Degree Requirements for
Transition Computer Science Students

These requirements apply to all Computer Science majors who were admitted to full major status before the summer quarter of 1998, and who will graduate after the fall semester of 1998. The requirements can be completed by following the current quarter-based requirements, the new semester-based requirements, or (as you will be doing) a mixture of quarter- and semester-length courses.

Courses with three-digit numbers are taught under the quarter system, and they will be unavailable after the summer quarter of 1998. Courses with four-digit numbers are to be taught under the semester system, and they will be available beginning with the fall semester of 1998.

In this document, we will use the term EQC to stand for equivalent quarter course. Generally, a quarter-length course is equal to 1 EQC and a semester-length course is equal to 1.5 EQC.

Premajor Requirements

• You have already completed these premajor requirements, which we repeat for the sake of completeness: WRTG 112, MATH 111-2-3, PHYCS 221-2, CS 110, and CS 201-2.

Writing Requirement

• Either WRTG 301 or WRTG 3400.

Physics Requirement

• One of PHYCS 223, PHYCS 2220, or PHYCS 2230. The new introductory physics sequence is PHYCS 2210-20, which means that PHYCS 2220 will overlap quite a bit with PHYCS 222, which you have already had. PHYCS 2230 is a semester-based version of PHYCS 223, but it will be taught only during the fall semester of 1998.

Math/Science Requirement

• At least 4 EQC of math, science, and/or engineering courses, including at least 3 EQC of math courses. You may choose from among CHEM 121, CHEM 1210, BIOL 101, BIOL 1000, and any math, science, or engineering course that has a full year of calculus as a prerequisite. All such quarter-length courses count as 1 EQC, and all such semester-length courses count as 1.5 EQC.

Computer Science Requirement

• Discrete math. Either CS 300 (1 EQC) or CS 2030 (1 EQC). We currently plan to teach CS 2030 only during the fall semester of 1998, after which we will discontinue it. If you have not yet completed this requirement, you should plan to do so during 1997-1998 or 1998-1999.
• Algorithms and data structures. Either CS 354 (1 EQC) or CS 3510 (1.5 EQC).
• Computer architecture. Either CS 362-3 (1.5 EQC) or CS 3810 (1.5 EQC).
• Software engineering. Either CS 451-2 (1.5 EQC), CS 4510 (1.5 EQC), or CS 3500 (1.5 EQC). CS 4510 will be taught only during the fall semesters of 1998 and 1999, after which it will be discontinued. CS 3500 is the first course of the new sophomore-level software series. If you have taken CS 354-5-6 before the conversion, you should plan to take CS 4510; otherwise, you should plan to take CS 3500.
• Software project lab. Either CS 452-3 (1.5 EQC), CS 4500 (1.5 EQC), or CS 4970 (1.5 EQC). CS 4970, Bachelor's Thesis, is an option only for students who are actively working on research projects within the Department and who have the permission of their advisor.
• Theoretical computer science. Either CS 505 (1 EQC) or CS 3100 (1.5 EQC).

Computer Science Restricted Elective

You must take courses from the following list totaling at least 6 EQC.

• Programming language concepts. CS 355 (1 EQC) or CS 3520 (1.5 EQC).
• Digital design. CS 361-2 (1.5 EQC) or CS 3700 (1.5 EQC).
• Scientific computing. CS 376 (1 EQC) or CS 3200 (1.5 EQH).
• Operating systems. CS 506 (1 EQC) or CS 5460 (1.5 EQH).
• Compilers. CS 507 (1 EQC) or CS 5470 (1.5 EQC).
• Networks. CS 508 (1 EQC) or CS 5480 (1.5 EQC).

Computer Science Elective

You must take enough computer science quarter courses numbered 300 or higher, or computer science semester courses numbered 3000 or higher, so that the total number of EQC for the courses taken under the computer science requirement section, the computer science restricted elective section, and the computer science elective section is at least 20. Each quarter course must carry at least 3 QH (and counts as 1 EQC), and each semester course must carry at least 3 SH (and counts as 1.5 EQC).

University Requirements

If you have completed at least 45 quarter hours by the beginning of the fall semester of 1998, the University will give you your choice of satisfying the old quarter-based Liberal Education and associated University graduation requirements, or the new semester-based General Education and associated University graduation requirements. (If you have completed fewer than 45 quarter hours, you will have to complete the General Education requirement.) You should consult Academic Advising for information on how you can complete the Liberal/General Education requirement as well as the other University requirements.

Keep in mind, however, that you must choose your Liberal/General Education courses so as to satisfy the more stringent College of Engineering requirements. Specifically, your Liberal Education courses must include (a) two sequences of two courses and (b) two upper-division courses. Alternatively, your General Education courses must include (a) one sequence of two courses, (b) one upper-division course, and (c) either one other two-course sequence or one other upper-division course.

8/7/97