live and study in a classical military system. While the Corps of Cadets is made up of more than 2,000 students within the Citadel, degree programs for civilians are also offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The School of Science and Mathematics is made up of five departments that include the Mathematics and Computer Science department and together with the Schools of Engineering and Education, help to run the STEM center of the college.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Science degree in computer science provides students with a broad foundational knowledge in the computer science field that is complemented not only with the usual broad core of courses in the sciences and liberal arts, but also with courses in mathematics and with exposure to computer hardware through crossover courses within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Completion of this degree requires a total of 129 credit hours, plus completion of required physical education and ROTC courses. This total includes 17 hours of mathematics and statistics, 43 hours of required computer science courses, and 12 hours of electives, which can be used to gain a background in such areas as business administration or political science, areas heavy in the information processing aspect of computer science. Upon completion, students are prepared for careers in system analysis, system programming, or applications programmers, as well as for the pursuit of more advanced degrees in computer science.

Master of Science in Computer Science

This degree program is designed for working professionals who wish to upgrade their skills in the computer science field and is jointly offered with the College of Charleston. It requires 33 credit hours for completion, of which at least 12 are taken from a list of courses within a chosen specialization area. Students can choose from computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, and software engineering, depending upon the student’s particular interests and career goals. All students seeking this degree are required to take four core courses, combined with the four courses from their chosen specialization. The remaining nine credit hours can be completed through one of three options: completion of a six-hour research thesis course plus one elective, completion of a three-hour project thesis course plus two electives, or completion of three elective courses.

Accreditations

  • Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Contact Information

The Citadel
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Thompson Hall, Room 229
171 Moulrie Street
Charleston, SC 29409
843-953-5048
chenm@citadel.edu
http://www.citadel.edu/mathcs

University of South Carolina

College of Engineering and Computing

The University of South Carolina is a public state university that ranks highly in areas of top honors programs and top international programs, among others, in publications such as Kiplinger’s Inc. and U.S. News and World Reports. The College of Engineering and Computing within the university blends education and real world experience in its centrally located programs that produce highly sought after graduates both locally and in surrounding metropolitan areas and states. With five departments and degree programs that range in levels from minors to doctoral degrees, students can choose to tailor their experiences to blend computer science and engineering in ways that suit their career goals.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree is one among several related degrees offered here and is designed to appeal to students who want to learn to use the latest technologies to develop large and complex software or who want to study computation. Graduates with this degree find work as systems analysts, systems designers, software engineers, and more, often commanding some of the highest salaries in these fields by virtue of their degree from this university. Coursework under this degree involves the study of algorithms, data structures, programming languages, software engineering, and theory behind computation. A minimum of 122 credit hours are detailed in the curriculum course mapping, and includes core and elective courses toward the computer science major as well as the coursework needed to satisfy the liberal arts requirements of a four-year degree. Additional requirements may include foreign language competency, which can be completed through coursework or by demonstrating proficiency through testing.

Master of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering

The Master of Engineering degree requires an additional 30 credit hours of coursework beyond the Bachelor of Science degree described above, of which 10 credit hours are taken up with core courses in the subjects of computer architecture, compiler construction, analysis of algorithms, and a seminar in the advances in computing. An additional 12 courses at the 700 level or above and in the computer science and engineering field are also required, with the remaining credits assigned for electives, of which no more than six credit hours can be for non-computer science and engineering courses. Upon completion of all coursework, students must take and pass a comprehensive examination on the subjects of the core courses in order to obtain the degree. Students earning this degree find themselves well-prepared for working in similar but more in-depth fields as those with the undergraduate degrees noted above, and with more flexibility and upward mobility.

Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering

The Master of Science degree is similar to the Master of Engineering degree described above in that involves the same required core courses as part of the required coursework. However, this degree involves an additional 24 hours of coursework beyond the Bachelor of Science degree and six hours of thesis preparation. An additional nine credit hours of coursework at the 700 level or above and in the computer science and engineering field is required beyond the ten credit hours of the core courses, and once again, no more than six credit hours can be from courses outside of the field of computer science and engineering. Rather than pass a comprehensive exam on the core subject matter for this degree, students are required to present and defend their thesis as a requirement toward attainment of this degree.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science and Engineering

Requirements for the PhD in Computer Science and Engineering include coursework, a qualifying exam, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation. Students entering the program after obtaining a master’s degree in either computer science or computer engineering need to complete a minimum of 24 credit hours in computer science and engineering courses at levels above 700. Students entering this program directly from the undergraduate degree program are required to complete a minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate work in the computer science and engineering field, with at least 24 of these credit hours taken within courses above the 700 level. In both scenarios, students also take 12 credit hours of dissertation preparation. The qualifying exam determines the student’s candidacy with the dissertation committee that needs to approve the student’s program of study. The comprehensive exam is both written and oral and is used to further determine if the student is qualified to conduct sufficient research for the dissertation. Finally, once completed, students are requires to both present and defend the dissertation in a public presentation.

