Computer Science Degrees at The University of Chicago
The University of Chicago appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Master’s in Computer Science Degree Programs.
At the University of Chicago, students interested in computer science can study as undergraduate students or graduate students. Exceptional students may also select joint programs, such as earning a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at once. Depending on the selected track, the bachelor’s degree earned may be either Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science.
The computer science major at the undergraduate level studies in such classes as Introduction to Blockchain, Large Scale Data Methods, and Mathematics for Computer Science: Discrete Mathematics. Students must also select from among several theory courses that include Introduction to Cryptography, Mathematical Logic I, and Introduction to Complexity Theory. In all, the bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours to complete.
The master’s degrees offered include the Master of Computer Science and the Master in Computational Analysis and Public Policy. Both of these degrees allow students great flexibility in choosing their focus areas. Some students select a pre-doctoral, research-based degree while others choose to focus on software engineering, data analytics, or mobile computing.
Ph.D. candidates may select straight computer science, computational mathematics, or a combined mathematics and computer science doctorate. As is usual with degrees of this level, a dissertation is required.
Students wishing to augment an existing degree may select from several certificates, such as data analytics, computational mathematics, and others. Students should check the website for further information.
About the University of Chicago
John D. Rockefeller provided the cash, and William Rainey Harper led the fledgling University of Chicago. The year was 1890, and the new university combined both the rigors of a German research institute and an English liberal arts institution. The core value of the school’s philosophy was intellectual freedom.
That commitment has lasted throughout the university’s existence, and that, along with other factors, has elevated the University of Chicago to a No. 3 national ranking from U.S. News and World Report. It is also No. 18 on the list of “Most Innovative Schools” and No. 16 among “Best Value Schools.”
At 217 acres, the campus is spacious without being sprawling, and the slightly more than 6,000 students enjoy their studies in close, almost familial, groups. President Barack Obama taught constitutional law at the university before joining the world of politics.
The University of Chicago Accreditation Details
The University of Chicago first earned the accreditation of The Higher Learning Commission in 1913, and it has held it ever since. The university has earned separate academic accreditation from the following organizations:
- American Bar Association
- Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education
- Council on Social Work Education
The University of Chicago Application Requirements
The University of Chicago only selects one in 11 applicants, but its selection criteria are much broader than those of similar institutions. Rather than placing extra emphasis on academics, the university considers test scores on the ACT and SAT, high-school academic success, school activities, personal philosophy, essays, letters of recommendation, and other criteria equally. Indeed, even a school of this magnitude has taken the step of becoming test-optional for students who don’t think that a simple test score best represents their skills and intelligence.
Each of the separate “schools” under the umbrella of the University of Chicago has its own admission criteria. As an example, the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies requires three letters of recommendation, all previous transcripts, a letter of intent, a resume, and a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States or its foreign equivalent. Students must have a 3.0 GPA, and the university strongly recommends that students take the Graduate Record Examinations or the Graduate Management Admission Test. Professionals who apply must have two years’ experience in their chosen field.
Students applying for a doctoral candidacy must have earned a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university as well. In the Computer Science field, they must also submit a thesis proposal and defend that proposal. If that proposal is approved, then they must pass a systems examination to be accepted into the program. Students are encouraged to check the university’s website for further details.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The tuition at the University of Chicago is charged by the quarter. Each of the undergraduate schools and divisions within each school at the university has its own tuition structure. The same applies to the graduate divisions. The general undergraduate cost, including room, board, and the full meal plan per quarter is $18,475, which comes to $73,900 per year. There are other options for students past their freshman year. Students should check the website for further undergraduate details or graduate tuition details, which are charged by the credit hour.
Financial aid at the University of Chicago is slightly different than at many other institutions. Students still begin with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but the university’s “No Barriers” program awards all such aid as grants. Unless they truly want to, students do not need to take out loans to pay for school. This groundbreaking strategy means that students do not graduate saddled with crushing debt. It is just one of the ways that the University of Chicago is leading the way into the 21st century.
Students may also choose to participate in work-study programs or to apply for private scholarships and grants if they so desire. While work-study programs are part of the governmental financial aid package, private awards are not. Any private awards the student receives will reduce the amount of need-based aid to which the student is entitled. Many private awards have rigorous academic standards that must be maintained for the student to keep the awards. Because of the already rigorous standards at the University of Chicago, this should be nothing new to those students.
The University of Chicago is one of the leading universities not only in the United States but also in the world. Its commitment to excellence and innovation are shining beacons in the milieu of 21st-century education.
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