Computer Science Department
Fostering intellectual curiosity that leads to academic excellence is one of the primary goals in the Department of Computer Science. We seek to impart you with a strong foundation in computing, mathematics and technology fundamentals with a comprehensive curriculum that will prepare you for a successful career.
An inclusive community of faculty, staff and students supports this endeavor. We encourage you to participate in cutting-edge research labs and interdisciplinary collaborations, where you can gain practical expertise through applying theoretical concepts to real-world problems.
The Department of Computer Science is the largest department in the VCU College of Engineering, with resources that allow faculty and students to tackle important research that makes an impact in our communities. These study areas include:
- Artificial intelligence
- Cybersecurity
- Data science
- High-performance data mining
- Machine learning
- Software engineering
Education within the Department of Computer Science is student-centric, emphasizing the application of in-class teachings in the real world. With close mentorship from our faculty, you’ll receive a deep and rich education that prepares you for success in the rapidly-evolving computer science field. Our faculty strives to foster a supportive environment to help you reach your full potential and achieve your goals.
Education for non-computer science students
Boost your resume with a technology certificate or a digital badge that can be added to your LinkedIn. A Fundamentals of Computing baccalaureate certificate from the Department of Computer Science is available to non-engineering and non-computer science undergraduates as well as working professionals.
Computer science academic programs
Dual-degree option
Students seeking to combine computer science with another discipline can pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, which is a multidisciplinary degree program that can be combined with most VCU undergraduate degree programs.
Earn a master's degree in less time
The College of Engineering offers accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s degree programs for all five departments. Students can earn both degrees in a minimum of five years by taking approved graduate-level courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program.
Faculty Research
College of Engineering faculty members are leading experts in their fields. Researchers at the Department of Computer Science are engaged in cutting-edge research in both traditional and interdisciplinary settings, like applied computing in manufacturing, healthcare and the arts.
Faculty research spans a broad range of topics that include:
- Artificial intelligence
- Bioinformatics
- Complex data analysis
- Machine learning
- Medical informatics
- Mobile and wireless networks
- Secure software systems
A range of organizations support the Department of Computer Science. The National Science Foundation, Department of Defense and private industry partners are a small example of the many partnerships that provide funding for essential projects. Our faculty’s strong track record of securing grants and funding allow them to drive innovation and excellence in computer science research.
34%
of undergraduate students are underrepresented minorities
34%
of undergraduate graduates are women (2024 spring graduates)
$89k
average starting salary for the May 2023 graduating class
State-of-the-art-facilities