Accreditations

  • Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Contact Information

University of South Carolina
College of Engineering and Computing
301 Main Street
Columbia, SC 29208
803-777-2706
http://www.cse.sc.edu/

University of South Carolina Upstate

College of Arts and Sciences

The University of South Carolina Upstate is a smaller but comprehensive public university offering mainly undergraduate degrees and a few selective graduate degrees to a student body of about 5,500. The College of Arts and Sciences within the university represents the heart of the liberal arts education as well as specific departments and divisions that encompass degree programs. The college is made up of four divisions, four departments, and four centers, each providing educational opportunities that lead to degrees and specializations. The overall goal of the college is to create effective citizens at the local through global levels.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

This undergraduate degree provides strong foundational knowledge in computer science coupled with strong foundational knowledge in mathematics, particularly useful for students who intend to pursue a graduate degree following this program or who intend to work in a research or engineering capacity within the computer science field. A minimum of 120 credit hours are required for this degree, of which 33 are within core courses in computer science. These core courses cover such subjects as design and analysis of algorithms, software engineering, computer architecture, programming languages, and operating systems. Graduates of this program have a variety of career choices open to them, including work in areas of software development, systems analysis, IT management, web application development, and database administration. In addition, graduates with this degree can choose to further pursue graduate level education in the computer science and engineering fields.

Minor in Computer Science

The Minor in computer science is designed for students seeking a degree in a field other than computer science but which could be enhanced or complemented with computer science and mathematics coursework. The minor requires a total of 27 credit hours, made up of 21 credit hours in computer science courses and six credit hours in mathematics courses. Of the 21 credit hours, students are required to take one specific computer science course at the 200 level, two specific computer science courses at the 300 level, and one course in a programming language, choosing from either Visual BASIC or C++. Students then choose the remaining courses to reach the total credit hours required, with choices coming from computer science courses at the 300 level or above. Upon successful completion, students are awarded the minor in conjunction with the undergraduate major degree.

Accreditations

  • Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Contact Information

University of South Carolina Upstate
Division of Mathematics and Computer Science
800 University Way
Spartanburg, SC 29303
864-503-5305
jlewis@uscupstate.edu
http://www.uscupstate.edu/academics/arts_sciences/math_cs/computer_science/default.aspx?id=13138</p>

Winthrop University

College of Business Administration

Winthrop University is a public, comprehensive liberal arts university serving more than 6,000 students across 42 undergraduate and 26 graduate degree programs. The College of Business Administration provides flexible degree programs in a variety of majors related to business and industry through its various departments and centers. The degree described below is administered through the Department of Computer Science and Quantitative Methods, which also offers a computer information systems option that can be combined with a business administration degree and a web application design concentration for students seeking a degree in information design.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

This is a traditional four-year degree in computer science that is very technical in nature in spite of being part of the business administration college. As with other four-year degrees, a minimum of 120 credit hours is required, including the liberal arts requirements and a minimum of 16 courses in the computer science field. Coursework in computer science covers subjects such as computational theory, analysis of algorithms, programming, software engineering, and hardware understanding. In addition, students can choose electives in areas such as web development, computer graphics, networking, or parallel programming, allowing them to tailor this degree to particular career or graduate work interests. Students with this degree are well prepared to go on to graduate programs if they so choose, or to enter the workforce as entry-level programming or analysis specialists in business, government, and industry.

Accreditations

  • Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Contact Information

Winthrop University
Computer Science and Information Systems
315 Thurmond Building
Rock Hill, SC 29733
803-323-4811
http://www.winthrop.edu/cba/computerscience/default.aspx?id=8983

If you’re interested in a career in a computer science field, you can find a variety of educational opportunities to get you there in this state. Computer science and technology is more prevalent today than ever, a condition that isn’t likely to change, so seeking accredited computer science degree programs in South Carolina is a smart investment in a solid future.