How is UVA’s computer science program? (prestige, internship, faculty, after graduation, etc.)
I would like to study computer graphics, animation, and/or game design. Does UVA have many courses in those areas? If not, does UVA have game design or computer graphic related clubs and organizations at least?
What other schools have you been admitted to?
I’m actually wondering about this too. Computer science is one of my interest and I plan on doing at least a minor on it, no matter how bad UVAs computer science program is. That said, my friend in the Arts and Sciences school said that UVA’s computer science in the A & S department (Not speaking for Engineering) is mediocre at best. Apparently a lot of the computer science professors are just math majors who were put into a computer science course and he said many of them are not adequate.
@Aguileon I am a current BSCS student at U.Va in the engineering school; as far as I can recall, U.Va typically ranks in the top 30 for CS graduate programs in the United States: http://www.seas.virginia.edu/about/rankings.php. As for undergraduate rankings, it is likely in a similar range, but feel free to correct me if that is not the case. If it helps, here’s the SEAS annual report for 2013, where the salaries and employers of BSCS graduates are listed: http://www.seas.virginia.edu/admin/careerdev/files/seasannualreport.pdf.
As for the courses you mentioned, U.Va offers CS 4730 (Computer Game Design) and CS 4810 (Introduction to Computer Graphics) at the undergraduate level. If you are interested in the CS courses regularly offered at U.Va, I encourage you to peruse different years and semesters of course offerings here: http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/mySIS/CS2/page.php?Semester=1152&Type=Group&Group=CompSci. That listing also includes course summaries and other data you might be interested in.
If you have other questions about CS at U.Va, let me know! I hope this helped.
@MrWiggles If you’d like to learn more about the CS faculty, check out this link: http://www.cs.virginia.edu/people/faculty. Nearly every professor in the CS department has a PhD in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. 0 have their terminal degree in mathematics.
@hazelorb Georgia Tech. GT’s Media thread for CS seems like a good match for me, but I’m little hesitant to go there becacuse of graduation rate and the cost.
@Fennekin Thank you for your response! I got into the engineering school too. I looked through 2015 spring and fall course offerings, and it looks like only the two courses you mentioned are CG or game design courses. Can you tell me about your favorite and least favorite things about CS at UVA? If you have any advice or tips, please tell us.
Are you planning to pursue graduate studies in computer graphics or just go do a startup for gaming? They’re really very different things. I knew a number of students who graduated with me who were going to startups (FarmVille type ones) to work after graduation. There was a prominent computer graphics professor here about 10 years ago but he left. That is more of a graduate studies type of thing. UVA CS isn’t a particularly strong major (public education cuts have really hurt the department - why come to UVA as a professor if you have to teach twice as much as at other universities, cutting into your research time? – hence some of the lecturer problems mentioned earlier on this thread), but the students who study CS at UVA go on to do great things because of their smarts and self motivation and ambition. They don’t really need the professors to get the education they want, they are self taught a lot of the time. I would say GT would be better except for the cost. If you are a self learner UVA will be fine, but it’s no where near GT as far as the education you’ll receive. UVA CS is pretty theoretical and grad school oriented which explains why the only two classes talked about on the thread relate to your original query. I know there is a UVA gamers club but I am unsure if there is a game developers club (I think there is but I don’t know).
I would say the best thing about UVA CS is the camaraderie, if you’re a male at least, and the worst thing is the effect the public education cuts have had on the professors. I am a female and I left with a bad taste in my mouth. I was demeaned by professors (and some male students) regularly for being a woman. I enjoyed being a TA and helping other students out, and getting A’s in my CS classes to prove them wrong, but I’m glad I’m not having to prove people wrong my whole career (I’m now a teacher). I enjoyed the camaraderie with the other TAs, the ones who didn’t have a problem with my gender, that is.
@Fennekin Are the professors really the same for CS for the Engineering and the A&S school? I find that a little hard to believe, but that’s interesting.
