BS and BA in Computer Science Undergraduate Program Curriculum Structure

Advanced Standing for CS

All students planning to complete a Computer Science degree at UA, including transfer students, will declare a Computer Science major (Bachelor of Science degree or Bachelor of Arts degree). Students will take a series of 100/200-level Computer Science courses (foundational courses). Upon completion of the foundational courses, students’ academic records will be evaluated, and those who qualify will be offered “Advanced Standing” in the major. Enrollment in the major core courses and the majority of the upper division elective CSC courses is limited to students with Advanced Standing in the Computer Science major.

Foundational Courses and Requirements to Progress to Advanced Standing

Choose the appropriate selection below, based on when you enter/entered in the major:

Foundational courses (four courses, intended to be taken in three consecutive semesters):

Semester 1

 

CSC 110 Introduction to Computer Programming I (4 units)
   (ECE 175 or ISTA 130 may substitute for CSC 110)
Enrollment in CSC 110 requires a C or higher in CSC 101 or MATH 112 or a higher MATH

Semester 2

CSC 120 Introduction to Computer Programming II (4 units)
Enrollment in CSC 120 requires a C or higher in CSC 110, ISTA 130, or ECE 175

Semester 3

CSC 210 Software Development (4 units)
Enrollment in CSC 210 requires a C or higher in CSC 120

CSC 245 Introduction to Discrete Structures (3 units)
   (MATH 243 or MATH 323 may substitute for CSC 245)

All the above CSC courses except CSC 245 are offered every Fall and Spring semester. Some of these courses may also be offered in Summer (no guarantees!).

Requirements for Advanced Standing:

  • Cumulative UA GPA of 2.4 or higher
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher in best attempts at the following 3 courses, taken at UA or elsewhere:
    CSC 120, CSC 210, CSC 245
  • GPA of 2.0 or higher in all attempts at CSC courses (excluding GRO 1st attempts) taken at UA
  • At least two programming courses (from list below) completed at UA:
    CSC 110, 120, 210, 252, 317, 335, 337, 343, 346, 352, 372, 380

PLEASE NOTE: CSC 245 was offered for the final time in Summer 2022. If a student qualifies to use CSC 245 to meet the Advanced Standing (called “major admission” prior to Fall 2023) requirements, the following my be substituted: transfer work considered direct equivalency for CSC 245, MATH 243, MATH 323 or completion of CSC 244 with a C or better. There are further details below.

 

Foundational courses (five courses, intended to be taken in three consecutive semesters):

Semester 1

CSC 110 Introduction to Computer Programming I (4 units)
   (ECE 175 or ISTA 130 may substitute for CSC 110)
Enrollment in CSC 110 requires a C or higher in CSC 101 or MATH 112 or a higher MATH

Semester 2

CSC 120 Introduction to Computer Programming II (4 units)
Enrollment in CSC 120 requires a C or higher in CSC 110, ISTA 130, or ECE 175

CSC 144 Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science I (3 units)
   (MATH 243 or MATH 323 may substitute for CSC 144)
Enrollment in CSC 144 requires a C or higher in CSC 110, ISTA 130, or ECE 175 AND a C or higher in MATH 112 or a higher MATH

Semester 3

CSC 210 Software Development (4 units)
Enrollment in CSC 210 requires a C or higher in CSC 120

CSC 244 Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science II (3 units)
Enrollment in CSC 244 requires a C or higher in CSC 120 AND a C or higher in CSC 144 or MATH 243 or MATH 323

All of the above CSC foundational courses are offered every Fall and Spring semester. Some of these courses may also be offered in Summer (no guarantees!).

Requirements for Advanced Standing:

  • Cumulative UA GPA of 2.4 or higher
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher in best attempts at the following 3 courses, taken at UA or elsewhere:
    CSC 120, CSC 210, CSC 244
  • GPA of 2.0 or higher in all attempts at CSC courses (excluding GRO 1st attempts) taken at UA
  • At least two programming courses (from list below) completed at UA:
    CSC 110, 120, 210, 252, 317, 335, 337, 343, 346, 352, 372, 380

Frequently Asked Questions

Current UA students must have a minimum 2.0 UA GPA, and must go through the Major Declaration workshop. After reviewing the workshop, students will attend a Zoom session to confirm their choice. See the Prospective Students website for details.

Prospective UA students may choose Computer Science as their intended major when applying to UA and, if accepted to UA, are automatically declared in the Computer Science major.

At the end of every term (in May, August, and December/January), the Academic Services Office will review Computer Science major students who have completed their foundational coursework.  Those students who meet the requirements for Advanced Standing (see above) will be notified via email and asked to confirm their choice between a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree.

CSC courses may be attempted twice.

Note: A student may not use transfer coursework towards foundational requirements or requirements for Advanced Standing if that student has already attempted the equivalent UA CSC course. 

Students who began in the Computer Science major before Fall 2021 (called “pre major prior to Fall 2023) are required to take CSC 245 (Introduction to Discrete Structures) as one of their pre-major courses.  This course was offered for the last time in Summer 2022.

Students who did not take (or did not pass) CSC 245 should seek to enroll in MATH 243 (if the prerequisite has been met).  If this course is not an option, the student should enroll in CSC 144 and plan to complete CSC 244 the following semester.

Prerequisites:

  • MATH 243:  requires completion of MATH 122B or 125
  • CSC 144:  requires C or higher in MATH 112
  • CSC 244:  requires C or higher in CSC 120 -and- C or higher in CSC 144

Note:  CSC 144 cannot replace CSC 245.  Only MATH 243, or CSC 244, can substitute for CSC 245.

Please contact your CS advisor if you have questions.