Declaring a Major or Minor
The Department of Computer Science is experiencing tremendous student interest in our courses and degree programs. Our goal is to accomodate as many students as possible. However, because of current resources, the Department has had to institute enrollment caps on the number of students who will be accepted as a major or minor. For details on the caps and how to apply, click on one of the following links:
- BA Degree in Computer Science
- BS Degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering
- Minor in Computer Science
Declaring a BACS Major
The Department of Computer Science is experiencing tremendous student interest in our degree programs. Our goal is to accommodate as many BA in Computer Science (BACS) majors as possible. However, because of current resources, the Department has had to institute a cap on the number of students who can declare the BACS major.
Requirements to Declare the Major: In order to apply for the major, students must have taken one introductory computer science course (either CS 1110, CS 1111, CS 1112, or CS 1120) with a grade of C+ or better, and must be enrolled in CS 2110 and CS 2102 (or must have already completed CS 2110 and CS 2102 with a grade of C+ or better). Students are accepted into the major in the spring semester of their second year upon review of their applications. This is a selective process which takes into account the applicant's GPA and application essay, as well as other factors.
Application Information: Applications must be completed in the spring semester (normally the student's fourth semester). Deadlines are posted in the Computer Science Department office and on the departmental website; the deadline will be on or about March 15. Due to prerequisite dependencies, it is difficult for rising third-year students who have not completed CS 2110 and CS 2102 to complete the major in the 4 remaining semesters; however, in exceptional cases, students in that situation may apply for the major by petition to the Chair.
Students apply to the Computer Science major by completing a form available on the departmental website http://www.cs.virginia.edu/acad/ba/about.html. Students list all CS courses taken or in progress and discuss any career goals or aspirations, computing-related extra-curricular activities, internships or experience. The essay invites students to reflect on their intellectual objectives in wishing to pursue the major and asks students to consider their career goals and how the BA in CS advances those goals. Applications are read and evaluated by the core faculty in Computer Science. All applicants will be notified of admission decisions by April 1.
Second Majors: College of Arts and Sciences students who wish to declare the BACS as a second major must follow the application process described here. Only College of Arts and Sciences students are eligible to apply for the BACS degree as a second major.
Transfer Students from Outside the University: Students transferring into the University from other institutions must apply to the department to be allowed to declare the BACS major. Qualified applicants will be considered on a space-available basis, given our target caps for each class year. Applications will be considered the summer before a transfer student begins classes, and the application process will be discussed during the summer orientation session. If an incoming transfer does not attend summer orientation, they must meet with a CS advisor before classes begin to discuss applying. Due to prerequisite dependencies, it is difficult for rising 3rd-year students who have not completed CS 2110 and CS 2102 to complete the BACS in the 4 remaining semesters. It is important that students transferring to the University as third-years complete the equivalent of these courses before coming to UVa. In exceptional cases, students in this situation may apply for the major, but the ability to complete the degree in a timely fashion is one factor that will determine if you are accepted into the degree program.
Declaring a BS Major
The Department of Computer Science is experiencing tremendous student interest in our degree programs. Our goal is to accommodate as many undergraduate majors as possible. However, because of current resources, there is an enrollment cap on the total number of majors in the BS in Computer Science (BSCS) and the BS in Computer Engineering (BSCpE) degree programs.
First-year students: All first-year Engineering students choose their major in the Spring semester of their first year. At that time, students seeking either the BSCpE or BSCS major will submit their application information as part of the normal first-year SEAS major declaration process, which the SEAS Dean's office manages. Since the cap is on the combined number of BSCS and BSCpE majors, a student's chance of acceptance will not be affected by choosing one over the other. All applicants will be notified of admission decisions by early summer.
Engineering Students Changing Majors or Seeking a Second Major: Declared BSCS or BSCpE majors can change from one major to the other at any time, and they can declare the other major as their second major without applying. However, other engineering students who want to declare the BSCS or BSCpE as a second major and students who want to change their first major to either of these must apply. The available space given our target caps for each class year may be a factor. Application deadlines for such requests will be October 15 and February 15. The application form can be found here: http://www.cs.virginia.edu/acad/bscs/
All third- and fourth-year students who want to declare the BSCS major as a first or second major must have already completed CS 2190 or will complete CS 2190 by the end of their third-year.
At this time, SEAS students are not eligible to apply for the BACS (i.e., the College degree) as a second major.
Intra-University Transfer Students: SEAS accepts transfer applications for non-SEAS UVa students, currently once a year. The application deadline and process is described on this SEAS webpage. Qualified applicants who want to transfer into SEAS to become BSCpE or BSCS majors will be considered on a space-available basis given our target caps for each class year. Such students should follow the SEAS application process, and must contact the Computer Science (CS) department contact person listed in the SEAS webpage before applying.
Transfer Students from Outside the University: Students transferring into the University from other institutions must apply to the department to be allowed to declare the BSCS or BSCpE major. Qualified applicants will be considered on a space-available basis, given our target caps for each class year. Applications will be considered the summer before a transfer student begins classes, and the application process will be discussed during the summer orientation session. If an incoming transfer does not attend summer orientation, they must meet with a department advisor before classes begin to discuss applying.
Due to prerequisite dependencies, it is difficult for rising 3rd-year students who have not completed CS 2110 and CS 2102 to complete the BSCS in the 4 remaining semesters. It is important that students transferring to the University as third-years complete the equivalent of these courses before coming to UVa. In exceptional cases, students in this situation may apply for the major, but the ability to complete the degree in a timely fashion is one factor that will determine if you are accepted into the degree program.
Declaring a Minor
The department can only allow a limited number of SEAS students to declare a minor in Computer Science due to a rapidly growing demand for computing courses. Unfortunately at this time the university is only able to accept SEAS students as CS minors. This situation will be re-evaluated before each year's application deadline, and if a change is made this page will be updated to reflect the change. The CS department continues to work with the university to obtain resources that will allow more students to declare the Computer Science minor.
Students wishing to declare the minor normally apply in the spring of their first or second year. Applications from third and fourth year students will be considered only if there are still available spaces that were not taken earlier. The normal deadline is March 1. The application form can be found at this link: http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~horton/cs-minor-apply.
All applicants will be notified if they have been accepted as a CS minor by April 1.
BS in Computer Engineering majors: When the CpE program was created, it was decided by the two departments that CpE students could not declare the minor in CS. Because the CpE combines CS and EE, graduates with this degree will automatically have the equivalent of the minor in CS.
Links of Interest
CS Course Numbers
Class Schedule
Course Requirement Check Off Sheet
Prerequisite Policy
Registration Policy