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Program at a Glance

Program
Bachelor
College(s)
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department(s)
Computer Science
4
Years
Best Colleges Computer Science Programs - U.S. News & World Report badge

Combine Engineering, Science and Math to Create Software Solutions to Real-World Issues

A BS in Computer Science degree emphasizes the mathematical and theoretical foundations of computing, rather than teaching specific technologies. It provides the foundation you need to break into some of the most exciting and profitable careers. Prepare for opportunities in a variety of fields, including robotics, computer gaming, virtual reality, computer vision, media convergence, digital, evolutionary computing, computer architecture and so much more.

Housed in the L3Harris Engineering Center, the computer science program has classrooms and high-tech innovative lab spaces where cutting-edge research is performed covering a wide range of topics. These labs include the Siemens Digital Grid Laboratory and a planned 360-degree augmented-virtual reality lab space.

Here, you’ll learn from faculty who have internationally recognized expertise in fundamental and application areas. Your coursework offers opportunities to study phenomena connected with computers and computation, including software (algorithms and data structures), hardware (design of computers) and many diverse applications of computational thinking and techniques.

All computer science majors must pass the Computer Science Foundation Exam in order to advance to upper-level coursework. Nationally, only UCF’s computer science program uses a test this way to qualify its students. The exam covers problem solving techniques, algorithms, abstraction, proofs and language skills. Tests are held each semester, and the exam helps ensure the success of our students. It’s also a resume builder and a feature many industry partners highlight as a primary reason they want to hire our computer science graduates.

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

Ready to get started?

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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

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