Any degree in technology will be valuable, and accredited computer science degree programs in Virginia are offered from a variety of highly regarded institutions. Virginia’s proximity to the capital region means that students have the opportunity to gain valuable experience at international companies during internships while studying computer science at any of Virginia’s lauded schools. Many of the schools that offer computer science degrees in Virginia are quite large, so students will enjoy a campus experience with many opportunities for extracurricular activities. Computer science is a terrific major for a wide variety of students who are interested in technology and math, as well as creative students who are interested in the inherent problem-solving and programming required in the profession. To see more accredited computer science degree programs in Virginia, visit Computer Science Degree Programs in Virginia (A-R).

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

Established in 1954, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise has around 2,000 students enrolled. The school was established by residents who wanted a local branch of the University of Virginia in Wise. The school was given just $5,000 to open and initially operated as a 2-year college. The school was built on what was originally a farm and the first class had just 100 freshmen enrolled. The county also donated some land to the school to help it open. The school operated as a junior college for a few decades before transitioning to a campus that offered bachelor’s degrees.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

According to the university, a computer science degree is a versatile degree that allows students to study new technologies and experience the creation of new ideas. Computer science majors usually work in three areas including the design of software, problem-solving in computers, and the research and development of new technologies. Some of the advanced areas where students may work include robotics, digital forensics, and computer vision. The faculty at the university suggest that computer science is an exciting mixture of mathematical theory and computers. Additionally, the degree is one that may help students enter into a variety of different fields after graduation. One of the important features of the program’s curriculum is that it requires a certain number of hours in mathematics. Most students must complete six semesters of mathematics to graduate. If a student is found to have deficiencies in mathematics, remedial courses may be required which may or may not count toward the degree.

Minor in Computer Science

The Math and Computer Science department offers minors in math and computer science, and a computer science minor is a valuable addition to any field. Computers are in use in nearly every industry, and in-depth knowledge granted through a college education in computer science will help in almost any job a student wishes to pursue after graduation. For example, students who want to enter finance or accounting will find computer science classes valuable as a part of a strong resume. Additionally, computer science knowledge will serve artists and creative students well who want to enter into business. Running a business today all but requires knowledge of computers, and instead of having to hire someone to handle basic computer issues, a person starting his or her own business can figure out those problems on his or her own, which reduces the cost of startup of a business. Students may also find they enjoy computer science enough to want to pursue advanced study in graduate school on the subject.

Accreditations

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

Contact

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
1 College Avenue
Wise, VA 24293
Phone: (276) 328-0100
Email: info@uvawise.edu
http://www.mcs.uvawise.edu/

University of Virginia

School of Engineering & Applied Science

The University of Virginia was established in 1819 in Charlottesville and has a storied history with affiliations tied to several early U.S. presidents. The university names its founder as Thomas Jefferson, and his historic home Monticello is nearby. Historic buildings and a strong education program offer students an exceptional college environment. The school has around 21,000 students enrolled and has produced several Rhodes Scholars. In fact, the school boasts so many Rhodes Scholars that no other state-affiliated college has as many. The university has been on the list of World Heritage Sites from UNESCO since 1987. The school’s sports teams participate in Division I games of the NCAA.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The university describes computer science degrees as valuable degrees that are personally rewarding and which also benefit society. The school describes its graduates as workers who support and enhance communication in a variety of essential industries like entertainment, transportation and health care. The BS in Computer Science degree features four major objectives as designed by the department’s curriculum which are similar to other accredited computer science degree programs in Virginia. Those objectives include gaining the knowledge required to function in the profession, the skills required to solve problems, the ability to work in a team environment, and the knowledge needed to create new applications and innovations in computer science. Classes required of the major include computer science classes like Introduction to Information Technology and Introduction to Program, in addition to many other advanced classes taken in the junior and senior year. The major includes several expected outcomes including the ability to apply computer and mathematics skills to computer science topics and the ability to create innovative solutions to computer science problems.

Master of Science (MS)

The graduate programs at the University of Virginia are designed to help students become masters of research and innovation. Students graduate with a broad level of knowledge in computer science and will be able to demonstrate original research in the industry. The school suggests that its programs are designed to create a diverse group of learned experts in computer science who can add their talents to the technological revolution of the industry. Graduate students take on a variety of advanced studies in the program and are also expected to participate in groundbreaking research in a variety of areas important to computer science. The curriculum features extensive laboratory environments that are designed to get students tangible experience in computer science concepts. Additionally students will participate in research projects alongside department faculty members. The school expects that students with a graduate degree in computer science will be able to make meaningful contributions to the field. The MS degree at the University of Virginia concludes with a formal written thesis.

Master of Computer Science (MCS)

The MCS degree at the University of Virginia is designed to provide students with a professional degree based upon comprehensive knowledge and understanding of computer science. Graduate students each work with an advisor during their time in the program. Many students complete an MCS degree before entering into the Ph.D. program since many of the requirements for the doctorate are fulfilled while in the MCS program. Students are expected to have a bachelor’s degree with an appropriate level of knowledge of computer science. The university expects that students will complete all of the requirements of the graduate program while also becoming involved in a variety of additional academic pursuits. Once a year, the faculty meets to discuss each student’s progress in the areas of examination, thesis work, and research. Most graduate students in the program are employed as teaching assistants or work as a research assistant to the department. The department considers 12 credits a semester as full-time enrollment.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science

Students are expected to pass a number of important milestones while in the Ph.D. program including six courses on a variety of computer science topics and the proposal and defense of a 3-credit research project. The research project must be proposed in a written form, as well as delivered in an oral format that describes a student’s planned research activities. To exit the program, students must defend their PhD dissertation. Additionally, students will work as a teaching assistant or as a research assistant. The teaching assistant position is part of a 3-credit course. Students working on dissertations will often work during the summer, and some students may want to consider internships between the spring and fall semesters. The PhD degree requires students complete 72 graduate-level credits including courses on math, computer science, and a few classes from outside the department. The majority of classes taken by PhD students are part of the graduate teaching and research positions that students hold each year.

