Step 8) Choose Possible Courses

Computer Science: Computer Information Systems

Please refer to the current University Catalog to see the course descriptions and a major description with requirements for computer science.

Computer Science offers two choices for students majoring in computer science - the traditional program and the computer information systems concentration. Students interested in studying computer science with a business focus will be attracted to the computer information system concentration.

Students who have LITTLE or NO PRIOR computer programming experience should enroll in CPSC 110. This course partially satisfies the General Education requirement for Quantitative Reasoning and provides the programming experience necessary for further study in computer science.

Students interested in either program with prior computer programming experience should enroll in CPSC 220. Students who do not have AP credit for CPSC 110 but have sufficient experience to skip CPSC 110 and go directly to CPSC 220 should send email to cpscdept@umw.edu to arrange for permission to register for CPSC 220. This course partially satisfies the General Education requirement for Quantitative Reasoning and provides the programming experience necessary for further study in computer science. This course is required for both the computer science major and the computer information systems concentration.

If a student has had prior programming experience, but is unsure about the appropriate starting point to continue his or her studies, he or she can request to take the CPSC department’s online placement test by sending email to cpscdept@umw.edu.

Course Placement Based on AP Score:

Students who earned a 3 or better on the A exam will be awarded three credits and be exempted from CPSC 110. These students should select CPSC 220 to continue their studies in computer science or the computer information systems concentration.

Students who earned a 4 or better on the AB exam will be awarded four credits and be exempted from CPSC 220. These students should select CPSC 230A and CPSC 125A to continue their studies in computer science or the computer information systems concentration.

Students who earned a 3 on the AB exam will be awarded three credits and be exempted from CPSC 110. These students should select CPSC 220 to continue their studies in computer science or the computer information systems concentration.

Students who earned a 5 or higher on the HL exam will be awarded three credits and be exempted from CPSC 110. These students should select CPSC 220 to continue their studies in computer science or the computer information systems concentration.

Students who earned a 5 or higher on the HL exam (IB Information Technology in a Global Society) earn credit for CPSC 103 but do not receive SI credit.

In all cases, placement adjustments can be made during the first week of the semester.

In addition to CPSC 110 or CPSC 220, students should consider taking one or more of the following courses during their freshmen year: BUAD 131, Principles of Accounting, CPSC 125, Introduction to Discrete Mathematics, MATH 200, Introduction to Statistics, or CPSC 320, Statistics for Computer Scientists. BUAD 131 is a prerequisite for Business Administration 132, which is required for the concentration. Either MATH 200, Introduction to Statistics, or Computer Science 320, Statistics for Computer Scientists, is a prerequisite to Business Administration 353 Decision Analysis, which is required for the concentration.

Some examples of first semester schedules for the computer science major with a computer information systems concentration are shown. There are many variations of a first semester schedule; the examples are just meant to help you see that there are many ways to reach the same goals.

Example 1:

Course (credits)	Requirement(s) Met
CPSC 110 - Intro Computer Science (3) CPSC 125A - Intro to Discrete Mathematics (3) BUAD 131 - Principles of Accounting (3) ARAB 101** - Beginning Arabic (3) FSEM 100B6 - Mash-up & Remix: Cyberspace (3)	Major Prerequisite, QR Major Prerequisite, QR Major Prerequisite FL FS

Example 2:

Course	Requirement(s) Met
CPSC 110 - Intro Computer Science (3) FSEM 100E5 - I'm Not a Feminist But... (3) CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I with Lab (4) GERM 101 - Beginning German (3) CPSC 125A - Intro to Discrete Mathematics (3)	Major Prerequisite, QR FS NS FL Major Prerequisite, QR

Example 3: Athletes for varsity sports must register for the 400-level course of the sport. Practice times for varsity sports can vary, but generally speaking, athletes should allow for enough time to get to and from practice on weekdays from 3 - 6 p.m. Please check with the individual coach for your sport to verify specific practice times each semester.

Course	Requirement(s) Met
CPSC 110 - Intro Computer Science (3) BUAD 131 - Principles of Accounting (3) COMM 207 - Literature in Performance (3) FSEM 100D3 - Escher Math (3) PHYD 418 - Intercollegiate Rowing - Women (1)	Major Prerequisite, QR Major Prerequisite ALPP, SI* FS Elective

*Please note that not all sections of a course may have the Across-the-Curriculum (ATC) attribute(s). Across-the-Curriculum designations for a course are dependent on instructor and semester. ATC designations for each course are listed in the Banner description for the semester in which you are registering.
**This particular course is in a discipline that allows students with demonstrated competence upon admission to UMW (such as AP/IB credit, dual enrollment, etc.) to begin courses at a higher level. Please read the Academic Planning Guide carefully to see if you meet the requirements. For example: students may begin at any level language course for which they feel prepared (101, 102, 105, 201, 202 or 205), but must then complete the rest of the sequence in order without repeating or skipping any levels.