Overview

The ABET-accredited BS in Computer Science provides students with essential background for studying the design and implementation of computer systems software, computer architecture, and computer software applications for science and business. The program emphasizes both computer systems fundamentals and computer software applications. Required areas of study include data structures, analysis of algorithms, low-level programming, computer architecture and language translation, ethics and law for the computing professional, and software design and development. Evolving software technologies are a major concern.

Senior-level elective courses are offered in a wide variety of computing fields: artificial intelligence, cyber-security, concurrent and distributed systems, databases, data mining, robotics, computer vision, computer networks, operating systems, programming languages, mobile application development and software engineering. Students also have the opportunity to take a capstone course that enables them to work on challenging projects that involve multiple domains of computing.

Degree Requirements

For the BS CS degree, students must complete 120 credits, including the Mason Core requirements. In addition to core and elective computer science courses, the BS in Computer Science program also requires 12 credits of natural science and 20 credits in mathematics and statistics, including calculus, discrete mathematics, linear algebra, and applied probability theory. 

  • See the BS CS degree requirements in current university catalog

  • The BS CS degree requirements, sample schedules, as well as additional useful information including course descriptions can also be found in this PDF brochure.

Honors Program

Students with strong computational foundations and drive  can take advantage of the CS Honors Program to delve deeper into the field of computing.

Accelerated BS/MS Programs

Students can combine their BS degree with one of four MS degrees offered by the department - the MS in Computer Science, the MS in Information Systems, the MS in Information Security and Assurance, the MS in Software Engineering, as well as the inter-disciplinary MS in Data Analytics Engineering offered by the College of Engineering and Computing.