Frequently Asked Questions

Our program not only teaches students to understand the concept of computer science but also equips them with the necessary skills need to survive in the workforce as well.

At ODU, our goal is to prepare you for a future in the professional workforce, entrepreneurship, and research. We use a strong foundation of mathematics, science, logic, programming skills, and theory to solve society's problems with computer-based software. You'll work on projects that investigate real world problem solving. Students thrive in a strong conceptual and practical curriculum with hands-on laboratory experiences.

When you graduate, you'll be ready to enter the world of professional software development and other in-demand computer science jobs, including network and database administration and information security analysis.

Our graduates with a bachelor's degree in computer science also frequently go on to graduate study or certification in computer science or related fields.

You will have to complete a total of 120 credits in order to be eligible to receive a Computer Science degree. You will have to take your required general education courses and then all the major courses required to earn your Computer Science degree.

Make an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss your best plan for timely graduation.

The preferred option is that you wait until the Add/Drop deadline for seats to open up before deciding to contact the professor to get into the course.

Yes! Anyone can Minor in Computer Science at ODU. We also offer a Minor in Web Programming.

Popular Minors

These minors are the most popular among students completing their Undergraduate program in Computer Science. In order to declare your minor, please see the advisor in the department you are interested in:

• Minor in Computer Engineering
• Minor in Cybersecurity
• Minor in Engineering Management
• Minor in English (Professional Writing)
• Minor in Mathematics

You can take courses online and in the evenings at ODU. Our schedules are flexible and made in a way that suits the lifestyle of most of our students.

Technical electives are the third and fourth science requirements. The courses must list mathematics course(s) as a prerequisite. The courses do not need to be sequential, nor from the same science discipline. Nature of Science courses must be sequential, and must be selected from a pre-approved course list.

Refer to the Bachelor of Computer Science Four-Year Plan.

To learn more about math placement for incoming students, click here.

To learn more about ALEKS-PPL, a computer-adaptive assessment system that helps determine the best level of math coursework for each student, click here.

Questions regarding your math placement should be directed to your academic advisor. Questions regarding test registration can be directed to universitytesting@odu.edu.

You can use our Online Advising tool. This is for Computer Science majors only. We ask for Name, Student Email, UIN, and desired/recommended courses.

All students at Old Dominion University are required to take writing intensive courses regardless of major. CS students are required to take 6 credits of English Composition and 3 credits of a writing intensive upper-level computer science course. Review your Degree Works or speak with your advisor for more details.

Taking the Math Placement Test is not required but a student should not 'settle' for their current placement. Calculus 1 (Math 211) and Calculus 2 (Math 212) are pre-requisites for Computer Science major course work. It is beneficial to assess what math knowledge you may still possess. In addition, placing in a higher math can save time, money, and allow for a quicker route to graduation.

Log into myODU Portal > LeoOnline > Admissions, Registration, Student Records, Graduation Information > Registration > Banner XE Registration > Register for Classes.

Watch the Banner XE Registration video for more instructions.

• Web 2 = Address is inside Hampton Roads
• Web 5 = Address is outside Hampton Roads but in Virginia
• Web 7 = Address is outside Virginia
• Web 8 = Address is outside USA

See the CS Prerequisite Structure to make sure you have passed the prerequisite course. Please speak with an advisor for help at csadvising@cs.odu.edu.

You will most likely see this error registering for a Math or English course. This means that your SAT/ACT/WSPT score is not high enough for the course for which you are trying to register. Please see what course you should register for below:

• SAT/ACT Math Placement
• Writing Success Placement Tool

A linked course means that the course you are attempting to register for has more than one section. For example, CS 150 has a lecture, lab, and recitation while Math 103M has a lecture and a recitation.

TIP: Before clicking submit, make sure all sections are in your summary.

You may request that your transferred credits be evaluated for ODU equivalency if you feel that credits should have been applied to degree requirements. For CS courses, the point of contact is the Chief Departmental Advisor, Janet Brunelle.

Make sure to prepare the following information:

• Transfer institution name
• Course name and number
• Course description
• Course Syllabus
• Desired course equivalency: course name and number

If you do not earn an AS degree from VCCS, you will need to have all AP scores sent to ODU by College Board. If you received AP credit for English composition, you will also need to have the scores sent to ODU.

The 300 and 400 level CS courses require that students are proficient in C++. Courses that were not taught using C++ are not equivalent to CS 150 and CS 250 at ODU. We provide a CS 250 pretest that will allow proficient programmers the ability to demonstrate 100 level mastery of C++ skills. Passing this test will waive CS 150, and allow registration in CS 250 and CS 252.

Upon acceptance, students earning an AS in CS degree at VCCS will have completed all lower division general education requirements and the 100 and 200 level mathematics, statistics, and computer science requirements (excluding CS 252). The AS degree will waive any additional lower division general educations that do not directly transfer to ODU. This includes foreign language. For this reason, earning the AS in CS may save time and tuition.

Degree plans for Associate in Computer Science from VCCS:

• Taking CS252 prior to attending ODU
• Taking CS252 in the first term of attending ODU

If you earned your AS degree after you applied for admission to ODU, you will need to send your updated official transcript showing that your AS degree has been awarded in order for the lower division general education requirements to be waived.

For students that have transferable credit for Calculus 1 (Math 211), then no math placement test (ALEKS) is necessary.

For students that have transferable credit for a lower-level math (college algebra, pre-calculus, etc.), they are eligible to enroll in the next sequencing math course. No math placement test (ALEKS) is required, but ALEKS is available if a student would like to place into a higher level math course.

For students who do not have transferrable credit for any math course, then taking the math placement test (ALEKS) is highly recommended, but not required. Calculus 1 (Math 211) and Calculus 2 (Math 212) is a pre-requisite for Computer Science major course work. It is beneficial to assess what math knowledge you may still possess. In addition, placing in a higher math can save time, money, and allow for a quicker route to graduation.

We primarily recommend that you email csadvising@cs.odu.edu with your availability compared to our office hours. For example, you are able to only on Thursdays at noon, look for an advisor who is also available.

Office hours are listed here: odu.edu/compsci/advising

Yes. The topic of discussion in your appointment must be about the approaching semester.

If you decide to switch majors, you would have to meet with an advisor to discuss your decision, so that you can transition into the right major you decide to pursue.

Contact the advising team at csadvising@cs.odu.edu.