Program Overview

CS Undergraduate Program

The CS undergraduate program introduces students to emerging fields within computer science while providing solid foundational training.

Overview

Our undergraduate computer science curricula are designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in computer science.

Computer Science Career Opportunities

Our Computer Science undergraduate alumni go on to great opportunities. Many are recruited by global giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, as well as smaller companies and government agencies. Many of our graduates go on to create startups, while some use their talents to support non-profit endeavors. Rice CS alumni who discovered a passion for research and teaching push the frontiers of science at leading universities.

Program with a Purpose

Learning to program is not the primary goal of our courses. One of our professors explains that programming may be part of his introductory course, but the focus is on computational problem solving.

Programming Experience Not Required

Prior programming experience is not required to pursue an undergraduate degree in computer science. We welcome students with little or no programming experience. Computer science is about using computers and computation to solve problems and build tools for others to use. Programming is just one part of the discipline. Computer science requires the ability to think clearly and analytically.

Collaborative, not Cutthroat

One of the things you'll notice in your Rice CS classes is a lack of cutthroat competition. The CS professors are approachable, and other students are open to helping each other. The collaborative environment begins in your introductory courses when you are grouped into teams.

Get Involved

Collaboration happens both inside and outside the classrooms in the Department of Computer Science. To foster this lively community, the department and undergraduate organizations organize tech talks, lunch-and-learns, and other activities.

Undergraduate Resources

Our department offers an array of resources for undergraduate students as they plan their coursework and declare their majors, including:

• CS Degrees
• CS Advising
• Admission
• Opportunities
• Activities

Research Areas

The Department of Computer Science is involved in various research areas, including:

• Computational Biology & Bioinformatics
• Robotics & AI
• Computer Systems & Engineering
• Programming Languages, HPC & Formal Methods
• Machine Learning & Data Science
• Quantum Computing