Required Courses for CS Majors

You are probably on the edge of your seat now, asking "What classes do I get to take?!" If you are seeking a Bachelors degree in Computer Science, this is the section to read! (If you are seeking a minor in Computer Science, skip a few pages to the section entitled Required Courses for Minor.)
Your course work is divided into the following four categories:

	Computer Science Core
	General Education
	Writing Requirements
	Technical Electives [Track Electives]

NOTE: If your catalog year is prior to 1995/96, you should obtain the appropriate handbook supplement and ignore this section!

The front cover shows, in prerequisite order, the core courses required for a Bachelors degree in Computer Science. You can also find a very useful Progress Check Sheet at the end of this handbook. This check sheet lists all of the classes required for the major and can be used to track your progress.

Courses taken toward your major, including any applied general education courses, must be taken on a traditional letter grade basis. Exceptions are for course that are only offered on a credit/no credit basis or courses that you passed by a challenge examination. Additionally, you must earn a grade "C" or better in all classes that are either applied toward your major or that are prerequisites for a Computer Science course.

Transfer students from local community colleges should refer to the Community College Equivalence Tables toward the end of this handbook. Your advisor can help you determine these equivalencies; as well as give the required approval. Please refer back to the section on Undergraduate Transfer Student Advising.

Transfer courses are not officially accepted for use toward the major or as prerequisites until transcripts are received by the Department. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the Department, but official school transcripts are required by CSUF for graduation evaluation. (See Nearing Graduation above.)

 Computer Science Core

The core courses cover topic areas of both theoretical and practical interest to all Computer Science majors. These courses are divided into the lower division core and the upper division core.

Prior to any core courses, you must take CPSC 103 and CPSC 121, or have received an exemption. Please refer back to the section on Placement Examinations for additional information.

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 General Education

Your education at CSUF cannot be confined to the Computer Science building. In order to earn any bachelors degree, you must venture forth to the rest of the campus and achieve a General Education. A minimum of 51 semester units of general education courses must be selected from an approved list and taken for a letter grade. For transfer students, at least nine units of general education must be earned in residence at CSUF. Additionally, at least nine units of General Education courses must be taken at the upper division level (courses in the 300's and 400's) after you have reached junior standing. Junior standing is achieved upon having completed 60 units total.

There are many options available in fulfilling the University General Education requirements. The CSUF Catalog has a chapter specifically about general education. Academic Advising, room UH-179, has advisors who can help you concerning specific problems that you may have in understanding and meeting the requirements.

NOTE: You must demonstrate qualifications before you may enroll in Mathematics 150A. Please refer to the prior section about the Mathematics Qualifying Examination (MQE) for additional information.

General Education Plan B Framework

Plan B is a general education study plan framework that is used by most students. Detailed information is available in the CSUF Catalog chapter on General Education, and in the current Class Schedule. Following is a recommended set of courses, under Plan B, which complement your computer science studies. It includes the aforementioned required mathematics and science courses. If you are not following Plan B, please disregard this framework.

Recommended General Education Courses (Plan B)
For Computer Science Majors
(Complies with requirements of Catalog 1987/88 - present)

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  Upper Division Writing Requirement and Examination

Cal State Fullerton requires every bachelor degree candidate to take an upper division writing course and the English Writing Proficiency (EWP) examination. The EWP consists of two parts, a test of Standard Written English, and a written essay. CPSC 311 meets this University course requirement and is to be taken during the same semester as the EWP examination. This is to be completed prior to your senior year and as a prerequisite for CPSC 461.

You may retake the examination until you pass it. A limited number of students who fail two or more times may take English 199 - Intensive Writing Review. This course does not count towards graduation, nor will it satisfy the upper-division writing requirement, but is equivalent to passing the EWP.

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 Elective Track Requirements

Computer Science is an extremely broad field, and nobody can learn every aspect of it. As such, you must select an elective track aimed at your specific career goals. There are four tracks to choose from:

	Systems Programming
	Scientific Computing
	Commercial Programming
	Information Systems

These standard tracks can fit into most career goals, and all meet the same general requirements. These requirements consist of:

	12 units of upper division technical electives, only three of which may be selected from courses CPSC 490 - 499
	3 units of scientific/quantitative studies.
	9 units of undesignated units, which form a coherent body of knowledge, generally from courses numbered 200 level or higher

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