Accreditations

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

Contact

University of Virginia
Computer Science
85 Engineer’s Way
P.O. Box 400740
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Phone: (434) 982-2214
Email: admissions@virginia.edu
http://www.cs.virginia.edu/

Virginia Commonwealth University

School of Engineering

As public research university, Virginia Commonwealth University is a large school with almost 32,000 students attending classes. Over 6,000 of those students are enrolled in graduate programs. It was originally founded in 1838 as a medical school within Hampden-Sydney College. The university as it is known today came about in 1917. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education suggests that VCU is an institution with very high research activity. The university received $256 million in research funding as of the year 2011. The school offers students a choice of over 220 different degree programs through an extensive 13 different schools.

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Students must complete at least 120 credit hours in the program to graduate, and like other accredited computer science degree programs in Virginia, the university describes its curriculum as advanced and rigorous. The university expects students to master several learning outcomes including theory and development, problem specification and analysis, and program design. Students will also participate in classes that build teamwork and project management skills, as well as oral and written communication. Some of the classes required in the major include Introduction to Computer Science, Data Structures and Object Oriented Programming, and Introduction to the Theory of Computation. Additionally, students must also take a variety of upper-level electives, as well as humanities electives on a variety of topics like sociology and psychology. Students are also required to enroll in a 3-credit capstone course, as well as a senior project course during the senior year. Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate technical prowess in a variety of essential areas of computer science.

Computer Science, Master of Science (M.S.)

The Master of Science program at VCU features several learning outcomes connected with the mastery of mathematics, science, and engineering. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyze problems, design computer systems, and implement systems within information technology environments. Additionally, students will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of situations, as well as demonstrate advanced knowledge of computer science and mathematics. Advanced courses required in the program include Applied Signal and Image Analysis, Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, and Statistical Learning and Fuzzy Logic Algorithms. Students are eligible to choose a thesis or non-thesis schedule to complete their master’s degree. The university suggests that students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. after obtaining a master’s degree go for the thesis option. The university allows some credits to be transferred from other universities into the graduate program, and each transfer credit must be approved by the Graduate Committee.

Accreditations

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

Contact

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA 23284
Phone: (804) 827-3989
Email: tarodz@vcu.edu
http://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/bulletins/prog_search/?did=20507

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

College of Engineering

Known locally as Virginia Tech, Virginia Polytechnic Institute is located in Blacksburg and also has facilities in six different regions around the state, as well as a study-abroad option in Switzerland. The university is large and has around 31,000 students attending classes, and it’s one of the leading research universities in the state. The college has around 225 majors for undergraduates and graduate students. The school was established in 1872 and was built through funds granted by the Morrill Act of 1862. The school had ties to the military during its first few decades and became Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the 1940s.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science

The university describes its undergraduate program in computer science as a challenging program that helps students master the practical foundations of computer science, as well as the theoretical concepts that surround it. After taking foundational courses in computer science, students will also be able to take interesting advanced classes in areas like artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and parallel computation. Additionally, students will be able to study software engineering, graphics, bioinformatics, and animation. The school describes its facilities as cutting edge and those that students from all around the world come to the school to study. Program objectives for the program include the ability to demonstrate technical expertise of computer science topics, advanced skills in computer science, and the ability to lead projects requiring technical or administrative coordination. The curriculum also helps students master several objectives such as the skills to develop modern software, solve common technology-related problems, and use updated technical knowledge within computer science projects.

Master of Science in Computer Science

The school describes its graduate degree as one that provides a strong foundation for working in computer science while also existing as a flexible program that meets the needs for a variety of student interests. The program may be taken with a thesis option, which requires 30 credits of coursework where 21 of those credits will come from courses. Alternatively, students may pursue a coursework option that requires 33 credits of courses. The program usually takes students two years if they remain in good standing while enrolled. The college recommends that students take the thesis option since it rewards students with an in-depth research experience and also requires that students complete fewer courses. Virginia Tech also has a B.S./M.S. option so students can choose to major in computer science and obtain both degrees in five years in the program. After a student completes 75 credits in the undergraduate program, he or she may apply to the graduate program.

Ph.D. in Computer Science

As with other accredited computer science degree programs in Virginia, the Ph.D. program at Virginia Tech is designed for students who already have strong knowledge of the computer science discipline and who are ready to contribute significantly to the industry through research and a doctoral dissertation. Ph.D. students must take 90 credits of graduate classes, and students should expect to take around five years from entering the graduate program to complete their Ph.D. The school expects that students will already have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or in a closely related field when they enter the graduate program. If a student has a master’s degree when they enter the Ph.D. program, it should take around four years total to complete the program. The university offers students the option of specializing in bioinformatics which requires that students take several additional credits in that area. Additionally, the university offers a graduate certificate to all students in the graduate program in Human-Computer Interaction, which requires that students complete 15 credits related to the specialization.

Accreditations

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

Contact

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: (540) 231-6000
Email: admissions@vt.edu
https://www.eng.vt.edu/

When studying in an area of technology like computer science, students have the opportunity to gain knowledge that will be applicable to just about any industry today. Students who gravitate naturally toward mathematics will find computer science a stimulating career, and anyone who wants to enter a profession with high potential for future employment will want to consider computer science. Computer science degrees may lead to high ranking jobs in business, as well as to creative positions with projects like software development and the creation of smartphone applications. For students interested in studying in Virginia, there are several respected and accredited computer science degree programs in Virginia.