Computer Science Major (BS)

Are you ready to shape the future as a computer scientist? As our lives increasingly move online, we need thoughtful and Christ-centered problem solvers to create the technology that allows our economies to function. Think about what you could achieve – and the influence you can have – in such a dynamic field!

Our graduates have made their mark at companies including Amazon, Nike, Boeing, McAfee, Microsoft, Intel, Amazon and Oracle. Are you ready to bring your influence to some of the most innovative companies across the globe?

Our program will introduce you to the fundamental principles and mechanisms of modeling, abstraction and problem-solving using computers, with an emphasis on core technical skills, real-world problem solving, and hands-on experience.

Chat with a Current Student

A happy current student

We’re Big on Service and Building Character

Our students aren’t just here to “get a good job.” They are challenged to take the skills they learn and use them to improve the quality of life for someone else. It’s why every student participates in servant engineering projects designed to help people in need. That might look like developing augmentative communication and physical therapy devices for patients and staff at the Providence Center for Medically Fragile Children in Portland, or designing ruggedized wheelchairs for individuals suffering with cerebral palsy in Nairobi, Kenya.

Beyond that, the rigor of our program is intended to develop both your technical skills and character. We will push you to grow not only in your academic discipline but also a mature follower of Christ who leads through humility, service and compassion for others.

Competitions

Are you competitive? If so, you will love “suiting up” for competitions that include the International Collegiate Programming Contest, the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, the Department of Energy CyberForce Competition, and the National Cyber League. We consistently place high and often defeat teams from much larger institutions.

Cyber Security Concentration

Nearly all of us have been impacted by compromised personal information thanks to hackers and cyber attacks. But attacks are becoming more complex and treacherous to navigate. Want to do something about them? Our cyber security concentration within the computer science major will position you to be a leader in this emerging and essential field. And talk about job security: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects there will be 1 million unfilled jobs in the cyber security field in the next three years!

Watch video: Computer Science College Major Tour

Why Study Computer Science at George Fox?

As a computer science major, you'll have the opportunity to partner on practical projects that provide hands-on experience. Recently, computer science and engineering students worked together to develop an autonomous robot that could be a game changer for vineyard owners.

The Vitibot, which uses sensors and cameras to collect data and is able to navigate a vineyard autonomously, can predict grape harvest with only a 2-3% margin of error, saving a significant amount of time and money.

Watch video: Meet the Vitibot: A Game-Changing Vineyard Robot
Students studying together in the computer lab

What will I Study?

As a computer science student, you will apply the principles of mathematics, engineering and logic to a number of functions, including algorithm formulation, software and hardware development, and artificial intelligence. Specifically, we emphasize:

  • The fundamental skills of programming, taught in a variety of industry languages
  • Understanding, designing and analyzing algorithms and data structures to solve complex problems
  • Understanding and use of complex computers systems such as databases and operating systems
  • Developing the ability to solve real-world problems by designing computer software systems
Keiko Neufeld

Keiko Neufeld

I not only had a good foundation in the fundamental CS concepts, but I also had exposure to multiple languages and technologies that made me flexible and helped me adapt to whatever technology I was working with. In addition to technical skills, I was also able to work on soft skills that proved to be incredibly valuable after graduation. Group projects like Servant Engineering and Senior Design gave me experience with tasks like managing client expectations and requirements, peer evaluations, and working with a team that helped prepare me for post-graduation.

What’s after George Fox

Employment of computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. These occupations are projected to add more than 500,000 new jobs, in part due to a greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, more everyday items becoming connected to the internet in what is commonly referred to as the “Internet of things,” and the continued demand for mobile computing.

  • Senior Software Engineer, Intel
  • Security Analyst, Nike
  • Electrical Engineering Technical Designer, Boeing
  • Senior Program Manager, Microsoft
  • Software Engineer, Oracle
  • Senior Software Engineer, GE
  • Analyst for Division of Legislative Finance, State of Alaska
  • Software Engineer, Consonus Health
  • Senior Support Engineer, Fiserv
  • Software Developer, McAfee
  • Software Engineering Manager, Mentor Graphics
  • Senior Research Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Software Engineer, Axium
  • Senior Products Analyst, Huron Consulting Group
  • Informatics Research Scientist, DOW AgroSciences
  • Component Design Engineer, Intel
  • Manager of Language Modeling Research, Nuance Communication
  • Programmer Analyst, Boeing
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • Microsoft
  • Intel Corporation
  • Amazon
  • Nike
  • Florida Institute of Technology/National Science Foundation
  • Circle Media Labs
  • Maxim Integrated
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Northwestern University
  • Oregon Health & Science University
  • Boston University
  • Baylor University
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Washington
  • Oregon State University
  • Washington State University
  • University of Colorado
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Minnesota
  • George Washington University
  • Colorado State University
Lydia Taw

Lydia Taw's journey from 'ground zero' to Amazon

As a sophomore with no coding experience, Lydia Taw decided to change her major after struggling with a Data Structures course, known by computer science students as the “weed-out class.”

“I got about halfway through that class and I was like, ‘Everybody knows more than I do. I have no coding experience whatsoever. I’m obviously not smart enough to be in this field,’” Taw recalls.

She dropped the class and the major, but her professors wouldn’t have it.

“They encouraged me to look beyond what I thought I was capable of,” she says. “They literally took me from ground zero to Amazon. My professors played a major role in helping me believe in my ability to do this and developing my confidence.