We are delighted you are considering transferring to the UMW Computer Science Program!
Whether you plan to transfer from the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), a community college out of state, or a four-year college or university, we encourage you to review the information relevant to your situation to be well prepared.
- Small class sizes – Unlike larger schools, we do not have huge classes with hundreds of people in them. Our classes are limited to around 25 students. That means that you will get to know your instructors well and be able to get help when you need it. At UMW, you are never “just a number” but instead part of our community of teachers and learners.
- Our faculty – We have ten full-time faculty members interested in cybersecurity, machine learning, human-computer interaction, game programming, networks, and more. We also have several part-time adjunct instructors who are employed full-time in the field and share their experience by teaching with us. At UMW, our classes are taught by experts who love teaching, not graduate students. Also, because we do not have graduate students in computer science, you will have the chance to work on research projects with a faculty member.
- Location – UMW is in Fredericksburg, VA, about 45 miles south of Washington, D.C. That means there are great internship and job openings at many government agencies, such as the FBI, and private companies, such as MITRE and General Dynamics. About 25 miles to the east is the Dahlgren Naval base, which hires many students into technology roles. About 30 miles to the north is Culpeper, VA, home to technology companies such as SWIFT, one of the world’s largest telebanking companies. So, while Fredericksburg offers a small-town feel, there are incredible job opportunities outside town. Virtually all of our students are gainfully employed soon after completing their degree.
Want to write cutting-edge software? Code the next killer app? Computer scientists find innovative solutions to complex problems. Our bachelor’s program combines theory, application, technique, and design. Explore coding, computer architecture, operating systems, and software engineering, and choose from electives in networks, artificial intelligence, 3D graphics, cybersecurity, and more.
Cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to mitigate the ever-growing number of cyber threats that we all face in a more and more connected world. Whether defending systems from intrusion, developing more secure software, analyzing new forms of malicious software, or implementing new cryptographic methods, there is a wealth of areas in cybersecurity that need talented professionals who can not only handle the tasks of today, but also innovate and tackle the security challenges of tomorrow.
Generally, students who enjoy coding more and want to work as software developers should consider majoring in computer science. Students who prefer cybersecurity topics and want to work as cyber analysts should consider a cybersecurity major. However, the coursework for the first one or two years is the same as that for computer science and cybersecurity. So students do not need to pick between the two majors right away. By the time you are at the point where the majors diverge, you will have a good sense of which of the two is right for you.
UMW accepts credits for a wide range of courses offered through the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), including credit for classes that can count toward the computer science and cybersecurity majors.
The UMW transfer guide provides a complete list of VCCS courses guaranteed to be transferred to UMW.
In the VCCS system, courses that count toward the CPSC/CYBR majors have a prefix of CSC or ITN.
If you are enrolled in a Virginia Community College right now, have not taken any computer science, or have no programming experience, we suggest you take CSC 200 and CSC 284. CSC 200 will be our CPSC 110 Introduction to Computer Science and give you programming experience. CSC 208 Intro to Discrete Structures counts as CPSC 284 Applied Discrete Mathematics and introduces you to computer science math. You can check out the computer science transfer guide for other CSC courses that will transfer to UMW.
If you have earned college credits before enrolling in UMW, follow the transfer credit process outlined by the Office of Admissions.
Eagle Transfer can help you see what will transfer and count toward specific UMW courses. It should be used for informational purposes only. Course equivalency data is believed to be current and accurate; however, the University reserves the right to make revisions or corrections at any time.
The Office of the Registrar will complete an official evaluation of transfer courses following acceptance into the University, which may differ from the results received on this page. Generally, transfer credit is given for courses deemed appropriate for a liberal arts and sciences degree at the University of Mary Washington. A grade of C (2.00) or better must be earned to receive credit for a course taken at another institution.
Students with little or no programming experience should select CPSC 110 as their first CPSC course. CPSC 110 uses the Python programming language. Students with programming experience should select CPSC 220 as their first CPSC course.
Students who have completed an AP course in computer science and earned a 5 on the exam can be given credit for CPSC 220 and enroll in CPSC 240 and CPSC 284. These students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Java programming language before beginning CPSC 240.
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Have questions?
If you have any questions about Computer Science at UMW, please email the department chair, Andrew Marshall