1. CS BS Math Requirements and Allowed Replacements

The BS CS degree requires the following math courses, also listed on the BS CS program page.

  • Math 161 Calculus I
  • Math 162 Calculus II
  • Math 263 Calculus III
  • Math 182 Discrete Structures
  • Math 186 Applied Statistics or Math 286 Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics or PSYC 120 Quantitative Methods in Psychology
  • Math 272 Linear Algebra with Applications or Math 282 Techniques of Mathematical Modeling

Policy: The following are allowed replacements that require a petition.

  • Math 182: Replaceable by Math 325 Combinatorics and Math 335 Probability.
  • Math 286 or PSYC 120: Replaceable by Math 286 Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics or Math 335 Probability and Math 336 Mathematical Statistics.
  • Math 272 or Math 282: Replaceable by Math 300 Vector Spaces.

2. Taking CS 202 before completing the course math requirement.

Students with sufficient math background who have not met the math prerequisite for CS 202 have the following option.

Policy: If a student needs to take CS 202 before completing Math 182 or Math 325 + Math 335, they can take and pass an exam of Math182 to waive the prerequisite.

3. CS 390-394 Independent Study and Research

Course description: Independent study projects for juniors and seniors. Permission of department head required.

Policy: A student interested in doing an independent study project should first choose an area to work in. The student then consults with her or his adviser and other faculty to determine who would be most appropriate and willing to supervise the project. Then the student and faculty supervisor decide on a suitable topic. The student writes up a detailed description of the project, including references, deadlines, and deliverables. When this description has been approved by the faculty supervisor, the description is forwarded from the supervisor to the department head. The department head, after discussing the project with the other faculty in the department, decides whether to approve the project.

Because it may take several weeks for the above steps to be completed, the student should start by the middle of the semester preceding the one in which the project will be completed.

4. CS 495-496 Senior Thesis

Course Description: A two-semester, independent research project on a topic selected by the student and approved by the department. A student must undertake such a program for two semesters to graduate with honors.

Policy: A student interested in doing a senior thesis should first choose an area to work in. The student consults with her or his adviser and other faculty to determine who would be most appropriate and willing to supervise the project. Then the student and faculty supervisor decide on a suitable topic and other faculty members to serve on the thesis committee. The student writes up a detailed description of the project, including references, deadlines, and deliverables. When this description has been agreed to by the thesis committee, the description is forwarded from the committee to the department. The department decides whether to approve the project.

Because it may take several weeks for the above steps to be completed, the student should start by the middle of the junior year.

Before the end of the fall semester of the student’s senior year, the student will present to the faculty a status report on the progress made on the project.

5. Major Field Test Requirement

Policy: All students enrolled in Senior Project (CS 470) or Senior Thesis (CS 496) must take the Major Field Test in Computer Science. For each student in CS 470, the grade on the Major Field Test must count for part of the student’s gradepossibly as extra credit. During the spring semester of their senior year, students will be notified when the test will be given.

6. Courses Counting for Free Electives.

Policy: CS 390 and CS 495 can be used only as free electives. A student who is enrolled in CS 496 is allowed to take CS 470 only as a free elective.

7. General course-work for Operating Systems.

Policy: In CS 406, students must work in teams to analyze, design, and implement a computerized solution to a substantial problem.

8. UPE Selection Criteria.

Policy: From UPE, an undergraduate student must be a candidate for an undergraduate degree in the Computer Science program, and must have completed at least sixty four semester hours (16 courses including AP credits) for undergraduate credit, including at least three required sophomore-level courses. Further, he or she must have an overall GPA of 3.0 and Computer Science major GPA of at least 3.5/4.0With respect to the Department of Computer Science UPE chapter: this indicates that a student will have completed CS202, CS203, and CS205 to be considered eligible to join the chapter.  The following courses are accepted as introductory classes: CS102, CS104, CS105, and CS106.  For those students that were allowed to take CS150 without an introductory equivalent, they will need to supplement with one additional course beyond the CS202, CS203, and CS205 sequence.

9. Schwar Prize Eligibility

Policy: Schwar prize is selected based on the following criteria: completion of the sophomore-level Computer Science requirements (CS202, CS203, CS205) by the end of the current academic year, capable of performing a summer EXCEL experience, and having the highest GPA of the students that have also met the first two criteria.