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About

Departments

Applied Science

From Molecules to Materials, Organisms, and Machines.

Housed in William & Mary's new School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics, the Department of Applied Science invites intellectually curious students to push past traditional boundaries. Our faculty and students tackle pressing problems in computational biology, bioengineering, robotics, laser spectroscopy, geospatial analysis and more—leveraging campus-based high-performance computing, the Integrated Science Center's collaborative labs, and partnerships with Jefferson Lab and NASA Langley. Undergraduates can dive in through innovative courses, interdisciplinary minors in Materials Science & Engineering or Computational Biology, and faculty-mentored self-designed majors, while graduate students craft flexible, research-intensive M.S. or Ph.D. paths supported by competitive stipends and full tuition. Whether you aspire to model neural networks, engineer next-generation materials, or explore the frontiers of data-rich science, Applied Science at W&M equips you with the skills, mentorship and facilities to turn ideas into tangible breakthroughs.

Computer Science

Think Logically, Lead Globally, Discover the Future.

At William & Mary, Computer Science is more than writing code—it's a launch-pad for discovery, innovation, and impact. Guided by Association for Computing Machinery standards, our B.A. and B.S. pathways build rock-solid foundations in algorithms, data structures, software design, cybersecurity, and AI/ML, while abundant hackathons, clubs, and research labs turn theory into practice. Graduate scholars advance the frontiers of Computer Science through nationally recognized M.S. and Ph.D. programs, led by faculty whose expertise spans high-performance computing, security & privacy, graphics, AI/ML, software engineering, and more, funded by NSF, DOE, DARPA and numerous high-tech companies. One-third of our majors are women—nearly 50% more than the U.S. average—underscoring our commitment to inclusive excellence and to a supportive, tight-knit community. Ranked among the nation's top public universities for tech salaries, William & Mary equips graduates to lead in Fortune 500 firms, cutting-edge startups, and elite doctoral programs. Join us in the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics and code boldly toward a future only you can imagine.

Data Science

Turn Data Into Decisions. And Decisions Into Change.

Data is transforming how we understand the world - and who gets to shape it. At William & Mary, Data Science offers a uniquely human-centered approach to AI, analytics, and insight. Whether you're majoring in government, biology, philosophy, computer science or economics—or pursuing a major in Data Science itself—our program equips you to engage with data critically, ethically, and creatively.

Choose your path:

  • Our B.S. focuses on Large-Scale Data Mining, training you to work with massive datasets—from satellite imagery to social media or health records—using artificial intelligence to surface meaningful patterns.
  • Our minor program shows you how to use AI to augment data analysis and turn your findings into actionable insights.

Built on W&M's liberal arts foundation, Data Science programs blend technical fluency with communication, ethics, and leadership. You'll work on research backed by agencies like the NSF, DOE and DARPA, tackling real problems in climate science, policy, and society. Whether you're scripting code or crafting a narrative, our faculty help you harness the full potential of data—and use it to shape the future.

Physics

Bring Your Curiosity – We’ll Accelerate It.

At William & Mary, Physics is more than formulas on a chalkboard—it's an invitation to unravel nature's deepest mysteries and turn discovery into impact. Our department pairs the intimacy of a historic liberal-arts campus with the resources of a major research powerhouse: 25 faculty mentors, partnerships with Jefferson Lab and Fermilab, and 13 on-campus makerspaces where ideas leap from whiteboard to prototype. Undergraduates design and build in these spaces, then tackle a year-long, faculty-guided research or R&D capstone, while graduate students advance frontier projects in quantum optics, quantum materials, nuclear and hadronic physics, high-energy and plasma physics. Interdisciplinary ties to Applied Science, Data Science, and Computer Science unlock training in machine learning, for work both with large datasets, in real-time, and more. All of this is preparing you to pursue an M.S. or Ph.D. in a broad range of fields or for careers ranging from AI to medicine. Outreach programs such as PhysicsFest connect science to community, reflecting our commitment to leadership and service. Join us to explore questions from applied to the most fundamental—and gain the versatile skills that power tomorrow's breakthroughs and technologies.