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The Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising and Student Services under the Undergraduate Programs Office is a one-stop shop for your needs. From transfer orientation, to holistic academic advising, and graduation parties, our work spans the entire cycle of a student's time in the Department of Computer Science. 

Meet the team

News You Can Use

Credit By Exam

The Computer Science Department will be offering an option for students to receive credit for CS 1114 and/or CS 2114 via credit by exam (CBE).

Things to know:

  • If a student has attempted CS 1114 and/or CS 2114 at Virginia Tech, they are not eligible to take the CBE.
  • If eligible, students have the option to take both exams during the exam open period. 
  • The exams take place fully online via Canvas and students must register for each exam separately.
  • There are detailed instructions and review materials available for each exam in Canvas.
Register for CS 1114 Credit By Exam

Important Dates

  • The exam opens on March 25, 2025. This is the first day that students can access the Canvas pages through the links below. 
  • The deadline to register for each exam is April 11, 2025. Registration includes adding the course to your Canvas, as well as paying and uploading the payment receipt. This has to be completed to view the exam itself. 
  • As students benefit from approximately two weeks to take the exam, registration is unlikely to be accepted after this date.  
  • The exams closes on April 20, 2025. After this date, the Canvas links will go inactive.
Register for CS 2114 Credit By Exam

Transfer Credit Equivalency Changes

Starting Summer 2025, VCCS’s CSC 215 Computer Systems will no longer be a direct equivalent to VT’s CS 2505.  In order to receive credit for CS 2505, students will  need to take CSC 215 AND CSC 205 Computer Organization.

Moving forward, current Virginia Tech students who take these courses at a VCCS institution beginning Summer 2025 or later, will receive the following:

  • only CSC 205 = CS 2XXX (3) 
  • only CS 215 = CS 2XXX (3)
  • both CS 205 + CS 215 = CS 2505 (3) + CS 2XXX (3)

Changes to Course Substitutions for CS Course Credit

Beginning Fall 2025, there are changes to course substitutions to meet the prerequisites for CS 2114: Software Design and Data Structures and/or MATH 2534: Discrete Math. 

The following courses will be accepted as meeting the course prerequisite: 

  • CS 1064: Introduction to Programming in Python + CS 2064: Intermediate Programming in Python (grade of C or higher)
  • CS 1114: Introduction to Software Design (grade of C or higher)

The following courses taken at Virginia Tech and/or transferred into Virginia Tech will not be accepted as meeting theCS 2114: Software Design and Data Structures and/or MATH 2534: Discrete Math course prerequisite.

  • CS 1054: Introduction to Programming in Java
  • ECE 2514: Introduction to Computational Engineering

How Will This Impact Registration?

Current Students: If your major is already officially declared in one of our degree programs in Computer Science, Data Centric Computing, Secure Computing, or our Minor in Computer Science, this change will not impact you. If a passing grade was achieved in CS 1054 or ECE 2514 before your major was officially declared (or your minor was added), your previous coursework will be honored. To be enrolled, you will have to request a force/add to be added to CS 2114 and/or MATH 2534, if needed.

Future Students- Internal Changes of Major Already at Virginia Tech: If you intend to major in one of our degree programs in Computer Science, Data Centric Computing, or Secure Computing, or our Minor in Computer Science, and your major is officially changed as of Summer 2025 or later, you will be required to take one of other approved prerequisite courses or take the Credit by Exam (CBE) in CS 1114 and/or CS 2114). 

Future Students- External Transfers to Virginia Tech: Students transferring from certain VCCS institutions may take an updated version of CS 1054 as part of their coursework prior to transferring to Virginia Tech. When transferring that credit to Virginia Tech, the new version of the course should equate as commensurate to CS 1114 and meet the prerequisite for CS 2114 and/or MATH 2534.

Next Steps: Current Virginia Tech Students planning to take any of these courses outside of Virginia Tech are encouraged to confirm approved substitutions and approved credits before enrolling to ensure that you receive the credits and meet prerequisites as intended.