Three students looking at computers

Our Computer Science program is among the top 25% programs nationally in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings. You’ll have plenty of opportunities for real-world experience when you earn your Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at UWM.

Computer scientists write the software that bring computers to life, including programs for social networks, computer games and data analytics. They develop websites, create applications for mobile devices, and understand the theoretical aspects of working with computers.

They are sought after for roles including data scientists, web developers, computer programmers, systems analysts, software engineers, network architects and mobile app developers. You don’t need prior Computer Science experience to pursue this major at UWM.

NEW Diversity in Tech Education Scholarships

A select number of full-ride scholarships are available annually to incoming freshmen who graduate from a public or private high school in the city of Milwaukee.

The Anu and Satya Nadella Scholarship is exclusively for students pursuing computer science, computer engineering, data science or information technology majors.

Application Deadline December 1: Learn More

Program Type

Major, Minor

Program Format

On Campus

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Career Outlook

Employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. *

Those with bachelor’s degrees earn median salaries ranging from $83,510 (network and computer systems administrators) to $112,690 (computer network architects). *

* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

According to Code.org:

  • Wisconsin has averaged 9,705 open computing jobs each month.
  • These jobs have an average salary of $80,546.
  • Yet there were only 1,261 graduates in computer science in 2018.
Northwestern Mutual employees work with UWM computer science students on capstones. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)

What to Expect

Increased speed to graduation

Our new and redesigned curriculum makes it easier and faster for you to complete your degree. You’ll also find greater flexibility in the electives available to customize your experience. 

What makes our program stand out

This major will provide you with a strong and broad technical background in computer science and related areas.

You can elect to specialize in one of these areas::

  • Artificial intelligence, data mining & machine learning
  • Computer architecture & hardware
  • Computer graphics & human-computer interfaces
  • Computer networks & operating systems
  • Databases & information systems
  • Medical & bio-informatics
  • Programming languages & compilers
  • Theory & algorithms

UWM Computer Science laptop requirement

Learn more

Honors

You will be eligible for these honors in the major during your studies and upon completing your degree.

Students at UWM have many opportunities to earn honors recognition.

UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science program provides many opportunities to pair classroom learning with hands-on experiences outside the classroom. The college’s location in Wisconsin’s largest city, with a broad network of industry partnerships, gives you easy access to well-paid internships and co-ops, as well as other important opportunities to enhance your resume. 

Did you know? 

  • 95.1 percent of our graduates launch their careers or continue their education upon graduation.
  • SOURCE: UWM First Destination Survey for the College of Engineering & Applied Science, December 2021

Internships & Co-ops

Our students have had many hands-on opportunities to develop their skills and to determine what type of career experience they would like after graduation, while often earning a significant paycheck over summer breaks and even during the academic year.

Here are some of the businesses where our computer science students have had internships, co-ops or begun their careers:

  • Amazon
  • Baird
  • Blue Yonder
  • Direct Supply
  • FIS
  • GE Healthcare
  • Johnson Controls
  • Kohl’s
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Rockwell Automation
Capstones/Senior Design Projects

In your senior year, you’ll team up with other students to complete a Capstone Project, during which you’ll use what you’ve learned in class to complete an experience similar to a real-world employer project. Past students have created online games, apps, management software and more.

Some students elect to work with Northwestern Mutual, who mentors many of our students in their Capstone Projects. This partnership –between the college and a Fortune 500 company in downtown Milwaukee – was created because computer science technologies are evolving so quickly, industries are having a hard time finding people with the exact skill set they need.

Student Organizations

Data Science Club at UWM

A medium for collaborative and interdisciplinary discussions, support, and awareness of best practices in the diverse and rapidly growing field of data science.

Game Design & Development

Members come together and construct projects and ideas from all sides of gaming.

Google Developers Group at UWM

Members explore programming technology and enhance their skills in computer-related categories.

The Computer Society

Encourages education enrichment in computer science and related fields; provides opportunities for social activities with faculty members.

Robotics Association at UWM

Members design, build, test, program and compete in robotic competitions against universities from around the world.

Women in Computing

Dedicated to promoting diversity in computer science and tech through outreach; provides professional, academic and social support to women interested in computer science and technology.

For full descriptions and contact information of all engineering and computer science related student organizations and clubs, click here.

