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UMA Undergraduate Guide 2018-2019
 Academic Departments and Programs Computer Science Getting Started (Majors Guide)
Getting Started (Majors Guide)
How to Explore/Get Started in the MajorStudents interested in CS are strongly encouraged to explore other major options while taking CS predictor courses. Suggested General Education CoursesUnder the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus. For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track. Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened. Recommended GenEd options: college writing, any Social World and BS. PS - CHEM 111 or GEOLOGY 101 (or GEOLOGY 103 or 105, along with GEOLOGY 131) or PHYSICS 151. Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses
How to Declare the MajorAll prospective students are invited to attend frequently held career development events, seminars and tech talks, as well as student-run events organized by our active student groups. All interested students attend a mandatory orientation for applicants scheduled before the application deadline each semester, and are invited to visit the CS Undergraduate Advising Center (ACE) in CS 144 for advising (no appointment needed). Visit the website at the address below to find out when events are scheduled and hours for ACE. In recent semesters, students meeting the following criteria have been admitted:
**NOTE: For transfers, two higher-level courses taken at UMass/Amherst may be substituted for the above-listed predictor courses. The major generally will not accept courses that have been taken more than twice. Current students can apply to be a CS major (https://www.cics.umass.edu/ugrad-education/major-change-cs). Students must be enrolled in at least COMPSCI 187 and MATH 131 to be eligible to apply. Application deadlines are October 1 for spring registration and March 1 for fall registration. Most students not admitted upon application are offered a contract and designated as an "Applicant On Contract." Contracts may extend over one or more semesters and students who fulfill their contracts are admitted. Unsuccessful applicants are permitted up to two consecutive reapplications at the discretion of the Undergraduate Program Committee. Transfer Students:Transfers should contact csapply@cs.umass.edu to begin the process of applying to the major following the same guidelines regarding predictor courses mentioned above. Specific questions may be sent to the Undergraduate Program Director (upd@cs.umass.edu). Summary of Requirements for the B.S. Major:Minimum total # of credits required is 77 as follows: Twenty-one courses: four in Math; two laboratory sciences (Chemistry, Geosciences or Physics—see program web pages for eligible courses); fifteen in Computer Science including Junior Year Writing (COMPSCI 305), four 200-level core courses, and eight upper-level courses. Summary of Requirements for the B.A. Major:Minimum total # of credits required is 61 as follows: Eighteen courses: three in Math, five lower-level Computer Science, Junior Year Writing, five upper-level Computer Science, and an approved four-course concentration in another discipline that support an interdisciplinary approach to computing. Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements? For further information, contact: |