CS Major Requirements and Degree Maps
This page will detail what the course numbers mean, how well one has to do in major courses, how long it will take to complete a major as well as how to plan the major.
What do the course numbers mean?
The course numbers are there for your guidance. The prerequisite courses are on the 100 level. The core courses required for the major include two streams: the 13500-23500-33500 sequence (programming, data structures, and algorithms) and the 16000-26000-36000 sequence (architecture and logic design). You are expected take these courses in numerical order! 300-level courses are appropriate for upper-level majors, and 400-level courses are for those who have special interest in their content or have exhausted the 300-level electives. Courses numbered 395.xx (our rotating Topics courses) and 493xx (our Honors Seminar courses) are different every semester.
How well do I have to do in my major courses?
Each of the required and elective courses which count toward the major (including MATH/STAT courses) must be completed with a grade of C or better. The Department of Computer Science does not award final grades of CR (credit) in any CSCI courses to be used toward the major, from CSCI 13500 through the 400-level courses. In addition, you will be expected to maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all courses required for the major. Please note that, for Computer Science majors, a grade of D is not considered a passing grade in any Computer Science or Math/Stat course.
What does it take to complete a major?
42 Credits in Computer Science
CSCI 13500: Software Analysis and Design 1
CSCI 13600: Supervised Programming Lab
(CSCI 136 is recommended as a supplement to CSCI 135, but is not creditable toward the major.)
CSCI 15000: Discrete Structures
CSCI 16000: Computer Architecture 1
CSCI 23500: Software Analysis and Design 2
CSCI 26000: Computer Architecture 2
CSCI 26500: Computer Theory 1
CSCI 33500: Software Analysis and Design 3
CSCI 34000: Operating Systems
CSCI 49900: Capstone Course in Computer Science
a minimum of 12 additional academic credits chosen from CSCI elective courses numbered above 135
14 Collateral Credits in Mathematics:
MATH 15000: Calculus 1
MATH 15500: Calculus 2
MATH 16000: Matrix Algebra
STAT 21300: Applied Statistics
Mapping it Out
Degree maps provide a suggested outline of courses to take each semester to complete the major and Hunter core requirements in four years. You do not have to complete the courses in the listed order or semester, but remember to check if you have taken the required prerequisites before signing up for courses out of sequence. Students should contact an advisor with any questions. Students are highly encouraged to complete MATH 150, CSCI 150, and the CSCI 135 and 235 courses as soon as possible, so that they have the prerequisites they need to take upper level courses and internships. If possible, take CSCI classes the summer after your freshman year and complete 235 during the fall of your sophomore year. If you are in 235 as a fall semester sophomore, you will be qualified to interview for an internship for the following summer.
Keep in mind most CS students take 5 years to finish their degree; very few CS students finish in 4 years. It is highly advisable to apply for scholarships since some students go beyond the allotted time for TAP or Excelsior
Computer Science degree map
Below is a table outlining the suggested course sequence. A more graphically appealing version can be found here.
First Year
Fall Semester Spring Semester
ENG 120 Expository Writing - 3 credits ENG 220 - 3 credits
MATH 125 Pre-calculus - 4 credits MATH 150 Calculus - 4 credits
CSCI 127 Intro to CS - 3 credits CSCI 150 Discrete Structures - 4 credits
Foreign Language Level 1 - 3 credits Foreign Language Level 2 - 3 credits
Elective 3 credits
Fall Semester Spring Semester
CSCI 135 - 3 credits CSCI 160 - 3 credits
CSCI 136 Lab - 1 credit CSCI 235 - 3 credits
MATH 155 Calculus II - 4 credits MATH 160 Matrix Algebra - 3 credits
Foreign Language Level 3 - 3 credits Foreign Language Level 4 - 3 credits
CORE requirement - 3 credits CORE requirement - 3 credits
Third Year
Fall Semester Spring Semester
CSCI 335 - 3 credits CSCI 265 - 3 credits
STAT 213 - 3 credits CSCI 260- 3 credits
CORE requirement - 3 credits CSCI Elective - 3 credits
CORE requirement - 3 credits Elective- 3 credits
CORE requirement - 3 credits Elective- 3 credits
Fourth Year
Fall Semester Spring Semester
CSCI 340 - 3 credits CSCI 499 Capstone- 4 credits
CSCI Elective - 3 credits CSCI Elective - 3 credits
CSCI Elective - 3 credits Elective - 3 credits
Elective - 3 credits Elective - 3 credits
Elective - 3 credits Elective - 3 credits
Minoring in Computer Science
A minor in Computer Science consists of 13-14 credits of coursework. These credits include the following required courses - note that MATH 125 is a prerequisite course to CSCI 127; however, MATH 125 does not count towards the Computer Science Minor.
CSCI 127 (3 credits, 3 hours) Introduction to Computer Science
CSCI 133 (3 credits, 3 hours) Programming for Everyone.
CSCI 232 (3 credits, 3 hours) Relational Databases and SQL Programming
Plus, a one-credit minor capstone course:
CSCI 233 (1 credit, 2 hours) Programming Projects Seminar for Minors
In addition, students will be required to take at least one 3-credit elective selected from Computer Science offerings numbered 135 or above. Although you may take any Computer Science course numbered 135 or above, courses that require only one or more of the above courses as prerequisites include:
CSCI 135 (3 credits , 3 hours) Software Design and Analysis and
CSCI 136 (1 credit, 2 hours) Co-requisite lab for CSCI 135
CSCI 150 (4 credits, 3 hours) Discrete Math
CSCI 267 (3 credits, 3 hours) Microprocessors and Embedded Systems
CSCI 160 (3 credits, 3 hours) Computer Architecture I (Logic and Design)
You can find a full list of all the pages on the Handbook here.....
