| Contacts | Becoming a CS Major | First Courses | Substitutions | AP Credit | Scholarships | Admissions |
Contacts / Computer Science Advising
The CS advisors are:
| Undergraduate Advisor: | Walter Pechenuk | Undergraduate Coordinator: | Dale Haverstock |
Computer Science advising questions can be answered by e-mailing the CS advisors at ugradinfo@cs.kent.edu.
You can contact a undergraduate advisor during his office hours in person or by phone. They are at:
| Office: | 272 MSB |
| Phone: | 330-672-9102 |
For information about University graduation requirements look at the College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Advising page.
Becoming a CS Major
In order to become a Computer Science Major you need to work with the Department of Computer Science (233 MSB) and the College of Arts & Sciences (105 Bowman):
- Go to the College of Arts & Sciences (105 Bowman) and inform them you want to officially declare your major. The College will give you a Request for Change of Program Form and a copy of the Computer Science Major Requirements sheet. This will list the course requirements that you need to fulfill for the Bachelors Degree in Computer Science.
- Go to the Department of Computer Science (233 MSB) with the form and the sheet. You will need to see the undergraduate advisor who will answer your general questions.
- When you meet with the undergraduate advisor they will answer your questions and then assign you a faculty advisor. You will be given their name, office number, phone number, and office hours.
- You will then meet with your faculty advisor by stopping by during their office hours or by e-mailing/calling and arranging an appointment. Your faculty advisor will go over the Major Requirements sheet with you and make sure that you understand it.
- Your faculty advisor will then sign the Request for Change of Program Form.
- After meeting with your faculty advisor and getting their signature on the Request for Change of Program Form, you will need to return the form to the College of Arts & Sciences (105 Bowman)
You should meet with the undergraduate advisor or your faculty advisor every semester to make sure that you are on track and to deal with any questions or problems that you may have.
Choosing Your First CS Course
The Department of Computer Science offers three different introductory courses that have the word "computer" in the title. Choosing the correct one based only on the title can be a bit confusing. The courses are also undergoing some title and content changes, thus adding to the confusion. However, each of the courses is intended for a specific audience.
CS 10001 Computer Literacy
- CS 10001 is for non-computer science majors.
- CS 10001 is a general introduction to using computers. Various computer software applications (for example, MS Word, Excel etc) are covered along with many of the issues, terms, and concepts for a general computer user.
- The course involves homework, lab assignments using the computer, and exams. MS Windows machines are currently used with Internet, word processing, and spreadsheets. No computer programs are written.
- Computer science majors cannot receive credit for CS 10001.
CS 10051 Introduction to Computer Science
- CS 10051 is an overview of computer science. The course starts with algorithms and shows how hardware, software, programming languages, and applications are realizations of algorithms.
- CS 10051 is a required course for computer science majors (replacing the old CS 10061 requirement). CS 10051 is a perquisite for CS 23021 Introduction to Object Oriented Programming. CS 10051 is a 4 credit hour course and includes a formal lab.
- This class is also excellent for the student who wants a broad overview of computer science (not just computers). This includes students who will be making decisions involving computers in their professions (which may soon include almost everyone in this country).
CS 10061 Introduction to Computer Programming
- CS 10061 is for non-major students who want to learn introductory programming.
- This course is ideal for the sciences or humanities major wanting to learn simple programming skills (e.g., writing macros and scripts).
- In this course, introductory computer programming is taught. Currently the Python programming language is used. Students write a number of programs using the skills that they learn in class.
Course substitutions for students on an old catalog
Every student must fulfill the degree requirements specified in the Undergraduate Catalog to graduate. The Requirements Sheet, available from the College of Arts & Sciences, summarizes a catalog's graduation requirements. These requirements may change from one catalog year to the next. A student only needs to fulfill the requirements stated in the catalog they started under. However, students may choose to graduate under a later catalog.
The undergraduate curriculum recently underwent a number of changes and improvements. The effect of these changes caused a number of significant course changes including numbering changes, prerequisite changes, and discontinuation of courses. Below are a number of pre allowed course substitutions for students on older catalogs and can no longer meet their requirements because of these changes. Permission is not needed for these substitutions. Each substituted course can only count for one requirement.
If you plan to stay with on an older undergraduate catalog:
- CS 33003 Computer Organization and Assembly Language can be replaced with any CS 30000 or CS 40000 level elective
- CS 33005 Symbolic Programming Languages can be replaced with any CS 30000 or CS 40000 level elective
- CS 45101 Computer Architecture is replaced by CS 35101 Computer Architecture
- CS 43201 Operating Systems is replaced by CS 33211 Operating Systems
- The requirement of CS 42201 Introduction to Numerical Computing I or CS 46201 Automata and Formal Languages can be substituted with CS 45201 Computer Communication Networks, CS 43901 Software Engineering, or CS 43005 Introduction To Database System Design
- CS 43111 Structure of Compilers can be substituted with CS 45201 Computer Communication Networks, CS 43901 Software Engineering, or CS 43005 Introduction to Database System Design
- CS 31011 Discrete Math is replaced by CS 23022 Discrete Structures for Computer Science
If you plan to move from an old catalog to the 2003/04 or 2005/06 catalog:
- For CS 30000-level electives you can use CS 33003 Computer Organization and Assembly Language or CS 33005 Symbolic Programming Languages if you have taken the course
- CS 35101 Computer Architecture can be substituted with CS 45101 Computer Architecture
- CS 33211 Operating Systems can be substituted with CS 43211 Operating Systems
- CS 33101 Structure of Programming Languages can be substituted with CS 43101 Structure of Programming Languages
- CS 23022 Discrete Structures for Computer Science can be substituted with CS 31011 Discrete Math
- CS 29995-001 ST:Discrete Structures for Computer Science (Spring 2005) can be substitued for CS 23022
Course Credit for AP Exams
New incoming students with a score of 4 or 5 on the Computer Science AP Exam (either A or AB) will
receive course credit for both CS 10051 Introduction to Computer Science and
CS 23021 CS I: Programming and Problem Solving.
Credit for these courses is given by the Honors College. Students must contact the Honors
College and forward their materials there. Additionally, you must contact the Computer Science
undergraduate advisor ugradinfo@cs.kent.edu
to determine into what course you should be placed.
Please note that the AP exams are given in Java whereas the Department uses C++. Some student may
want to sit in CS 23021 to improve their C++ skills. Additionally, CS 23022 Discrete Structures for Computer Science
is required before taking CS 33001 CS II: Data Structures and Abstraction.
Scholarships, Financial Aid
See the University Financial Aid web site
Admissions
See the University admissions office page
