Computer Science and Engineering
Degree: BS
Campus: Columbus
College: Engineering
To be considered for this major, freshmen applying to the Columbus campus are strongly encouraged to submit their complete admission application by November 1.
Computer science and engineering (CSE) focuses on the development of software and the uses of software to solve practical problems and to support and improve productivity, health, happiness and safety in today's society. Topics studied include algorithms and data structures, programming languages, computer architecture, computer graphics, operating systems, software engineering systems analysis, database systems, artificial intelligence, information security, and networking.
A computing professional analyzes a situation in an application domain, such as biology and medicine, business, engineering, law and public policy, science, sociology, and so on; carefully specifies the problems to be addressed; and then designs, evaluates, implements and tests computer-based solutions to those problems.
CSE combines the technical study of both software and hardware. Other majors suited for students interested in computing careers include:
- Computer and information science in the College of Arts and Sciences: virtually identical to the CSE major in its computing courses and technical background but involves more general education requirements rather than engineering
- Electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering: shares several computing courses with the CSE major but has a more hardware-oriented bent in its other courses
Prospective students interested in pursuing engineering at Ohio State must indicate their engineering major of interest on their application. Applicants are reviewed holistically by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Some engineering majors have available capacity and can direct enroll students into the major without an additional application process. Other engineering majors have a pre-major component and require an additional application process.
To learn about admission to specific engineering majors, visit: https://engineering.osu.edu/undergraduate/future-students/admissions
All engineering students have a similar first-year plan of study, the college core, that provides fundamental courses in math, science and engineering. View a sample first-year plan of study.
In addition to the college core, engineering students also take select core courses, major courses and general education courses.
Computer science students can select a focus area in artificial intelligence, computer graphics and game design, database systems and data analytics, information and computation assurance, computer networking, computer systems, and software engineering.
Engineering students have several opportunities for global education, including service learning, semester abroad, international internships, engineering-specific study abroad programs or the Global Option in Engineering program.
Whether it be installing solar panels on Haitian schools, researching biomedical optics in China, devising solutions for sustainable food production in Honduras, or setting speed records on the Isle of Man, Ohio State engineering students venture beyond classrooms and labs to find success in every corner of the globe.
Students work with Engineering Career Services to find both paid internships and co-op jobs across the United States and around the world. About 75% of engineering students participate in a co-op or internship before they graduate.
Honors and scholars offer students an opportunity to pursue academic rigor (Honors) or foster passion through community (scholars). Engineering students can enhance their experience by getting involved with one of the following engineering-based programs.
Engineering Honors
The Fundamentals of Engineering for Honors (FEH) Program is an optional course sequence that is offered to University Honors-designated engineering students. This accelerated program is designed to challenge students and provide them with a foundation in engineering principles that are necessary for success throughout their academic careers.
Engineering Scholars
Engineering Scholars contemplate the adoption of socially responsible practices within engineering as a means to minimize health risks and environmental impact and maximize efficiency, feasibility and sustainability.
Humanitarian Engineering Scholars learn about and engage in engineering activities that impact underserved areas by addressing pressing problems.
At Ohio State, engineering students conduct research alongside top faculty from across the university—doctors, physicists, designers, artists and experts in many other fields—to advance our knowledge and improve the world around us. Students enjoy multiple outlets to share their work, including Ohio State's annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum each spring. Learn more about engineering research.
Computer science and engineering research topics:
- artificial intelligence
- applied machine learning
- animation
- network security
- wireless networking
- computer architecture
- software systems
- computational learning theory
- computational biology and bioinformatics
Computer science and engineering students choose from more than 80 engineering student organizations, including Association of Computing Machinery Committee on Women, Buckeye Aerial Robotics Team, Underwater Robotics Team, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Buckeye Hackers, Electronics Club and Game Creation Club.
Because computing is essential in all areas of society, the demand for people skilled in the computing field continues to grow. Recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections for U.S. job growth in the next decade show computing jobs, of the sort computer science and engineering (CSE) graduates might take, consistently rank in the top 10 positions requiring an undergraduate degree.
Computer software and hardware vendors hire CSE graduates in areas such as software and hardware product development, quality assurance, customer support, sales and marketing, documentation, and training. But even more often, organizations that use these products (such as hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, banks, insurance companies and manufacturing firms) hire CSE graduates as software engineers building system foundations as well as end-user applications, and as systems analysts, database administrators and network administrators, as well as for other types of positions. Most large companies have internal computing departments that develop custom products for use by other departments within the same company. Considerable growth is also occurring in companies focusing on social media and information security.
Some employers of computer science and engineering graduates include Amazon, Apple, Capital One, Cisco Systems, Epic, Google, IBM Corp., JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Nationwide Insurance, Northrop Grumman and Root Insurance.
Many graduates work with Engineering Career Services to find their first job.
Beginning annual salaries for recent computer science and engineering graduates average $113,161 (California and Washington) and $76,429 (not California and Washington).
It is the intent of the faculty that within the first few years after graduation:
- Graduates of the program will be employed in the computing profession and will be engaged in learning, understanding and applying new ideas and technologies as the field evolves
- Graduates with an interest in, and aptitude for, advanced studies in computing will have completed, or be actively pursuing, graduate studies in computing
- Graduates will be informed and involved members of their communities and responsible engineering and computing professionals
Find Student Outcomes supporting our Educational Objectives at go.osu.edu/cse_outcomes.