Join computer science

Ready Join CS?

At Virginia Tech, students can change their major once per semester, for a total of three change of major opportunities each academic year. Change of major cycles are open in May, August and November. While students can submit their application before they receive their final grades, applications are not reviewed until after final grades post.

As the Computer Science degree (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science) is one of the restricted programs in the College of Engineering, the process to change into or add one of our programs may differ depending on your status at Virginia Tech.

Internal Changes of Major

These are students who are already at Virginia Tech but are not in the Computer Science Department. They may be in General Engineering, a different Engineering major, or a major outside of the College of Engineering (COE). To join the Computer Science Department, students will have to apply and be admitted to one of the Computer Science majors after meeting all change of major requirements for current students.

The College of Engineering controls the change of major and minor requirements for all College of Engineering programs. COE's Academic Affairs Office reviews all applications, renders decisions and notifies applicants for all change of major and minor applications for for current Virginia Tech students. While a summary is included below, students are encouraged to carefully review change of major information on COE's change of major website. Application deadlines, guides for the change of major application and other useful information is updated regularly.

Freshmen/First Year

When a student applies to Virginia Tech to begin as a first year student, they are applying to the College of Engineering's General Engineering program through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. While students can indicate that Computer Science is their intended program, if admitted to the College of Engineering, all freshmen students still have to apply and be admitted to their preferred College of Engineering major after completing the general engineering requirements. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is solely responsible for reviewing, rendering a decision and notifying applicants applying as freshmen. Neither the College of Engineering nor the Computer Science Department have any role in admissions for students applying as freshmen.

External Transfers

Students applying to Virginia Tech as an external transfer, or a student who has completed 12 or more credits after completing high school and prior to enrolling at Virginia Tech, will not go through the full general engineering program. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is solely responsible for reviewing, rendering a decision and notifying applicants applying as an external transfer. Neither the College of Engineering nor the Computer Science Department have any role in admissions for students applying as freshmen. Students would only have to apply to change their major if they were not admitted to Computer Science initially upon their admission to Virginia Tech. If so, they would apply to change their major using the internal changes of major guidelines.

Adding or Changing Your Major-COE Students

Students that are in the College of Engineering, either in General Engineering, or a different non-CS Engineering major, can apply to change their major during one of the open application cycles.

Students within the College of Engineering will require a minimum of 12 credits taken at Virginia Tech with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and the completion of specific coursework with passing grades. This coursework includes:

Course Requirements

ENGE 1215~: Foundations of Engineering
ENGE 1216~: Foundations of Engineering
MATH 1225: Calculus of a Single Variable
MATH 1226: Calculus of a Single Variable
ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing

~ These courses may be substituted with ENGE 1414: Foundations of Engineering Practice. ENGE 1414 is typically taught in the fall semester only. Only College of Engineering students are permitted to take this course (Pre-Requisite: ENGL 1105; MATH 1225; MATH 1226; 19 earned transfer hours).

Adding or Changing Your Major- Students Outside of COE

Students that are not in the College of Engineering can also apply to change their major during one of the open application cycles.

Students will require a minimum of 12 credits taken at Virginia Tech with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and the completion of specific coursework with passing grades. This coursework includes:

Course Requirements

ENGE 1215~: Foundations of Engineering
ENGE 1216~: Foundations of Engineering
MATH 1225: Calculus of a Single Variable
MATH 1226: Calculus of a Single Variable
ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing

Please note that ENGE 1215, 1216 and 1414 are restricted to College of Engineering students in most Fall and Spring semesters at Virginia Tech. Non-COE students who want to complete ENGE 1215 and ENGE 1216 in anticipation of joining Computer Science may choose to take the courses at Virginia Tech in a summer term and/or transferring them in to Virginia Tech from the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) or other institution with an equivalent, approved course. Students are encouraged to speak with an advisor before taking courses outside of Virginia Tech.

Adding or Dropping a Minor

Adding a Minor

The Computer Science Department offers minors in Computer Science and Human-Computer Interaction. Current degree-seeking Virginia Tech students can apply to add a minor during any of the open application cycles. There is no difference in application requirements.

The College of Engineering Academic Affairs Office manages the application review, decisions and notifications. Students are encouraged to carefully review the detailed information on COE's minor website. Application deadlines, guides for the change of major application and other useful information is updated regularly.

Dropping a Minor

It may become necessary to drop a minor from an academic record before graduation as students cannot graduate with an incomplete minor on their transcript. To drop a minor, students will submit a request to the College of Engineering Academic Affairs Office.