undergrad

Please contact Dr. Fred Martin if you have any questions.

What bachelors degrees does the Computer Science department offer?
The Computer Science department offers two Bachelor of Science degree programs:

• B.S. in Computer Science
• B.S. in Software Engineering

Please see the catalog page and scroll to the details on each program.

Is prior coding experience required?
Prior coding experience is not required to be successful in Computer Science at UTSA! We are happy to welcome students with all prior backgrounds. Our first-semester computer science class is CS 1083 Programming I. It will teach you everything you need to know to get started as a computer scientist.

What concentrations and tracks are offered?
Concentrations:

• Cloud and Systems
• Cybersecurity
• Data Science
• Software Engineering

Track:

• Cyber Operations

See details at the catalog page.

What math background is required for admission?
If you are applying for Fall admission, no special requirements are in place. If you are applying for Spring or Summer admission, you must be pre-calculus ready. If you are a transfer student, you need to have completed the equivalent of MAT 1073 Algebra or higher with grade of C- or better.

See more at the CS Future Roadrunner page.

Can the BS degree be completed fully online?
The Computer Science degree programs are in-person programs.

Many courses are available via Zoom and a few are available asynchronously.

However, one must attend classes in-person in order to complete the degree programs.

What programming languages will I learn?
You will necessarily learn the Java language and the C language.

Our first three semesters are all taught in Java (CS 1083 Programming I, CS 2113 Fundamentals of Object-Oriented Programming, and CS 2123 Data Structures).

Typically taken in the third semester, you will take CS 2173 Programming in C.

What kind of computer should I bring?
Consistent with our campus-wide Hardware Specifications guidance, the university—and the Computer Science Department—provide ample computing resources on campus. Bringing your own computer is optional.

Of course, if you do have your own computer, you can use it on campus.

Any of the major operating systems will be fine for your work in Computer Science—Windows, Mac, or Linux.

If there is one recommendation, it would be to have a machine that supports the use of virtual machines. This would suggest at least 16 GB of RAM.

How will I be supported with academic advising?
You will be assigned an academic advisor who has deep knowledge of the CS degree programs.

See more at the Advising Center Home page.

How can I get academic credit for an internship?
You can earn up to 3 credits when supervised by a CS faculty member during a internship job.

The internship must be related to computer science and you must arrange for the academic credit prior to beginning the job.

Contact the CS Department for information.

What are my career opportunities after graduating?
CS majors typically get jobs as sofware developers in national tech firms, regional companies, startups, and a wide range of companies including financial services, healthcare, education, government agencies, and consulting firms.

How can I get involved in undergraduate research?
Doing research as an undergraduate is a great way to both prepare for your first internship and to explore if graduate school is right for you.

Please see resources available to CS majors here.

What student clubs are part of Computer Science?
The CS department hosts ACM UTSA, which is a student chapter of the international Association for Computing Machinery, the professional association for computer scientists.

ACM UTSA includes six sub-organizations: ACM-W, ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Competition), Rowdy Creators, Coding in Color, RowdyHacks, and Code Quantum).

Please join!

How do I apply?
Please visit Future Roadrunners — Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree.

I have more questions – where do I ask?
Please email us at cs@utsa.edu.