CS Advising

Information for General College Advising

Students wishing to take courses in computer science can take several different combinations to experience different areas, including:

For basic programming and ideas in computer science, students should take 121 and 123. Since neither has a prerequisite, they may be taken in any order. One choice is to take 121 in the fall and 123 in the spring giving 1/2 unit each semester. This may be helpful for students wishing to fill in the 1/2 unit left over from 1.5 unit FYI. Another way is to take both 121 and 123 in the spring.
For a more complete introduction to computer programming, students should take 121 and 131. Note that 121 must be taken first as it is a prerequisite for 131. Students can take 121 in either the fall or the spring and then take 131 in the spring. Note that 121 and 131 are module courses that are taught in the same slot so scheduling both courses in the spring is easier. After completing these two courses, students can take 201 if they want more experience with programming and to gain an understanding of the classic algorithms and data structures in computer science.
For an introduction that includes basic computer hardware, students should take 121 and 125. Note that 121 must be taken first as it is a prerequisite for 125. Students can take 121 in either the fall or the spring and then take 125 in the fall. Note that 121 and 125 are module courses that are taught in the same slot so scheduling both courses in the fall is easier.
Students can obviously take only one course or more than two courses. All of the courses above will count toward a major or minor in Computer Science.

Please note that most computer science courses are 1/2 unit.

If a student has previous experience in computer science, it may be desirable to skip some courses. It is generally best to contact a member of the Computer Science Department for advice in this process. The general advice is:

If the student has basic experience with programming (variables, loops, conditionals, recursion) then they can skip 121 and take any course with 121 as a prerequisite. They can take 125 in the fall and 123 and/or 131 in the spring. Note that you need consent of the instructor to enroll but it is usually granted in this circumstance.
If the student has more extensive programming experience including completion of projects in Java, they can skip 121 and 131. This normally happens if they have taken AP computer science. They can take 201/205 in the fall and also 125. Completing 201/205 will allow for taking advanced courses starting in the spring. Note that you need consent of the instructor to enroll but it is usually granted in this circumstance for 125 and for 201/205 with sufficient background.

Students who have taken the AP exam in computer science will receive credit or course waivers as follows:

A student with a 4 or 5 on the computer science AB exam will receive transfer credit for 121, 131, 201 and 205 for a total of 2 units. Students in this category should consult with a member of the Computer Science Department for advice on additional classes to take.
A student with a 4 or 5 on the computer science A exam will receive transfer credit for 121 and 131 for a total of 1 unit. They should continue as a student with extensive programming experience as described above.
A student with a 3 on the computer science A or AB exam does not receive credit but can generally skip 121. If you feel your knowledge of computer science is higher, you should consult with a member of the department to determine the appropriate starting courses.

Information for CS Advising

International Study

Students are strongly encouraged to incorporate international perspectives into the major through their on-campus courses, study abroad and other off-campus opportunities.

Study abroad enables students to learn about other cultures. With international networks and standards, work is not the domain of a single country or culture. Appreciating cultural differences is invaluable in working in this environment. Internships in the U.S. and/or abroad also provide the opportunity to develop skills to work interculturally.

The department supports diverse understanding in many of our courses. For example, CSCI 123 looks at social and international implications of computer science. CSCI 281 looks at social and professional issues, including international considerations. CSCI 381 works on large software efforts, often including interfacing to the diverse international community involved. Additional study and appreciation of international perspectives supplements and enhances the international study within the Computer Science Department.

As a general rule, the credits in computer science courses covering material not offered at Beloit College will be accepted in lieu of a requirement where the student has the choice of what courses to take. In general, to count, the course must be above the core level (205/211). If a course has a direct correspondence to a course taught in the department, then we will generally accept this course in lieu of the corresponding course. If the units do not transfer to match and fewer units are accomplished abroad (for example you receive 3/4 instead of 1 unit), then we will accept any units that count toward the major to make up the missing units needed for the major or minor. The department uses the default rules from the Registrar to determine credits. Note that the department does not automatically accept courses studied elsewhere so students are strongly encouraged to discuss plans with their department advisor before taking course(s) abroad as well as to confer by email or telephone as they complete course selection on-site.

The sample schedules below may also be of use in planning for time away from Beloit College.

