Become an adaptable thinker and prepare to meet the challenges of an ever-changing field. Define the future of computing with a Computer Science degree.
Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Undergraduate Bachelor of Science
Major, Minor
124
4 Years
Salem
Personal relationships with faculty led to an opportunity for Shouvik Ahmed Antu BS '26 to participate in an interdisciplinary summer research project.
Alongside faculty members in the Computer Science and Civic Communication and Media departments, Shouvik examined the uses of AI in conducting research. The group eventually presented their work at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education.
Curious where this major can take you? These are the real internships, graduate opportunities, and careers our Computer Science students have gone on to.
Our alumni have gone on to have thriving careers in a variety of roles from IT to web development. Computer science students graduate with the skills, creative thinking, and experience needed to excel in the workforce.
José Alvarado '13 is a software entrepreneur who is paying it forward
Just three days after applying, José Alvarado BA’13 secured a job in San Francisco by leveraging his Willamette education, leadership roles, and real-world app development experience. Now, he has a successful career in software engineering, entrepreneurship, and teaching.
Willamette Grad Turns Degree into Nike Dream Job through internship connection.
Saniya Lakka credits Willamette's professors and small class sizes for her successful transition from student to Nike machine learning engineer. Her internship at Nike, facilitated by the university, led to a master's degree and a fulfilling career.
Our faculty is made up of experienced computer scientists actively working in the field. They offer students expert advice and industry connections as well as one-on-one mentorship. Learn from our computer science professors and prepare for a successful career.
Dr. Haiyan Cheng brings expertise in scientific computing and data science. She is dedicated to fostering a supportive learning environment where students explore practical applications of computer science, preparing them for successful careers in data-driven fields.
Dr. Lucas Cordova is a seasoned software engineer turned educator. With a wealth of industry experience, he brings real-world insight to his teaching. His research spans various aspects of software engineering and computing pedagogy.
Dr. Fred Agbo brings cutting-edge knowledge in areas like virtual reality, human-computer interaction, and game-based learning. Through his classes, students gain invaluable skills and insights from a passionate educator dedicated to interactive and engaging learning experiences.
Computer science courses give you a solid foundation in computer programming fundamentals. They also dive deep into specialized – and timely – topics. From software development and operating systems to programming languages, web development, and applications of artificial intelligence, you will learn how emerging technology integrates into daily life.
This course will introduce students to this rapidly growing field, including the understanding of basic concepts, techniques, and tools they need to solve practical problems arising in various fields. Students will experience the cycle of data obtaining, wrangling, curating, managing and processing, exploring, defining questions, performing analyses, and communicating the results.
In this course, students will study methods to analyze algorithms for their correctness and run-time efficiency as well as general design and analysis techniques. Topics include: asymptotic analysis, searching and sorting algorithms, divide and conquer techniques, greedy algorithms, dynamic programming, graph algorithms, efficient data structures, and NP-completeness.
Our Computer Science major requires 40 semester hours to complete the major, with a total of 124 credit hours required to complete the degree. Core courses make up 28 semester hours. Each student pursuing a major will be required to complete 4 semester hours in Mathematics, and 4 semester hours in Data Science.
Students pursuing a Computer Science minor will need to complete 20 semester hours in computer science, including CS 151, CS 152, and 12 semester hours of electives at any level chosen from classes with CS prefixes.
Our Computer Science program is open to first-year students, transfer students and international students. Learn more about Willamette’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.
Willamette University offers Computer Science majors generous merit scholarships and financial aid, with no separate application required; all admitted undergraduates are automatically considered for scholarships starting at $28,000 per year. Additionally, students can qualify for up to $10,000 annually through the NSF-supported STEM Fellows Program, which includes mentorship and additional opportunities.
Willamette University