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2025-2026

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science in Computer Science (Brightpoint Community College)
Brightpoint Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Science in Computer Science

Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

The Department of Computer Science offers undergraduate and graduate programs. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a rigorous, highly concentrated curriculum of computer science courses. It includes advanced study in several important areas of computer science and provides a strong foundation in this discipline. Every course is taught by full-time faculty members who also serve as advisers to both undergraduate and graduate students.


The master’s degree emphasizes continuing self-development of individuals currently engaged in science-, technology- and engineering-related fields. It prepares persons who have completed undergraduate majors in these fields for entry into careers in areas that use computing technology. Both the theoretical and applied aspects of computer science are emphasized in this program. The program offers courses in a wide range of areas in computer science, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing, data mining, bioinformatics, and medical informatics.

Career opportunities

Computer science (CS) spans the range from theory through programming to cutting-edge development of computing solutions. 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.   

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Computer programmer
  • Cybersecurity engineer
  • Data engineer or architect
  • Project manager
  • Sales engineer
  • Scrum master
  • Software engineer or developer
  • Software quality assurance and test engineer
  • Web or mobile app developer
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • College Professor
  • Computer Architecture Engineer
  • Data Scientist
  • Lead Software Engineer
  • Machine Learning Engineer/Scientist
  • Project Leader
  • Research & Development Engineer
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Students are guaranteed admission to this degree program with:

  • Completion of associate degree (A.S. in Computer Science)
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5
  • All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
  • Earn a minimum grade of "B" in all your math, science and computer science classes
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 307
  • STAT 212
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 3.0+ cumulative GPA
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Computer Science (B.S.) with concentration in Cybersecurity, Data Science, Software Engineering

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Brightpoint Community College (Associate of Science in Computer Science)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Schedule an advising appointment with your Brightpoint advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Explore the undergraduate CMSC options (BA versus BS and concentrations of the BS).
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU College of Engineering, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Schedule an advising appointment with your Brightpoint advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Explore the undergraduate CMSC options (BA versus BS and concentrations of the BS).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU College of Engineering, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Brightpoint Community College (Associate of Science in Computer Science)

Brightpoint Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition I I UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 263 Calculus I (consult with your Brightpoint advisor about prerequisites for this class) MATH 200 4 Major
MTH 264 Calculus II MATH 201 4 Major
CSC 221 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming CMSC 254 3 Major
CSC 222 Object-Oriented Programming CMSC 255 4 Major
CSC 223 Data Structures & Analysis of Algorithms CMSC 256 4 Major
CSC 205 Computer Organization CMSC 311 3 Major
CSC 208 Introduction to Discrete Structures CMSC 302 3 Major
Lab Science Select first class in a two semester sequence: BIO 101, CHM 111, or PHY 241 VCU equivalent 4 Major
Lab Science Select second class in a two semester sequence: BIO 102, CHM 112, or PHY 242 VCU equivalent 4 General education
History Select one: HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122 HIST 3 General education
Humanities Select one: PHI 100, PHI 111, PHI 220, REL 100, REL 230 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Social/Behavioral Select one: ECO 201 or ECO 202 ECON 211 or ECON 210 3 Major
Arts/Literature Select one: ART 101, ART 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121, MUS 226, ENG 245, ENG 246, ENG 255, ENG 258, ENG 275, ENG 225 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Electives Select 8-9 credits of approved electives. Students needing to complete prerequisites for MTH 263 should select MTH 161-162. VCU equivalents 8 to 9 Elective
Brightpoint credits transferred to VCU 60 to 61
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
ENGR 395 Professional Development (consider taking this class over the summer prior to your enrollment at VCU) 1 Major
CMSC 235 Computing and Data Ethics 3 Major
CMSC 303 Introduction to the Theory of Computation 3 Major
CMSC 304 Programming Languages 3 Major
CMSC 355 Fundamentals of Software Engineering 3 Major
CMSC 357 Computer Systems 4 Major
CMSC 401 Algorithm Analysis with Advanced Data Structures 3 Major
CMSC 405 Operating Systems 3 Major
CMSC 408 Databases 3 Major
CMSC 440 Data Communication and Networking 3 Major
CMSC 441 Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) 2 Major
CMSC 451 Senior Project I 1 Major
CMSC 442 Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) 2 Major
CMSC 452 Senior Project II 1 Major
CMSC CMSC upper-level electives 9 Major
STAT 212 Concepts of Statistics 3 Major
MATH MATH course (300 to 400 level) 3 to 4 Major
Open electives 9 to 10 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 59 to 60
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
VCU offers students five options for accelerated B.S. and M.S. programs: B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, B.S. and M.S. in Data Science, B.S. and M.S. in Engineering, and B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. These accelerated programs allow academically talented students to earn both the B.S. in Computer Engineering and M.S. degree in a minimum of five and a half years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Please consult with a VCU advisor for information about minimum qualifications for entrance to the accelerated programs.