In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in demand for computing classes at UVA and other universities. In the last few years, the department has been able to accept all qualified students who wanted to declare the major. But we do have an application process in case demand were to increase beyond our capacity to serve our majors.
If resources are inadequate to satisfy student interest in a given year, a selective admissions process will be used to evaluate applications to declare the BACS. The primary (but not only) criterion for admission is evidence that a student will be able to complete our computing curriculum in a timely manner. (This includes grades in completed CS coursework.) Secondary criteria reflect the mission, values and goals of both the University as a whole and the Department in particular, including our goal to develop graduates who will become effective contributors, collaborators, innovators, or leaders in the profession and society.
Applying for the BACS Major: Applications to apply to the BACS major will be available after the start of the spring semester each year, via an online application form and Collab site. Instructions will be posted in the main CS Office (Rice Hall 527), and on this web page - please check here again in mid-January for the current application information and links.
Completion of the online application form and submission of your transcript in Collab must be done by the 9:00 AM on the deadline day (typically in mid-February). No exceptions. The Deadline will be posted in the Computer Science Department office and on this web page by mid-January each year. We generally make decisions by the end of March, and will email all applicants to give an update on the status of decisions in mid-March.
Requirements to Declare the Major: In order to apply for the major, students must have taken one introductory computer science course (either CS 1110, CS 1111, CS 1112, CS1113, CS111X) with a grade of C+ or better, and must be enrolled in CS 2110 (or must have already completed CS 2110 with a grade of C+ or better). Students are accepted into the major in the spring semester of their second year upon review of their applications.
Application Information: Applications must be completed in the spring semester (normally the student's fourth semester). Due to prerequisite dependencies, it is difficult for rising third-year students who have not completed CS 2110 to complete the major in the 4 remaining semesters.
All applicants will be notified of admission decisions by the first week of April.
Second Majors: College of Arts and Sciences students who wish to declare the BACS as a second major must follow the application process described here. Only College of Arts and Sciences students are eligible to apply for the BACS degree as a second major.
Transfer Students from Outside the University: Students transferring into the University from other institutions must apply to the department to be allowed to declare the BACS major. Applications will be considered the summer before a transfer student begins classes, and the application process will be discussed during the summer orientation session. If an incoming transfer does not attend summer orientation, they must meet with a CS advisor before classes begin to discuss applying.
Transfer students who have not completed the degree's prerequisites (CS 1110 or equivalent and CS 2110, with grades of C+ or higher) before their first semester in residence cannot be accepted into the major. Due to prerequisite dependencies, it is difficult for rising 3rd-year students who have not completed CS 2110 to complete the BACS in the 4 remaining semesters. It is important that students transferring to the University as third-years complete the equivalent of these courses before coming to UVA. In exceptional cases, students in this situation may apply for the major, but the ability to complete the degree in a timely fashion is one factor that will determine if you are accepted into the degree program.
Questions? Send email to cs-admissions@virginia.edu with a subject line "BACS application question".