Computer Science

Requirements for the Sc.B. degree.

Prerequisites: (2–3 courses)

• Math
• An approved math course (any MATH course beyond 0090 except for 0420, or APMA 0330).


• Writing
• A student must take at least one course that satisfies the CS Department Writing Requirement.

Concentration Requirements (17 courses):

• Core – Computer Science
• Six core courses are required:
• (CSCI 0150 and CSCI 0160) or (CSCI 0170 and CSCI 0180) or (CSCI 0190 and a1000-level CS course).
• CSCI 0220
• CSCI 0310
• CSCI 0320
• An approved introductory computer science theory course, currently only CSCI 0510



• Additional Computer Science Courses
• Seven advanced courses in computer science or related areas are required. Normally these advanced courses must be at the 1000-level or higher. These seven courses must include:


• Two pairs of courses with each pair forming a coherent theme. A list of pre-approved pairs may be found at the approved-pairs web page. You are not restricted to pairs on this list, but any pair not on the list must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
• A capstone course: a one-semester course, normally taken in the student's last undergraduate year, in which the student (or group of students) use a significant portion of their undergraduate education, broadly interpreted, in studying some current topic in depth, to produce a culminating artifact such as a paper or software project.
• Of these seven courses, one must be a theoretical computer science course (CSCI 1490, CSCI 1510, CSCI 1550, CSCI 1570, CSCI 1590, CSCI 1760, CSCI 1950H, CSCI 1950J, or CSCI 1950L), a second must be an artificial intelligence course (CSCI 1410, CSCI 1430, CSCI 1460, CSCI 1480, CSCI 1490, CSCI 1580, or CSCI 1950F), and a third must be a computer science systems course (CSCI 1230, CSCI 1260, CSCI 1270, CSCI 1290, CSCI 1380, CSCI 1600, CSCI 1610, CSCI 1660, CSCI 1670, CSCI 1680, CSCI 1730, or CSCI 1900). No course may be used to satisfy more than one area requirement.
• Four of the seven courses must be computer science courses.


• Among the seven courses may be approved courses in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Biology, Engineering, Economics, Music, Cognitive and Linguistic Science, Neuroscience, and other departments that cover material relevant to the student's concentration.


• See the FAQ for a list of approved courses


• Math
• A concentrator must also complete two semesters of mathematics or applied mathematics beyond MATH 0100/0170. One of these courses must be a linear algebra course (CSCI 0530, MATH 0520 or 0540).


• Science
• The student must also satisfy a two-course sequence in one of the following departments:
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Engineering
• Geological Sciences


• See FAQ for a list of acceptable courses.

Requirements for the A.B. degree

Prerequisites (2 courses):

• Math
• An approved math course (any MATH course beyond 0090 except for 420, or APMA 0330).


• Writing
• A course that satisfies the CS Department Writing Requirement.

Concentration Requirements (9 courses):

• Core – Computer Science
• One introductory sequence is required:
• CSCI 0150 and CSCI 0160)
• (CSCI 0170 and CSCI 0180)
• (CSCI 0190 and a 1000-level CS course)


• Three intermediate courses must be taken, of which one must be math-oriented and one must be systems-oriented:
• CSCI 0220 (math)
• CSCI 0310 (systems)
• CSCI 0320 (systems)
• CSCI 0510 (math)



• Advanced Courses
• Four additional courses in computer science or related areas required. Three must be advanced courses (at the 1000-level or higher), the fourth may be either an intermediate-level course not used to satisfy a core requirement or an advanced course. These three courses must include a pair of courses forming a coherent theme. A list of pre-approved pairs may be found at the approved-pairs web page. You are not restricted to pairs on this list, but any pair not on the list must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.

Page last updated in February, 2011.

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