What Programs Does the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science Offer?

Updated

The Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers more than 30 undergraduate computer science and data science options and nine graduate programs, including online degrees and certificates. It also offers a 4+1 five-year combined bachelor's and master's option. The school's own materials describe the undergraduate and graduate programs as tied for #5 overall and #2 among public programs, so it suits students who want a large, highly ranked computing program with many specialization choices. The details below come from the school's website; specific admission requirements and deadlines should be confirmed on the linked admissions pages.

Undergraduate Programs

The school lists 30+ undergraduate degrees spanning computer science and data science. Rather than a single general major, the structure gives students many ways to specialize within computing and data.

  • Explore majors first: The site's Academic Programs section directs prospective first-time and transfer students to explore majors, sign up for a visit, and prepare to apply.
  • Visit before applying: A "Plan a Visit" link is available through the Grainger Engineering admissions pages for students who want to see the campus and program in person.
  • Transfer students: The admissions guidance explicitly covers transfer applicants from other institutions, not just first-time college students.

If you are choosing between computing and data science tracks, use the majors list to compare required coursework rather than relying on rankings alone.

Graduate Programs

Nine graduate degrees are offered, and the school describes multiple paths: graduate and professional programs, online degrees, and certificates. The site also states that its online master's programs are ranked #1 for military service members.

Graduate path What the site says
On-campus graduate degrees Nine graduate degrees across computing and data science
Online degrees and certificates Offered as an alternative path for working or remote students
Combined bachelor's + master's 4+1 five-year option for students who want both degrees

The 4+1 option is the most distinctive structure: it lets a student complete a bachelor's and master's in five years instead of the typical six. This is most relevant if you are already confident about pursuing graduate study in computing and want to plan your undergraduate timeline around it.

How to Explore Programs and Find Faculty

The site organizes exploration around three actions:

  1. Explore majors — review the full list of undergraduate options before narrowing down.
  2. Prepare to apply — follow the admissions guidance for your applicant type (first-time, transfer, or graduate).
  3. Find faculty in your field — the graduate section points students to faculty by research area, which helps match a program to your intended specialization.

The school reports 11 research areas, 20+ research centers and partnerships, and 145+ world-class faculty, so finding faculty by field is a practical way to judge whether a program fits your interests.

Choosing Between Programs

Use these conditions to decide:

  • You want maximum specialization choice as an undergraduate: start with the 30+ undergraduate options and compare curricula, not just rankings.
  • You want to save time and cost on two degrees: consider the 4+1 combined option, but confirm eligibility and timing with the school.
  • You need to study online or while working: look at the online degrees and certificates rather than the on-campus graduate programs.
  • You are transferring: follow the transfer-specific admissions path rather than the first-time student path.

The site does not publish tuition figures or application deadlines in the material reviewed here, so check the admissions pages directly before planning around cost or dates.