Advising for CS Majors

Information Resources:

• CS Major requirements (catalog)
• HMC Common Core (catalog)
• CS Course Precedence Diagram
• Overload Policy
• List of Integrative Experience Courses
• H&SS Revised Curriculum FAQ
• H&SS Advising Handbook

General Comments:

• The Common Core:
  • You must attempt all Common Core courses within your first 5 semesters. However, the standard first-year courses have a shorter 4-semester deadline.
  • If you test out of BIO 52 but are required to take a replacement biology course, that course must still be attempted within the first 5 semesters.
  • Try to finish in 4 semesters if possible. Sometimes there are schedule conflicts between required Core courses and CS or Math courses, and petitions to delay finishing the Core make the Scholarly Standing Committee unhappy.
    
• CS Classes:
  • All required CS courses are offered every semester, except for CS 121 which is Spring-only. Sometimes they're offered at Pomona, but these are considered equivalent. You can also take electives at Pomona.
  • At the moment CS 105 (Computer Systems) and CS 131 (PLs) have two sections offered in the Fall and one in the Spring; CS 140 (Algorithms) is the other way around. It's easier to get into these courses in the semester with two sections. However, the department may switch to offering two sections a year (of equal size) instead.
  • When taking the Computer Science GRE, it helps if you've finished the required CS courses.
    
• Colliquium:
  • You need four semesters of CS colloquium.
  • The course numbers CS 193, 194, 195, and 196 correspond to Fall/junior, Spring/junior, Fall/senior, and Spring/senior; try to collect the whole set.
  • Occasionally students sign up for colloquium as sophomores, and these do count towards the four required colloquia.
  • The colloquium requirement is waived for each semester spent studying abroad.
  • If want to take a course that conflicts with the colloquium time slot, you can attend another department's colloquium series instead; let the department know first, though.
    
• Clinic:
  • A minority of CS majors take CS 121 as a sophomore and clinic as a junior, often followed by a research project as a senior. However, there is some recent thought that grad-school bound students might be better off doing an independent research project as a junior (if they haven't done summer research); grad schools are very interested in hearing about your research ability, and it's hard to say much when writing the letter a few weeks into the project.
• Double Majors:
  • Double majors (CS and Physics, CS and Economics, CS and Math, ...) have the same CS requirements as everyone else. Although the CS department believes in the value of a broad education, it also believes that the CS degree certifies a certain level of experience and accomplishment; the department will not waive CS requirements just to make it easier to double major. (For example, you have to complete CS Clinic to get a CS degree; signing up for a Physics clinic, a Math clinic, or a Math thesis won't suffice.)
  • But, there also aren't any extra requirements or restrictions for double majors.
• Humanities
  • All students must fulfill the H&SS Requirements, currently Hum 1 and 11 other courses satisfying various criteria.
• Integrative Experience
  • You need at least one course that has been certified as an Integrative Experience.
    
• Graduation:
  • You need both cumulative and major GPAs of 2.00 or better.
  • You need 3 PE credits (Frosh PE + 2 others).
  • You need at least three technical electives (CS or, with the approval of the advisor, CS-related courses in other fields such as Math or Engineering). Two semesters of research with the same advisor can count as a single technical elective.
  • The only CS courses you should take Pass/Fail are "extra" electives; all required courses and electives that count towards fulfilling the major requirements need letter grades.
  • You need 128 units total, an average of 16 units per semester. There are 47 units in the Common Core, 30 units in the H&SS requirements (not counting Hum 1 and Hum 2 in the Common Core), and 39 units in the CS Major requirements, and 47+30+39 is 116. Thus, in addition to the formal requirements you must take at least 12 more units; these can be anything you want. (If your IE course doesn't count towards the H&SS requirement, you'd take 3 units of IE and 9 units of anything you want.)

Comments on Specific Semesters:

Semester 2 (Spring of Freshman Year)

• Geoff says: Frosh who are planning a CS major should consider taking Math 55, especially if they have grad-school plans.

Semester 3 (Fall of Sophomore Year)

• MATH 61 and MATH 62
• If you didn't successfully complete all the first-semester courses, you must finish them off this semester.
• Geoff says: Traditionally a tough semester (E&M, Stems, often CS 70). Consider lightening load if student is having trouble. Postponing CS 70 is a popular option, as is postponing Stems.
• If the Core courses are not a problem, a few students take CS 70 and CS 81 simultaneously.
• Aim for at least 48 units completed
• Should finish CS 60 by this semester (likely for anyone wanting to be a CS major)
• The minority of students who want to do Clinic as a junior must finish CS 70 by this semester.

Semester 4 (Spring of Sophomore Year)

• MATH 63 and MATH 64
• If you didn't successfully complete all the first-year Spring courses, you must finish them off this semester.
• Should finish MATH 55 and CS 70 by this semester.
• Try to finish up the Common Core (BIO 52, Stems, ...).
• Two sections of CS 140 (Algorithms) offered.
• CS 121 (LSD) must be taken by this semester to do clinic as a junior.
• Aim for at least 64 units completed

Semester 5 (Fall of Junior Year)

• The Common Core must be completed by the end of this semester.
• CS 193 (CS Colloquium) required, the first of four such semesters.
• Two sections of CS 105 (Computer Systems) and CS 131 (PLs) are often offered in the Fall.
• Aim for at least 80 units completed

Semester 6 (Spring of Junior Year)

• CS 194 (CS Colloquium)
• CS 121 (LSD) must be taked if not already completed, to allow CS clinic as a senior.
• Think about when you'll finish the IE and PE requirements.
• Two sections of CS 140 (Algorithms) are often offered in the Spring.
• Aim for at least 96 units completed

Semester 7 (Fall of Senior Year)

• CS 195 (CS Colloquium).
• CS 183 (CS Clinic) is required, if it has not yet been completed
• CS 81 required if not completed, to permit PLs the following semester.
• Think about finishing the IE and PE requirements
• Make sure all requirements can be completed in one more semester
• Aim for at least 112 units completed

Semester 8 (Spring of Senior Year)

• CS 196 (CS Colloquium).
• CS 184 (CS Clinic) required, if not already taken.
• Must have taken an IE course
• Must have taken 3 PE courses (PFD + 2 others)
• Must have completed all of the CS Major requirements, including three technical electives.
• Must have enough other courses to reach 128 units.