Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Computer science has transformed society more thoroughly than any other discipline. The processing and transfer of vast amounts of information has reshaped how we work and play, how we talk to each other, how we shop, drive and learn — not to mention how we track climate change, explore space and understand the human genome.
Join this exciting and rapidly growing field with an undergraduate degree in computer science. Gain a solid foundation and a deep understanding of this dynamic market sector through the several pathways:
- The 9.5-course Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science is designed as a bridge between computer science and other majors.
- The 14.5-course Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is designed for the in-depth study of computer science.
- The six-course minor in Computer Science is designed to enhance your major in business, biology, psychology or another field.
Learn more about the programs
Why Brandeis?
Find yourself in classes taught by distinguished and caring faculty. Learn from monthly colloquium series, scholars, alumni and others in the tech industry who come to speak about current topics in computer science. Study just minutes away from the thriving tech sector in Boston and Cambridge.
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Students have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research in the computer science labs, as well as undertake independent research under the guidance of our distinguished faculty.
Recent projects include:
- writing educational computer games for elementary school students
- developing a computer graphics program for brush-writing Chinese ideograms
- developing programs for content-based image retrieval
- creating intelligent interfaces for mining large-scale RNAi-HCS image databases modeling drosophila eye development
- building mobile apps for interfacing with university resources
- building sites for civic transformation by connecting students to legislators
Due to our great location just minutes from Boston and Cambridge (home to Microsoft, Google and Akamai Technologies offices) and a strong national alumni network, you'll have access to a wide array of internship opportunities. Every year, the department brings representatives from more than 30 companies to campus for a computer science internship and job fair. Past companies include Amazon, Apple, eBay, Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard, Google, Facebook, Intel, Microsoft, MLB.com, Oracle, PayPal, Red Hat and Twitter.
Computer science graduates of Brandeis often go on to work for startup companies, as well as for IBM, Google, Microsoft and Amazon. Others pursue graduate studies in computer science, computer engineering, materials science, neuroscience and cognitive science.
Recent alumni from our department are working as software engineers, entrepreneurs, business analysts and systems analysts.
Brandeis hosts DeisHacks, a 48-hour social good hackathon held for 5 years. It is open to beginners and offers cash prizes. The event brings socially-conscious students together to solve non-profit challenges, uplifting the Waltham community by expanding the impact of local organizations.
Brandeis Computer Science students also have the opportunity to join a variety of clubs tailored to their skill levels and interests. Some notable clubs include:
Tamid Group
An organization that facilitates experiential learning with Israeli companies. Tamid matches their members with Israeli tech startups, providing them with opportunities to execute software engineering projects in various fields such as web development, data analytics, and machine learning. Tracks last one semester, beginning with a comprehensive 3-4 week education period where members learn the tech stack they will be using. The remaining time is dedicated to working on the project and delivering the final product. In addition to hands-on experience, Tamid Group offers networking opportunities and a summer fellowship program in Israel. Members have leveraged their connections and the skills acquired through Tamid to secure internships and jobs at renowned companies like Microsoft, PayPal, Deloitte, and HubSpot.
Branda
Branda exists for two purposes. The first is to develop and maintain Branda (the App), which provides essential services such as shuttle tracking, campus hours, and laundry tracking to the Brandeis community. This includes developing the App as well as the background services and systems necessary for the App’s functionality. The second is to develop the skills and knowledge of the Club members. Branda uses a modern, industry-standard technology stack that provides real-world experience at every step of the development process not only to those with technical interest, but also those interested in marketing, business, and communication. Members of the Club have used this experience to earn internships at companies like IBM, Putnam Investments, and General Dynamics Mission Systems.
At Brandeis, you'll gain a high-impact skill set that is ideal for careers in a number of areas — science, medicine, business, entertainment, and more — as you work alongside your future partners in shaping the world we live in. Pursue research, teach or work in industry.
