Major Minor

B.A.
B.S.

Major in Computer Science

Learn problem-solving • Become a computer professional/scientist • Impact the world

Connect with our admissions team

Be ready for advancing technology.

In the computer science major, you will be prepared even for the jobs that don't yet exist in the fast-moving world of technology. At JBU our faculty and staff will guide you through the process of discovering your vocation and developing your skills to impact God's kingdom.

Start your application

Learn hands-on

JBU computer science majors have every opportunity to work with state-of-the-art equipment and engage with technology in any form they'd like, preparing them for any career in computer science. 

Integrate faith & learning

Computer science at JBU isn't just about coding. Students learn how they can integrate their faith and education, learning to serve the kingdom not just on Sunday but in their vocation.

Graduate industry-ready

The Northwest Arkansas Council reports that there are over 400 unfilled software developer positions in the region with a median salary of $104,000.

Solve hard, technical problems at JBU.

Start your application

What to expect as a computer science student at JBU

""

Choose an emphasis

The computer science program allows students to choose from a variety of emphases to be able to enter any field and be industry-ready. 

""

Enjoy incredible facilities

The Balzer Technology Center has 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art labs and learning space.

""

Accelerate earning a master's

With JBU's 4+1 program, you can begin taking master's level classes as an undergraduate and finish both your bachelor's in computer science and master's in cybersecurity in five years. (You can even finish online once you get a full-time job.)

JBU’s computer science program does an excellent job of combining abstract concepts and theories with practical implementation. The professors are friendly, experienced in their area of expertise, and care about the well-being of their students. One of my favorite classes was junior collaborative design. I learned alot about teamwork while creating a prototype for a fictional company. I am confident I can help others using the skills I’ve learned.

Jacinth Boggess '24

Computer Science Major

""

What can you do with a computer science degree?

The computer science department is well-equipped to prepare students for any field in technology and software.

Software developer

As a software developer, you create the computer and systems software users interface with and develop the underlying systems that run devices.

Systems analyst

When you’re working as a systems analyst, you use design techniques to solve business problems and build software applications that run the business world.

Network architect

Network architects maintain several data communication networks, from large cloud infrastructures to smaller intranets.

Database administrator

Storage and organization are key to a database administrator profession. In this career, you will do a variety of tasks, including installation, configuration, database design,  performance monitoring, security and troubleshooting.

Web developer

Web developers create mobile & web applications and work with a variety of coding languages, from HTML5, CSS and JavaScript in the client to PHP, JsReact, ASP.NET, Python, Node.js, Go or Java on the server.

Information security analyst

Work a vital and essential role as an information security analyst protecting information in an organization's computer systems from security breaches, data leaks and cyberattacks.

Not sure which degree to choose? 

Learn more about our other engineering and computer science programs.

Key computer science courses

Object-Oriented Programming

The course introduces basic programming concepts, collections, and object-oriented analysis and design. Object-oriented concepts like abstraction, polymorphism, inheritance, and encapsulation are covered in detail with hands-on experience in programming and problem-solving with practical applications. Usage of Python packages and libraries for solving advanced real-time problems will also be covered.

Data Structures and Algorithms

This course primarily focuses on several models of data structures along with their application in software programs. The concepts, data structures, and their functionalities are implemented using a modern programming language. This course is a good foundation for algorithm development, helping to build efficient applications. The course will emphasize both conceptual understanding and practical laboratory work. 

Database Design

This is an introductory course in database modeling and designing database schemas for software applications. This course begins with basic concepts in database systems, data and schema modeling, and writing SQL queries. The course introduces some important concepts in data storage, query optimization, and concurrency control.

Software Engineering

An essential course in preparing the student for a role in software design and development. This engineering course covers the disciplined processes involved in software application/product development life-cycle - the analysis, design, construction, testing, and deployment. The focus will be on the practical aspects in preparing requirements specifications, drafting design diagrams, coding using any programming language of choice, and validating the developed product using industry-standard testing frameworks.

Sign up for personalized information and deadline reminders

Loading...

The future you starts here.

Equip yourself for a successful career and a life of purpose.

)}}