Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Catalog Year 2025-2026

Based on VCCS Curriculum for COMPUTER SCIENCE

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement Requirements

• Guaranteed Program Admission Agreement for VCU Engineering

• Earn a transfer associate degree (AS or AA&S in Computer Science).

• Earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 for your associate degree. VCU will recognize the cumulative GPA as recorded on the VCCS transcript and not recalculate based on multiple course attempts.

• Complete a minimum of 30 credits at VCCS institution.

• Earn grades of “B” or higher in all your CSC, MTH, and science courses.

• Earn grades of “C” or higher in all other community college courses.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://transfer.vcu.edu/.

• Register Intent to Transfer: https://ugradadmissions.vcu.edu/register/letterofinterest.

• Admission Application: By March 15 for fall admission and November 1 for spring at https://www.vcu.edu/admissions/apply/.

• Financial Aid: https://semss.vcu.edu/our-services/financial-resources-and-guidance/.

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: March 1 for fall semester at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

• Letter of Interest form: https://ugradadmissions.vcu.edu/register/letterofinterest.

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Complete your English courses and any math prerequisites in your first year.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org.

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and the VCU Transfer Center within your first semester through your account at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• Computer science offers a foundation that permits graduates to adapt to new technologies and new ideas. The work of computer scientists falls into three categories: a) designing and building software; b) developing effective ways to solve computing problems, such as storing information in databases, sending data over networks or providing new approaches to security problems; and c) devising new and better ways of using computers and addressing particular challenges in areas such as robotics, computer vision, or digital forensics.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: The completion of a transfer associate degree results in all lower-division general education requirements being met when you transfer to VCU.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: The completion of an associate degree concurrent with high school results in 60 credits of coursework applied towards your degree and VCU’s general education courses satisfied. High school students should apply to VCU as freshman applicants for orientation and engagement purposes.

• Credit for Prior Learning: VCU accepts AP, IB, Cambridge, CLEP, DANTES, and military credits.

• Catalog Year: VCU will honor the degree requirements of the VCU Undergraduate Bulletin in effect at the time of the student’s first post-high school enrollment into an appropriate associate degree at the two-year institution. Students must stay enrolled at their community college and take no more than four years to complete their degree. Students must also enroll at VCU within one year of completing their associate degree.

Is This College Right For Me?

• Located in downtown Richmond, within two hours of the beach, the mountains and Washington DC, VCU provides top-ranked academic programs, research opportunities and an urban setting so students can live and learn in the real world.

• VCU is a large, public research institution dedicated to the success and well-being of students and the Richmond community.

• Diversity, inclusion and equity are deeply ingrained core values of VCU.

• Learn more about our college at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Did You Know That…

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor’s degree?

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at VCU?

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Program Successes & Highlights

• VCU Computer Science offers students access to a wide variety of faculty labs. Research and exploration areas include the intersection of computer science and life science, data mining and machine learning algorithms, Computational Intelligence (CI), cybersecurity, assistive robots, and more.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• If you apply through general application instead of through the Guaranteed Program Admission Agreement, you will be considered for admission with all other transfer applicants.

• Learn more about applying to VCU at https://www.vcu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer/.

Do More With Your Degree!

• The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• All students must complete at least one VCU “REAL” experiential learning activity in order to graduate from VCU. Examples of REAL activities include: internships, research, and service learning. This requirement may be satisfied by completing a 300-level (or higher) REAL course or through an approved REAL co-curricular experience.

• Learn more at https://real.vcu.edu/.