FAQs

Computer Science can be described as the body of knowledge that enables you to use computers to solve problems. The problems can range from the relatively simple, like developing a mobile app that functions as a tip calculator, to the complex, like an automatic collision avoidance system for an automobile. The application domains are diverse and include:

• medicine - medical records management, medical imaging, drug discovery, patient care...
• consumer electronics - tablets, smartwatches, digital cameras...
• communication - cell phones, computer and communication networks...
• security - face recognition, voice recognition, biometric recognition...
• defense and space applications - guidance systems, satellite imaging, storm tracking...
• entertainment - video games, animated movies, streaming music...
• transportation - GPS, anti-lock brakes...
• social networking - Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram...
• E-commerce - Amazon, Groupon, fraud prevention and detection...

Alumni from our CS department have a variety of job titles, especially considering the flexibility we offer in focusing on different areas through CS degree concentrations or CS interdisciplinary degrees.  Our alumni have careers such as:

• Software Developer
• AI Engineer
• Data Engineer
• Information Security Analyst
• Cybersecurity Consultant
• Penetration Tester
• Digital Content Creator
• 3D Animator
• Game Developer
• IT Support Specialist 
• Network Administrator
• Database Manager
• Robotics Engineer
• Systems Architect
• Embedded Systems Developer
• Software Engineer
• Quality Assurance Engineer
• DevOps Engineer

Our classes are generally capped at 24 students.  Some of our core classes may have 2-3 sections meets together for lecture.  In these scenarios, the classes usually break out into their 24 seat sections during lab meetings on Fridays.  Some upper-level classes (especially specialized-electives) may have as few as 10 students.  

Our class sizes are small and if you ask questions and stop by office hours, you will receive a lot of individualized support from your instructors.  Our priority is your education!

There is not one required computer for this program. You should get the best computer you can get for your budget.  There are so many computers out there and sales are always changing, so there's not a one-size-fits-all option. Check Newegg, Best Buy, and Amazon plus manufacturer's actual websites like Lenovo, Asus, Dell, MSI, Apple, etc. It's a pretty safe bet that computers that are made for gaming will get you through your work for your major but they can also be overkill or sometimes cost more than a different line of computers with similar specs.  It just depends on what combinations of hardware and features are being sold. It's a good starting point for comparisons, though. 

Operating Systems: Our majors complete their coursework on Windows, macOS, and various distributions of Linux.  You may find a particular piece of software only runs on one or two of these.  In this scenaio you can use campus lab computers, a virtual machine with an alternative OS, or dual-boot.  Don't let OS put unnecessary pressure on your personal computer selection.

Portability vs. Screensize: It is strongly recommended that you get the largest screensize that you're comfortable carrying around.  If you decide to go with a smaller laptop for portability, you might consider buying a large monitor to keep in your dorm/apartment that you can hook the laptop up to for working at home. Even with a 15- or 17-inch laptop that second monitor can be really helpful.

RAM: Get at least 16GB.  More is better.

Hardrives: A lot of laptops now come with a combination of hard drives or the ability to add a second one. A nice combination is a smaller SSD (like 256 or 512 gb) with a larger HHD (1+ TB). You can run your OS and just install programs on the SSD. Software boots and runs faster off of SSD's (but they also cost more). Then you can store all your files on the HHD.

It's a good combination of having a lot of storage that's relatively affordable, keeping things booting quickly, and having a backup if something goes wrong with your OS and you have to reformat. All your files will already be saved on a different drive.

Processor: 64-bit Intel or AMD.  For macOS, Apple Silicon arm64 or Intel x86.

Graphics card: If you are interested in pursuing our courses in gaming, VR, and Digital Arts, this list of graphics cards is good to check.

Accessories: You will need a three-button mouse – a laptop touchpad just isn't going to get you through all your classes efficiently. Having an extra external drive and some thumb drives is also great.  (Web services do go down sometimes!)

Cloud storage: You will get some free cloud storage with your UNCW account plus other sites offer free space here and there.  Back up your work locally and on the cloud! 

When to buy a new computer: It usually also takes a few semesters for students to get into the classes where they need a good computer. So if you have an old laptop at home it'll probably be good enough for the first semester.

Sometimes it can make sense to wait until you get into the 200/300-level classes to buy a better computer. You can watch for sales, hardware tends to improve over time, and it gives you less time to spill things or install so many programs the machine slows down before you really need it. (This advice is based on many stories senior level students have shared about their laptops.)

To solve problems using computers you should be capable of making the computer do what you want it to do, i.e. by programming it.  Thus, the early part of the curriculum is focused on learning the principles and the practice of computer programming.  Later, the curriculum is devoted to learning about techniques and concepts specific to sub-areas like operating systems, computer networks, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, compiler construction, or databases.

We offer two main paths within the Computer Science, B.S. Both options prepare students to attend graduate school and to pursue career opportunities in computer science or closely related areas, and follow the systems-based approach set forth by the Association for Computing Machinery and the IEEE Computer Society for undergraduate degree programs in computer science.

Option 1 (Systems Option), which is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), contains more thorough coverage of concepts in operating systems, scientific computing, and has more elective credit hours in upper-level computer science courses to allow students the flexibility to explore additional advanced topics.

Option 2 is designed to give students a sound background in computer science and the opportunity for in-depth study of a computer science application area like AI, Digital Arts, Security, Software Engineering, or another complementary field - biology, business, chemistry, geographic information systems, neuroscience, or statistics.

Check out the full major requirements and option in the Academic Catalogue.

If you've completed Community College classes, use our Articulation Agreement Tool to see which UNCW classes they will count for when you transfer here.  Compare your transfer equivalent classes to the Computer Science, B.S. degree requirements.

We currently use Python in the introductory course sequence of CSC 131 and CSC 231.  Java is used in CSC 331. Later courses may use C/C++, Prolog, Lisp, ML, Javascript, HTML, etc.

Absolutely! We require students to complete Calculus I (MAT 161), Calculus II (Mat 162) and introductory statistics (STT 215). A computer program is an expression of your thought in code. Often, mathematical maturity can facilitate your thinking and help make you a better programmer. Thus, you will find yourself using basic mathematics routinely, and encounter situations where advanced mathematics finds application.

Only you can answer that question with certainty. However, if you enjoy solving technical problems, are persistent, capable of systematic thought and precise expression, and refuse to believe that you cannot make a mindless machine do your bidding, then computing may be an excellent choice for you.

You can take CSC 112 Introduction to Computer Programming or CSC 131 Introduction to Computer Science to test the waters.  Both courses fulfill at least one University Studies requirement and can be used in several majors or minors.  If you don't fall in love with the field in that first class or decide you would rather do a computing minor alongside any other major at UNCW, you can still make use of the completed credits.  (Ask your advisor which class is right for your current goals.)

CSC 131 is a meant for students with no programming background.  It starts at the very beginning and is a rigorous course to prepare you for what comes later in our computing majors.  Students who attend class regularly, complete all assignments in a timely matter, and ask instructors for help as needed tend to do well in this course.

The pre-requisite for CSC 131 is a math course - either MAT 112, MAT 150, or MAT 160 (trigonometry, pre-calculus, or calculus).

Students may declare a major in Computer Science at any point after completing about 1 year's worth of college credit. Check out the Center for Academic Advising for more information on what criteria must be met for you to declare a major and how to change, add, and remove majors or minors through mySeaport.