2022-2023 Computer Science Overview

Computer science is concerned with the design, modeling, analysis, and applications of computer systems. Its study at UCLA provides education at the undergraduate and graduate levels necessary to understand, design, implement, and use the software and hardware of computers and digital systems. The programs offer comprehensive and integrated studies of subjects in computer system architecture, computer networks, distributed computer systems, programming languages and software systems, information and data management, artificial intelligence, computer science theory, computational systems biology and bioinformatics, and computer vision and graphics.

The undergraduate and graduate studies and research projects in the Department of Computer Science are supported by significant computing resources. In addition to the departmental computing facility, there are over a dozen research laboratories specializing in areas such as distributed systems, multimedia computer communications, distributed sensor networks, VLSI systems, VLSI CAD, embedded and reconfigurable systems, computer graphics, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. Also, the Cognitive Systems Laboratory is engaged in studying computer systems that emulate or support human reasoning. The Biocybernetics Laboratory is devoted to multidisciplinary research involving the application of engineering and computer science methods to problems in biology and medicine.

The BS degree may be attained through the Computer Science and Engineering major, the Computer Science major, or the Computer Engineering major described below.

In addition, UCLA Samueli offers MS and PhD degrees in Computer Science, as well as minor fields for graduate students seeking engineering degrees. In cooperation with the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management, the Computer Science Department offers a concurrent degree program that enables students to obtain the MS in Computer Science and the MBA (Master of Business Administration).

Department Mission

The Computer Science Department strives for excellence in creating, applying, and imparting knowledge in computer science and engineering through comprehensive educational programs, research in collaboration with industry and government, dissemination through scholarly publications, and service to professional societies, the community, state, and nation.