CS Degrees Offered
The department offers two undergraduate degrees in computer science: the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS). The BA is designed to allow students more flexibility in exploring academic experiences outside of computer science, while the BSCS is designed for students who are interested in a more in-depth study of computer science.
Both BA and BSCS students receive similar offers from recruiters for internships and entry level positions. For example, among employers who have hired multiple Rice CS alumni, both BA and BSCS students are recruited as software engineers. This includes our alumni working as software engineers at companies like Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Oracle, IBM, Accenture, Credera, TwoSigma, Square, Databricks, ThirdAI, J.P. Morgan Chase, Capital One, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg, among others. Between Fall 2020-Spring 2023, approximately 60% of Rice CS graduates completed the BA degree, while approximately 40% completed the BSCS degree.
In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in a Fifth-Year Masters program. The department also offers an undergraduate degree in artificial intelligence.
Curriculum Requirements
The following documents and pages will help you to plan according to the new curriculum:
Starting the Major as a Sophomore
At Rice, undergraduate students are not required to declare a major until their sophomore year, and students often change their major after their freshman year. If you’re interested in starting the CS major in your sophomore year, please see the following documents:
Not Sure Which Degree to Pursue?
Contact your assigned CS major advisor for advice on which degree is the best fit for you!