undergraduate programs

The University of South Carolina offers three majors in computing: computer engineering, computer information systems, and computer science. Students in all three majors take a common core of computer science courses as well as additional courses in supporting areas.

The particular choice of a major in computing will depend in part on your interests outside computing. Computing is a horizontal discipline—there are few parts of the world in which computers are not used.

Computer engineering majors work with both hardware and software, and they look at design problems associated with integration of hardware and software components. The systems they work with may be integrated systems found everywhere: from your car to your iPod to your microwave.

Computer information systems majors focus on the use of computer applications to support businesses. They look at a variety of challenges—ranging from payrolls to insurance to e-commerce—and they take core business courses as part of a minor in business information management.

Computer science majors focus on improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of their chosen application area and of computing applications in general.

Hardware and software technology in computing changes rapidly, and computing professionals routinely find themselves working with technology they did not learn in college because it did not exist when they were in college. For this reason, the USC degree programs stress the principles of computing, rather than today’s current trends, so our graduates will be able throughout their careers to learn new technology when they need it and to adapt to the constant changes they will encounter.

Many computing students continue their education at the graduate level, either at USC or elsewhere. The department offers a fast-track option for students with excellent academic records to enter graduate school at USC before completing an undergraduate degree. There is also an accelerated option for students to enter USC’s nationally ranked International MBA program.

Most students who go to graduate school choose a program in computer science and engineering, and they generally receive research or teaching assistantships to support their graduate study toward a master’s or doctorate degree. Some students make other choices. For example, some of our graduates have entered MBA or MD programs.