Computer Science

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Arts

Minor

Computer Science deals with the logical and mathematical foundations of computing, techniques for solving problems with computer programs, and the technical underpinnings of computer hardware and networks.

Did You Know?

As one of the first American universities to recognize the necessity of a laptop computer for every student, Wake Forest has been out front in a discipline that never stops updating itself. Computer Science students can engage in 10 distinct areas of the field, including mobile computing; computing for people with disabilities; computational biophysics; and big data.
Recent student research projects have developed and deployed mobile apps for a wide range of public benefits, including assistive and rehabilitative therapy; real-time vehicle tracking; and geotrekking.
Student teams participate in several unique intercollegiate competitions each year.
The department offers a fellowship that rewards entrepreneurship.
Computer Science is one of the fastest growing majors at Wake Forest, having jumped from 102 total students in Spring 2014 to 181 in Spring 2023.
Over the past five years (2019-23), it ranks 10th overall and eighth in Wake Forest College among graduates.

Courses

Sample courses for students studying Computer Science include:

Algorithm Design and Analysis
Computer Architecture
Computer Graphics
Artificial Intelligence
Data Mining

View official major requirements »

Practical Experience & Skills

If you’re a computer science major, you live in a world of acronyms: HTML, TCP/IP, MS, IT, OS—and the list changes constantly. Keeping up with new technologies might seem daunting, but luckily for you, students with computer savvy are in high demand in a variety of different fields. Whether you have stellar programming skills, networking know-how, or have just designed your own web page, it’s important to complement your computer science major with an internship.

Students in this program will develop the following skills:

Ability to trace problems to their sources
Analyzing communication situations
Skilled at clarifying problems or situations
Systematizing/organizing material
Organizing/classifying data
Able to anticipate and diagnose problems
Perceiving/defining cause and effect relationships
Decision-making
Proficiency for accuracy and detail
Ability to work under pressure

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Clubs & Organizations

Computer Science students participate in the following clubs and organizations:

Career Outcomes

Careers that often interest Computer Science majors include:

Analyst
Applications Research Programmer
Application Specialist
Consultant
Computer Systems/Software Sales Representative
Cybersecurity
Data Processing Manager
Database Administrator
Educator
Engineer
Network Manager
Programmer
Project Manager
Software Engineer
Systems Administrator
Systems Engineer
Technician

Recent graduates have worked as data analysts in the U.S. military; app developers in banking; financial consultants; and cyber security engineers, among other professions.