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Are You New to Computer Science?

Computer science is an exciting and impactful discipline – but if you’re not familiar with CS, it can seem pretty mysterious and difficult to approach. You might feel that without prior experience, a college career in CS isn’t possible.

The University of Michigan believes that anybody with an interest should be able to explore CS – and that it’s never too late for a new student to dive in.

Why study CS?

People come to computing from a number of different backgrounds and experiences, and study it with their own goals in mind. Maybe you want to…

Devise slick new software to make work or life a little easier
Automate everything from driving to manufacturing to dangerous or tedious jobs
Make our lives online more secure
Design hardware and electronics that are smaller, faster, more efficient, and more powerful than anything we’ve seen yet
Model social, financial, or biological processes to advance human knowledge
Design games or VR/AR experiences
Tackle next-generation distributed computing problems on cloud servers or with blockchain
Improve healthcare technology
Send software into space (on a satellite or rover)

The list of what inspires students to pursue computing goes on – and CSE at the University of Michigan can equip you with the tools to get started.

Getting started in CS at Michigan

If you’re unsure about pursuing a degree in computing, or if you’re a non-major looking for more coding or technical experience, CSE offers several opportunities to help you get started.

CS Kickstart

A week-long introduction to CS that takes students of any gender identity with little to no experience (or who aren’t even really sure what CS is) and shows them what they can do with a CS degree.

Learn more >

Discover CS – EECS 110

A two-credit course for students with no formal computer science experience that teaches core CS concepts, how to write code, and provides hands-on experience with multiple CS areas.

Learn more >

Introduction to Computers and Programming – Engin 101

An introductory computer science and programming course for students in the College of Engineering, covering computing as a tool in engineering, an introduction to the organization of digital computers, and programming in C++ and MATLAB.

Learn more >

Elementary Programming Concepts – EECS 183

An introductory computer science and programming course for students in the College of LSA, covering the basics of computing as well as problem-solving and algorithmic thinking.

Learn more >

Choose your future in computing

If you are a prospective or current student with an interest in pursuing CS at Michigan, there are options available to you.

Computer science undergraduate majors are available to students in both the College of Engineering and the College of LSA. Both of these major programs are administered and taught by CSE. For students applying to the University of Michigan for admission in Fall 2023 or later, there is an opportunity to request selection to a CS major at the time of application, and for enrolled discoverers (those who did not previously request selection to a CS major and have developed an interest in CS) there is an opportunity to request selection to a CS major after they have completed the college declaration requirements and are ready to choose a major. The guidelines for requesting selection for the CS major can be found here.
There are other fields of study related to information and computing at U-M and we encourage you to explore those possibilities:
- Program in Computing for the Arts and Science (PCAS)
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Data Science (Eng)
- Data Science (LSA)
- Robotics
- Industrial & Operations Engineering
- Information
- Mathematics
- Cognitive Science – Computation and Cognition track

Or consider a CS Minor

Computing is a relevant tool in every field — and a valuable addition to any student’s skillset. If you’re considering bolstering your major coursework with classes in CS, the CS Minor is a great way to structure your efforts. Read more about declaring a minor.