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Program at a Glance

Program
Bachelor
College(s)
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department(s)
Computer Science
4
Years
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Foundation Examination: Prior to taking courses beyond basic core requirements, students must pass a foundation exam (COT 3960) which covers problem solving techniques, algorithms, abstraction, and programming language skills. Tests will be administered each semester. Refer to the computer science website for more information about the foundation exam.

Admission Requirements

  • None

Degree Requirements

  • Students are required to consult with a departmental advisor and file a plan of study after passing the foundation exam
  • Students must meet a Residency Requirement of at least 24 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-5000 level courses taken from the Computer Science Department at UCF
  • 18 of the 24 Residency hours must be at the 4000-5000 level
  • Students must earn at least a grade of "C" (2.0) in each course in sections 2-5. In addition, students must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in all courses in section 4.
  • Students in the Computer Science major are expected to make consistent good progress toward their degrees to remain enrolled in, or eligible for, any major in the College of Engineering & Computer Science (CECS) or the College of Optics and Photonics (COP). Therefore, any student majoring in Computer Science who repeats any UCF course and does not earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better on the second attempt will be placed on Lack of Progress Probation and remain on Lack of Progress Probation as long as the student is enrolled in a CECS or COP major. If a student on Lack of Progress Probation does not receive a grade of "C" (2.0) or better by the third attempt in the same UCF course, the student will be excluded from all CECS and COP majors. Any student majoring in Computer Science who has accumulated 7 or more unsuccessful attempts (i.e., grades below "C" (2.0) and withdrawals) over all courses taken at UCF will be placed on Lack of Progress Probation and remain on Lack of Progress Probation as long as the student is enrolled in a CECS or COP major. If a student on Lack of Progress Probation has a tenth unsuccessful attempt over all courses taken at UCF, the student will be excluded from all CECS and COP majors.
  • A student who is excluded from CECS and COP majors may seek readmission to a major in CECS or COP after at least one full year has passed since exclusion. Readmission is not automatic and is dependent upon a high probability of success after readmission. Any student who is readmitted to the Computer Science major will be subject to all probation conditions that applied at the time of exclusion.
Professor working with student on computer

Highlights

CSRankings.org ranks UCF’s Department of Computer Science in the top 50 for publishing in the most selective computer science conferences.
The UCF Programming Team is one of the best in the world. CS teams compete annually in the ACM’s International Programming Contest, and our CS team has an unmatched record — finishing in the Southeast region’s top three every year since 1982.
The job outlook for computer science grads is expected to grow 12% over the next decade.
The average annual salary of computer science grads is $103,000.

Undergraduate Application Deadlines

Fall
May 1
Spring
November 1
Summer
March 1
Fall
July 1
Spring
November 1
Summer
March 1
Fall
March 1
Spring
September 1
Summer
January 1

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Course Overview

Computer Science I & II

Explore problem solving techniques, order analysis and notation, abstract data types and recursion. Then in the second course, you’ll cover algorithm design and analysis for tree, list, set and graph data models; algorithmic strategies and applications, and algorithmic complexity analysis; sorting and searching; practical applications.

Learn about logic design, computer arithmetic, Instruction Set Architecture (MIPS, SPIM simulator), performance, data path, control unit, memory hierarchy, I/O interface.

Gain an understanding of security theory. Legal and human factors, Malware, Intrusion patterns and tools, Windows, Unix, TCP/IP, and applications vulnerabilities. Detection. Policies and enforcement. Protection and assurance.

Computer Science Skills You’ll Learn

  • Develop an understanding of algorithms and data structures, as well as coding skills in various languages — Java, C, C++, Python and Javascript.
  • Learn about the concepts, principles, processes and methods for developing large software systems.
  • Cover skills that encompass a wide range of areas such as AI and machine learning, graphics and games, algorithms and complexity, software engineering, cybersecurity, big data,vision and robotics, and computer networks.
  • Gain first-hand knowledge of ethical standards related to the field of computer science, including considerations involving artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Career Opportunities

  • Software Engineer
  • Software Developer
  • Database Administrator
  • Computer Systems Analyst
  • Computer Hardware Engineer
  • Information Security Analyst
  • Computer and Information Systems Managers
  • Network Architect

College of Engineering and Computer Science News

Colleges & Campus
College of Engineering and Computer Science Offers New Graduate Certificate in Digital Twins
The program will teach students how to develop, implement and analyze digital models of physical objects or systems.
Science & Technology
5 UCF Researchers Use 2025 NSF CAREER Awards to Address Emerging Challenges in Computer Science, Engineering
The early-career professors were recognized for their excellence with significant research funding as part of a prestigious and highly competitive annual U.S. National Science Foundation…
Colleges & Campus
Programming Student Develops App That Maps the Quickest Routes Around the UCF Campus
Created by computer science student Luke Dederich, walkUCF can help UCF students find the fastest paths to class.
Science & Technology
UCF Talent Fuels Orlando’s Rise as a Tech Hub
UCF’s breadth of tech research and talent contributes to the region’s strength in technology.

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