University of Massachusetts - Computer Science
 
 

Registration Tips

This page provides information for students who are currently in, or interested in joining, our major.

Looking to join our major or minor?
Registration Counseling Meeting (Monday, November 9, 3:30-4:30 PM, 151 Computer Science Bldg.): 
Attend this meeting if you are an interested undeclared student or a major who is unable to meet with your assigned advisor.

Advisor Information:

Majors with Advisors: Contact your advisor using email to make an appointment to meet during or after Registration Counseling Period (Nov 5-12). Note: If you have trouble making an appointment via email, contact Darlene Fahey, 100 Computer Science Bldg.

Major and Minor Requirement Information:

Details on our current requirements for the Computer Science major and minor are available on our web pages. Note that new requirements for the BS and the minor were approved in May 2009. The new BA in Computer Science is currently in the process of being proposed. Please talk with your advisor, or the UPD, if you have questions about how these changes may affect your degree completion plans.

Courses offered in Spring 2010:

All courses at the 100, 200, and 300 levels required for the major will be offered in Spring 2010.

Two semi-required courses offered in Spring 2010:

  • CMPSCI 410 Formal Language Theory
  • CMPSCI 453 Computer Network

Elective courses offered in Spring 2010:

  • CMPSCI 365 Digital Forensics
  • CMPSCI 391IB S-How Computers Work (equivalent to 535)
  • CMPSCI 520 Software Engineering: Synthesis and Development
  • CMPSCI 529 Software Engineering Project Management
  • CMPSCI 591O Seminar-Character Animation**
  • CMPSCI 591U Seminar-Interactive Web Programming**

**Only one Animation course may be used to fulfill elective requirements under the old rules.

Note that some of the CMPSCI graduate courses with 600+ numbers may also be appropriate electives. Talk to the instructor and make sure that you have the prerequisites.

Answers to FAQs:

  • You may take CMPSCI 320 before you take CMPSCI 311.
  • You may substitute E&C ENG 232 Hardware Organization & Design for CMPSCI 201.
  • You may substitute MATH 455 Int Discrete Strctrs for CMPSCI 250.

  • CMPSCI 220 may be substituted for CMPSCI 287.

  • CMPSCI 240 may be used as a Math Elective.

Five College Courses:

View course listings at the other Five College Institutions (Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College).

Certain courses at the other colleges are considered equivalent to CMPSCI courses. Information about these equivalencies can be found here.

For other Five College substitutions, check with UPD.

SPIRE and Prerequisites:

SPIRE will allow a student to register for a course that has a prerequisite, if you have already passed the prerequisite (with a 'C' or better) or are currently enrolled in the prerequisite course. If you are taking the prereq now and do not get the required 'C' or better, drop yourself from the course and select another course, or you will be dropped from the course during Enrollment Management prior to the start of classes.

Prerequisites for Computer Science courses are listed below:

  • CMPSCI 121: R1

  • CMPSCI 187: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 121 or CMPSCI 191B.
  • CMPSCI 191B: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 121.
  • CMPSCI 197C: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 187.
  • CMPSCI 201: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 187 or E&C ENG 242.
  • CMPSCI 220/291A: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 187.
  • CMPSCI 240/291B: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 187 and MATH 132.
  • CMPSCI 250: Grade of 'C' or better in (MATH 131 or MATH 132 or MATH 135) and (CMPSCI 187 or E&C ENG 242).
  • CMPSCI 287: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 187 or E&C ENG 242.
  • CMPSCI 291E: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 201.
  • CMPSCI 291SP: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 187 or E&C ENG 242.
  • CMPSCI 291W: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 121.
  • CMPSCI 305: Grade of 'C' or better in ENGLWP 112 or ENGLWP 113.
  • CMPSCI 311: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 250 or MATH 455.
  • CMPSCI 320: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 287 or CMPSCI 220/291A.
  • CMPSCI 365: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 220/291A or CMPSCI 287.
  • CMPSCI 370: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 287 or CMPSCI 240/291B.
  • CMPSCI 377: Grade of 'C' or better in (CMPSCI 187 or E&C ENG 242) and (CMPSCI 201 or E&C ENG 232).
  • CMPSCI 383: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 250 and (CMPSCI 287 or CMPSCI 220/291A) and CMPSCI 311.
  • CMPSCI 391IB: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 220/291A.
  • CMPSCI 401: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 311.
  • CMPSCI 403: Grade of 'C' or better in (MATH 235 or MATH 236) and (CMPSCI 287 or CMPSCI 240/291B).
  • CMPSCI 445: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 287 or CMPSCI 220/291A.
  • CMPSCI 446: Grade of 'C' or better in 240/291B.
  • CMPSCI 453: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 287 or CMPSCI 220/291A.
  • CMPSCI 466: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 311.
  • CMPSCI 473: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 187 and MATH 235.
  • CMPSCI 491IP: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 320.
  • CMPSCI 491OO: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 320.
  • CMPSCI 460: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 377.
  • CMPSCI 513: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 250 and CMPSCI 311.
  • CMPSCI 520: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 320 or E&C ENG 373.
  • CMPSCI 529: Grade of 'A-' or better in CMPSCI 320.
  • CMPSCI 535: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 201 and CMPSCI 220.
  • CMPSCI 585: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 287 or CMPSCI 220/291A.
  • CMPSCI 591G: Grade of 'C' or better in CMPSCI 453.