Resource Rooms & Teaching Labs

Big Data Analytics and Visualization Lab

This lab is focused on developments of new computational approaches and software tools for various types of massive data processing, data mining and visualization using both knowledge-based and data-driven techniques.

BioRobotics Laboratory

This lab works with previously gathered data in order to create a design whose aim is to assist disabled individuals.

Connected Systems Institute

This lab works with students, faculty and private sector partners to help ensure that industry has the talent it needs to benefit fully from Industrial Internet of Things connectivity.

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

This lab strives to enhance people’s health and well-being by designing software that will help identify health problems early, suggest a plan of action, and provide evidence that justifies that plan.

Resource Rooms

UWM students have a wealth of additional resources available to them within the College of Engineering & Applied Science. From computer labs and tutoring resources to teaching labs and spaces to create or collaborate. Details here.

Research Opportunities

As a top tier R1 research university, our students have the opportunity to work with faculty engaged in leading-edge research in areas such as:

  • Object-oriented programming
  • Cryptography
  • Computational robotics
  • Intelligent dialog systems
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Extensible languages

Undergraduates in Computer Science also have the opportuntiy to get paid to do research with UWM’s SURF (Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows) Program which has a profound impact on students’ preparation and advancing to graduate programs. The SURF program helps students to improve professional preparation through research by closely working with our faculty to explore, discover, and transform ideas into reality.

Both graduates and undergraduates have the opportunity to participate in the annual Student Research Poster Competition to see who can best represent their research visually on a poster and verbally by describing it to judges.

Product Realization Course

This optional course is co-taught by an engineering professor and an art professor. Interdisciplinary teams of student engineers, artists and designers present ideas professionally, deliver presentations and take an idea from concept to design to prototype.    

Student Startup Challenge

Directed by the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, the UWM Student Startup Challenge is an optional, co-curricular program that fosters our students’ innovative and entrepreneurial ideas. You can work alone or as part of a team as you gain the skills that come from entrepreneurial experience.

We’re Here to Help

We have a dedicated Career Services Department at the College of Engineering & Applied Science who works exclusively with our students to prepare them for a career after graduation.

Where You’ll Work

Computer scientists work for large corporations, small startups, non-profits, academia and the government.

Having an internship provided me with large-scale practical experience that will help me in my future career.


Ben (Internship, then Career Launch at Amazon)Alumnus, BS Computer Science

What You Might Do

  • Design and build data communication networks.
  • Oversee the day-to-day operation of computer networks.
  • Create the applications or systems that run on a computer or another device.
  • Use specialized software to store and organize data.
  • Write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly.
  • Plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.
  • Find more effective and efficient solutions for an organization’s current computer system.
  • Create the applications or systems that run on a computer or another device.

Advising

Megan Wisnowski
  • Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names M-R
Brandon Clark
  • Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names A-E
Tina Current
  • Senior Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names beginning F-L
  • Prospective Transfer Student Liaison
Jennie Klumpp
  • Senior Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names beginning S-Z
  • Prospective Student Liaison

Tutoring

Steven Anderson
  • Retention Coordinator, Tutoring
  • Student Support Center Coordinator
  • Freshmen Orientation Instructor

Faculty

John Boyland
  • Professor, Computer Science
Christine Cheng
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Thomas Haigh
  • Professor, History - General
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science
Rohit Kate
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Chiu Law
  • Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Jake Luo
  • Associate Professor, Health Informatics & Administration
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science
  • Graduate Program Director, Health Care Informatics
Amol Mali
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
faculty photo susan mcroy
  • Professor, Computer Science
  • Department Chair, Computer Science
Sadia Nowrin
  • Teaching Faculty II, Computer Science
Shana Ponelis
  • Associate Professor, Information Studies Administration
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science
Mohammad Rahman
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Chair, Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program Committee
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering
  • Switzer Research Distinguished Fellow
Bob Sorenson
  • Teaching Faculty 3, Computer Science
Jerald Thomas
  • Assistant Professor, Computer Science
faculty image weizhong wang
  • Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Shideh Yavary Mehr
  • Assistant Visiting Professor, Computer Science
faculty member zeyun Yu
  • Professor, Computer Science
  • Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Director, Big Data Analytics and Visualization Lab
Zhen Zeng
  • Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Jun Zhang
  • Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Professor, Computer Science
Tian Zhao
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Accreditation
The Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Contact
Computer Science

Contact Info: ceas-cs@uwm.edu

Street Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211

Mailing Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
P.O. Box 784
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0784