@MrWiggles I’m still a high school senior, but as far as I know, Engineering and the A&S students take the same CS courses, so the professors can’t be different. I think this is true for almost all colleges that have CS program in both engineering and a&s.
Here’s a link to the differences between CS for A&S and Engineering: http://www.cs.virginia.edu/acad/ba/differences.html. Students in both degree programs take the same core CS classes. The Engineering students have additional CS required courses.
@Aquileon and @MrWiggles - if you haven’t already done so, I suggest you read the Math and Computer Science forums for information on what to look for in a CS degree.
@hazelorb Thank you! I want to do a startup, but it really depends on situation by the time I graduate. It may be just a rumour, but I heard UVA is going to expand CS program by spending money and hiring several new professors. That’s why I was leaning towards UVA, but I might have to reconsider because I personally like application aspect than theory.
@ChrisTKD Are you talking about math and CS forums at UVA? Can you post the link? I can’t find them.
@Aguileon - no, I was talking about the generic Math/Computer Science degree forum. The forum will give you general information about CS programs but not specifically about UVA. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/math-computer-science-majors/
Are you deciding which colleges to apply to next year or are you deciding amongst various acceptances now? I don’t know that UVA will be a very good fit for your aspirations. Many universities will tell you that CS will teach you more about algorithms and solving problems rather than pure programming. Practitioners will say you need both the skills to solve the problem mathematically and the ability to actually implement the solution. When we did our tour of UVA for CS they definitely skewed towards the algorithm side. I think some professors look upon programming as beneath them. But, downplaying programming skills is a view that is not unique to UVA. I think at most universities you can find a few CS professors who are really lousy at programming. If you decide to go with UVA you may want to take extra CS classes if you follow the A&S route. Computer Systems is not a required course for the A&S degree but is considered a “must” class by practitioners.
In the end, my two sons decided that UVA’s program wasn’t a good fit even though they recognized the school overall has an excellent reputation. If you are interested in game design you should consider colleges that offer: Introduction to GUI, Introduction to HCL, 3D Graphics, etc. Some schools also offer computer arts classes in the Arts Department. I’m sure that GT will have all these courses. VT does as well. One son declined the GT offer because the OOS cost was too high.
@ChrisTKD Oh! I didn’t know CC has that forum. Thank you! I am deciding from acceptances now. I like algorithm side too, but it sounds like UVA isn’t a good fit for me in terms of education unless their Arts Department have computer arts courses that I can take. Thank you for your advice.
@Aguileon U.Va puts an emphasis on algorithms to some extent, but keep in mind that the BSCS degree is ABET accredited, so it meets all the standards that you would expect from an engineering program, including practical coursework. To that end, U.Va has many practical courses in CS that will give you rigorous application of coding to solve problems. The BACS degree takes a different approach to CS, and it will still allow you to be competitive for many interesting software jobs after graduation. You would be quite well off at Georgia Tech as well, though if you put in the work at either school, you will be well prepared for whatever you want to do after earning the degree.
You mentioned you are interested in doing a startup; I highly recommend checking out the engineering business minor if you decide to transfer to the engineering school. The minor has a large focus on entrepreneurship and startup strategies, and can be a great supplement to your major in preparing you for launching your company. In addition, the Science, Technology, and Society course you take during your first year culminates in a Provisional Patent Application, and it is a nice way to introduce you to methods for writing your own patent applications. Some notable successful startup founders from U.Va’s engineering school include Evan Edwards (https://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/pub/evan-edwards/2/615/17a), the inventor of AUVI-Q, and Steve Huffman (https://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/in/shuffman56), a co-founder of reddit and a BSCS graduate.
My experience with CS at U.Va has been very positive, and I am getting a lot out of the curriculum and the research opportunities in the CS department. I have had plenty of practical experience between my coursework, research work, and my own time coding as a hobby. I cannot think of any personal negatives with U.Va, besides wishing I had time-turner so that I could take more courses!
What else would you like to know about CS at U.Va? I hope this information is helpful to you.