Computer Science Degrees Offered at the University of California – Santa Barbara
The University of California – Santa Barbara appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Master’s in Computer Science Degree Programs.
The University of California – Santa Barbara offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, a Master of Science in Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science. The school also has a combined BS/MS program in computer science, which is a five-year program, and a joint computer engineering major option, which combines aspects of both the computer science curriculum and engineering curriculum.
The goal of the program is to prepare all of its students for careers in the computer science industry, including in government and academia. There is a high priority on research, and all students in the program are invited to participate in the research opportunities that are available. The school is well-known for its “hands-on” approach in computer science, and computing facilities for students are available across campus for student use.
Some of the undergraduate courses that students are required to take include the following:
- Introduction to Computer Science
- Problem Solving with Computers
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Multimedia Computing
Those who take on the graduate program will take the following courses, among others:
- Numerical Simulation
- Sparse Matrix Algorithms
- Applied Parallel Computing
- Software Engineering
Currently, the school does not offer an online degree in computer science.
About University of California – Santa Barbara
The University of California – Santa Barbara is one of the 10 colleges that are part of the greater University of California system. Often considered as a “public ivy league school, UC Santa Barbara has an excellent reputation in many of its offerings, including its computer science programs.
US Santa Barbara can trace back its history to 1891 when the Anna Blake School was founded. This school offered training in both industrial arts and home economics, but the state of California took the school over in 1909, and its name was changed to the Santa Barbara State Normal School before becoming Santa Barbara State College in 1921.
Between 1944 and 1958, the school was known as the Santa Barbara College of the University of California and took on its current name in 1958. The original plan was to make UC Santa Barbara a small liberal arts college, but thanks to the baby boom after World War II, enrollment numbers soared.
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, UC Santa Barbara became known for its anti-Vietnam War protests, and eventually, Ronald Reagan, who was the governor of California at the time, ordered the National Guard in to enforce a curfew.
Today, the University of California – Santa Barbara is organized into five different colleges, and within those, the university offers almost 90 different undergraduate majors and more than 50 graduate majors. The university also supports more than 20,000 students, making it the sixth-largest in the University of California system.
University of California – Santa Barbara Accreditation Details
The University of California – Santa Barbara is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Those who are seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science will find that the program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
University of California – Santa Barbara Application Requirements
First-year students applying for the University of California – Santa Barbara must meet certain requirements to apply. First, applicants must show that they have the following courses from high school:
- History or Social Science – 2 years
- College-preparatory English – 4 years
- Mathematics – 3 years (4 years is recommended)
- Laboratory Science – 2 years (3 years is recommended)
- Language other than English – 2 years required (3 years is recommended)
- Visual/Performing Arts – 1 year
- College preparatory electives – 1 year
Students must also show that they have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA out of a 4.0 scale, though students who are applying from out of state must show that they have a 3.4 out of a 4.0 scale for admission to UC – Santa Barbara.
Additionally, applicants must submit SAT and/or ACT scores for admission, plus fill out the online application, which includes a $70 application fee.
For those applying to the graduate school of UC – Santa Barbara, the school requires proof of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, and at least a B average on all undergraduate coursework.
If a person is interested in applying to the computer science graduate program to earn a Master of Science or Ph.D., there are specific steps. The first step is to fill out the online application. Additionally, applicants must submit a resume or CV, a Statement of Purpose, and a list of personal achievements. Three letters of recommendation are also required, as are unofficial transcripts from undergraduate courses. Submitting GRE scores is also recommended, and before admission is complete, official transcripts must be sent to the school.
Applicants who wish to apply to UC – Santa Barbara as an online student will take the same steps as above.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The tuition for attending the University of California – Santa Barbara as an undergraduate and a California resident is $12,570 for the 2019-2020 school year. In addition to this, students must pay a variety of other costs including fees, health care, housing, and food, which realistically costs approximately $36,000 per year.
For undergraduate students who are not California residents, the cost of tuition at the University of California – Santa Barbara rises to $29,754, which takes annual costs up to about $66,000 a year.
The graduate program at the University of California is approximately $39,000 a year for California residents and rises to approximately $55,000 for non-residents.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. To apply, an applicant must fill out the FAFSA form to determine eligibility. Some of the options for students to get aid include loans, grants, work-study, and scholarships. Each year, the school gives out millions of dollars in scholarships and grants, and if given work-study, the salary will go directly to paying tuition.
As of 2019, approximately 58 percent of all students at the University of California – Santa Barbara receive some type of financial aid.
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