Computer Science, B.S.

The Department of Computer Science at Saint Louis University offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The B.S. is designed for students who want a greater technical depth of study. It can be paired with other science, mathematics and engineering programs at SLU.

SLU's accelerated master's program allows undergraduate computer science majors to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years. Students combine a B.A. or B.S. in computer science with a master's degree in computer science, software engineering, artificial intelligence or bioinformatics and computational biology.

Computer science is an exciting, rapidly developing field with vast influence on modern society. Computer science encompasses a broad range of theories and applications. Due to the emphasis on problem-solving skills, computer science is an excellent major for students going into many fields, including technology, business, medicine and law.

Program Highlights

• A choice of engaging introductory courses allows students to better connect the application of computer science to their interests.
• Courses are taught in computer labs to allow for hands-on learning; small class sizes allow for rich student-faculty interactions.
• A curriculum that allows students to see the impact and application of computing throughout society.

Curriculum Overview

Students completing the Bachelor of Science curriculum in computer science obtain a technically rigorous and comprehensive degree modeled upon recommendations of the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission. The Bachelor of Science degree also requires 11 credits of science/engineering, including one sequence of two lab courses.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

SLU's location in the Midtown area of St. Louis provides students access to a robust technology community with operations for many Fortune 500 companies and a vibrant start-up culture. This environment provides outstanding opportunities for summer internships, part-time work during the academic year and jobs after graduation.

Our campus is within walking distance of the Cortex Innovation Community, a 200-acre (and growing) innovation hub and technology district. Cortex houses SLU's Research Innovation Group, which works on technology transfer and commercial partnerships. Cortex is also home to the weekly Venture Cafe (every Thursday from 3-8 p.m.), which is a great place for students to connect with members of the tech community in a friendly and informal setting. Also in downtown St. Louis is the T-REX Technology Entrepreneur Center, a coworking space and technology incubator.

Our faculty integrate students into their research programs in a variety of ways. Some of our undergraduate students have participated in research experience for undergraduates (REUs), capstone projects and independent research that has resulted in scholarly publications with their faculty mentors. Many students have had opportunities to travel to conferences and present their work.

Careers

Careers related to computer science are routinely found on various "best jobs" lists because of their outstanding combination of excellent pay, satisfying work-life balance and personal reward in seeing the great impact of computing throughout society. As a sample of such listings: 

• U.S. News 100 Best Jobs list for 2024 The top 100 included software developer (#3), IT manager (#4), information security analyst (#7), data scientist (#8), web developer (#21), computer systems analyst (#61), and computer network architect (#77).
• Glassdoor's 50 Best Jobs in America list for 2022 named enterprise architect as #1, and many other technology positions appear within the top 25: full stack engineer (#2), data scientist (#3), devops engineer (#4), machine learning engineer (#6), data engineer (#8), software engineer (#8), java developer (#9), back end engineer (#11), cloud engineer (#12) information security engineer (#15), back end engineer (#16), automation engineer (#21), and UX designer (#24).

Tuition 

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Computer science students must complete a minimum total of 76 credits for the major.

Non-Course Requirements

All Science and Engineering B.A. and B.S. students must complete an exit interview/survey near the end of their bachelor's program. 

Continuation Standards

After declaring a computer science major, students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.00 in computer science courses by the conclusion of their second year as a major and maintain such a GPA at the conclusion of each semester thereafter. Furthermore, students should require at most two attempts to successfully complete any computer science courses required for the major (where an unsuccessful attempt is considered a "D" or "F" for courses numbered 2100 and lower, and an "F" in higher-level courses).

Students are also expected to make adequate progress in the major, typically by enrolling in at least one computer science course per semester until completing their coursework (with exceptions made for premed scholars during their first year, and all students if studying abroad or facing other such extenuating circumstances).

Program Notes

At most three credit hours of internship with industry courses can be applied to the degree.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

‡

 Must be in same discipline as Science I to form sequence.

Introduction to Computer Science

Systems Elective Courses

Note: SLU-Madrid and SLU-St. Louis program requirements vary slightly by campus.

Students of computer science at Saint Louis University gain in-depth knowledge of computers and computer systems, as well as the programs and languages that they use to communicate. You'll gain real-world experience in coding, designing and testing programs in multiple programming languages.

Curriculum Overview

Complete your B.S. or a B.A. in computer science at the Madrid campus. You can also transfer freely between SLU's Madrid and the St. Louis campuses.

The Bachelor of Science degree provides more technical depth and focuses largely on analytical skills and a detailed understanding of computer science. As a more professionally focused degree, graduates often go directly into the industry upon graduation. The B.S. program is modeled after curricular requirements for ABET-CAC accreditation in computer science.

The Bachelor of Arts degree is often combined with another major or minor, providing you with an understanding of the application and impact of the computer sciences on society.

Fieldwork, Internships and Careers

At SLU-Madrid, class enrollment is kept low at all levels to maximize interaction between the professors and students. Computer science classes are held in computer classrooms and involve group work and hands-on projects. Lectures and lab sessions are all taught by full-time, award-winning faculty or faculty with experience gained in the industry.

Graduates with computer science degrees are in high demand in the international job market. Our students master a variety of skills, such as computer hardware and architecture, software analysis, design and build, object-oriented programming, server security and management, database design and applications and networking technologies.

Employment sectors include security analysis, computer graphics and data visualization, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, internet of things (IoT), bioinformatics, software or application development, computer programming, IT system administration, project management and computer forensics.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the major, you must have at least a 2.00 cumulative average and complete a declaration of major form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Upon acceptance to the program, you will be assigned a departmental advisor.

Tuition and Fees

SLU-Madrid is committed to providing a quality Jesuit education at an affordable price. Tuition rates at the Madrid campus are approximately 40% lower than at comparable private universities in the U.S.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a financial aid officer, email us at financialaid-madrid@slu.edu. 

• Tuition and Fees
• Scholarships and Financial Aid

2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution. 

• Computer Science, B.S. (STLCC 2+SLU)