Communication

Being able to communicate effectively is central to a career in computer science. This includes both oral and written communications. Computer scientists need to know how to write and communicate with professionals as well as with managers and policy makers not necessarily trained in the discipline. The department expects students to be able to discuss ideas, present solution proposals in writing, and (a critical component of software and hardware design) thoroughly document and annotate the final work. We also expect students to be able to present design ideas and articulate and discuss design decisions and solutions. Finally, students should be able to make public presentations on the general ideas and concepts of computer science in a non-technical fashion. These learning goals for written and verbal communication are met by infusing the curriculum with opportunities to enhance these skills and to deploy them to learn computer science. For example, the introductory programming courses require design documents and presentations, and documentation of programs. The intermediate course in algorithms and data structures requires documents of proposed solutions that are peer evaluated and then updated. The advanced course in software development allows students to work in teams to understand client needs, prepare specifications documents, and present the work to the client and other teams. The capstone courses require all of these skills as well as interfacing with the greater community in computer science. The goal is to holistically build and draw upon the communications skills of our students within computer science to enable them to be effective in their careers. A complementary component is having students take writing courses outside the field of computer science. With regular work with people outside computer science and the importance of computer science to society, it is imperative that students learn general communication skills.

Considerations for students who have already taken CS courses before the introduction of the new curriculum

In general, we will accept previous courses taken to apply to the new major/minor requirements and work with students to have them meet all requirements. The department will be flexible in applying the rules to help people out. Thus, you should come to talk with your advisor to see how we can help you achieve a major/minor in Computer Science. Below is a general outline of how we will work with students.

CS Majors

If you have completed 111 then we will give credit for 121 and 123. If you have completed 195, we will give credit for 131 and 1/2 general unit toward the major. If you have completed 203, we will give credit for 201 & 205. In all of these cases above, will apply the new rules for completing the major.

If you are farther along we will do the following (somewhat automatic) conversions with other options available:

For the requirement to take 335 or 350 we will take 211 and one of 311, 321 or 325.
For the requirement to take 310 or 315, we will take 301 plus any 1/2 unit numbered higher than 211.
For requirement of Phys 160 (now 220) or CSCI 220, we will take 125 and 241.
We will drop Math 115 requirement but will count this course if you took it previously and also took Math 200.
For the requirement of Math 200 we will take Math 160 or 200.
For 384 & 385 we will take 381 taken twice. If you already took 384, you will be able to take 385 on a special basis.
If you are in your 3rd year or earlier (when this starts) then you must take the 281.
The applications programming requirement is being replaced by 381. Thus, if you have not met this requirement, you do not have to do it. If you have, we will accept the unit.
The total units will generally be 11.75 or 11.50 if you don't need to take 281 (not 12.75) but may be higher if you use certain courses (such as Math 115).

CS Minors

We will do the same substitution as for majors if you are at or below 203 where you will meet the other requirements. If you are farther along, we will work with you on an individual basis to determine what is best.

Sample Schedules

The schedules that follow are designed to give a general outline of possible scheduling. Each student should consult with her/his advisor to determine the best courses for their situation. It will be common to shift semesters and courses to meet the educational needs of each individual.

Year	Semester	Incoming interest in CS and begin first semester*	Incoming interest in CS and begin second semester*	Year 2 start*	Minor^†
1	Fall	121/125	nothing	nothing	121/125
1	Spring	123 & 131	121/131	nothing	123 & 131
2	Fall	201/205 & 211	125, 201/205 & 211	121/125	201/205
2	Spring	1 unit CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)	123 & 1 unit CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)	123 & 131	281 & 1/2 unit CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)
3	Fall	Math 160 or 200 (depends on year) and 301	Math 160 or 200 (depends on year) & 301	Math 160 or 200 (depends on year), 201/205 & 211	381 & 1/2 unit CS elective (choose from 211 or 251; 211 or 241 depending on year)
3	Spring	281 and 1 unit of CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)	281 and 1 unit of CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)	281 and 2 units of CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)	1 unit of CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)
4	Fall	381 and 1.5 units of CS elective (251, 301 & 311 or 241, 301 & 331 depending on year)	381 and 1.5 units of CS elective (251, 301 & 311 or 241, 301 & 331 depending on year)	381 and 1.5 units of CS elective (251, 301 & 311 or 241, 301 & 331 depending on year)
4	Spring	381 and 1 unit of CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)	381 and 1 unit of CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)	381 and 1 unit of CS elective (choose from 221, 231, 321, 325, 341, 345)

* Math 110 should also be taken in first two years.

^† This schedule would be the same if started in the second year

Considerations for Study Abroad

If a student wishes to study abroad for one semester given either the first or second semester start they could:

Semester Abroad	Modifications
Fall of third year	Take Math 160/200 in either fall of year 2 or 4. Take 301 in fall of year 4.
Spring of third year	Take 281 in spring of year 2. Take one unit of CS elective abroad or fill in in other semesters by increasing CS load while at Beloit.
Fall of fourth year	Take 381 in spring of year 3. Take 1.5 units of CS elective abroad or fill in in other semesters by increasing CS load while at Beloit.
Spring of fourth year	Take 381 in spring of year 3 and fall of year 4. Take one unit of CS elective abroad or fill in in other semesters by increasing CS load while at Beloit.

If students wish to study abroad for two semesters, they need to either take CS courses abroad or will need to increase their load of CS courses while at Beloit.