Mar 29, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2021-2022 
    
Undergraduate Record 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Computer Science (B.A.)


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Declaring the Major and Application Process


Applications to declare the major will be processed three times per academic year (fall, spring, summer). Students must have successfully completed the pre-requisites for their requests to be considered.

Due to prerequisite dependencies, it is difficult for students who have not completed CS 2100 by the end of their second year to complete the major in their four remaining semesters. Ability to complete the degree in a timely manner is a factor in acceptance into the major.

Second Majors: College of Arts and Sciences students who wish to declare the BA in CS as a second major must follow process described here. Because the goals of the degree are integrated with the study of the liberal arts, students from outside the College of Arts and Sciences who have not taken significant coursework in the College will not be allowed to declare the BA in CS degree as a second major.

Transfer Students from Outside the University: Students transferring into the University from other institutions must apply to the department to be allowed to declare the BA in CS major. These requests will be considered the summer before a transfer student begins classes, and the overall process will be discussed during the summer orientation session. If an incoming transfer does not attend summer orientation, they must meet with a CS advisor before classes begin to discuss their request. Transfer students who start in the spring semester should contact the department when they start to register for courses. 

Transfer students who have not completed the degree’s pre-requisites (CS 1110 or equivalent and CS 2100 or equivalent, with grades of C+ or higher) before their first semester in residence cannot be accepted into the major. Due to prerequisite dependencies, it is difficult for third-year students who have not completed CS 2100 or its equivalent to complete the BA in CS in the four remaining semesters. It is important that students transferring to the University as third-years complete the equivalent of CS 2100 before coming to UVA. In exceptional cases, students in this situation may request to declare the major, but the ability to complete the degree in a timely fashion is one factor that will determine if you are accepted into the degree program.

 

Program Requirements


Integration Electives: 12 credit hours


These are non-CS courses that contribute to this program of study by exploring applications of computing to arts and sciences fields in a significant way or by providing fundamental computing depth and background. Integration electives are courses offered by departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The list of approved courses for students with a “requirement term” of Fall 2021 or Spring 2022 is available here .

Distinguished Majors Program: 6 credit hours


  • Students in the Distinguished Majors Program are required to complete the B.A. degree requirements as well as a fourth year thesis project. For the thesis project, a student must enroll in the following course for two semesters. 

     

  • Credits: 3
  •  

    The thesis project must be approved by two advisors, typically one from Computer Science and one from Arts and Sciences. Both advisors must approve the student’s plan of study, thesis proposal, and thesis report. The research project will require students to demonstrate a high level of innovative, independent research and analysis. Upon completion of the research paper, the faculty advisors will assign the work one of the following awards: Highest Distinction, High Distinction, Distinction.

     

    For more information regarding the Distinguished Major Program, visit https://engineering.virginia.edu/departments/computer-science/computer-science-undergraduate-advising#accordion656163.

requirements for Minor in Computer Science


Any student who is able to complete all of the requirements for a minor in Computer Science before graduation will be awarded the minor if they submit the minor request form at the beginning of their graduation semester.

More information regarding the CS Minor, including when and how to apply to declare the minor, can be found here or by contacting cs-student-support@virginia.edu.

Computer Engineering students cannot get a Computer Science minor because the degree combines Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and they will automatically have the equivalent of the minor in CS.

Additional Information


For more information, contact Tina Hittinger, Director, Student Services & Administration, Department of Computer Science, 85 Engineer’s Way, P.O. Box 400740, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4740; Phone: 434-924-9392, Fax: 434-982-2214; t-rex@virginia.edu.

Course Descriptions


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