Frequently Asked Questions
About Undergraduate Study in Computer Science
at UNC-Chapel Hill
Last Updated: October 2006
Table of Contents
General questions About the New BS Degree in
Computer Science
Q: What is the Pre-Computer Science major?
A: The Pre-Computer Science major is major that may only be declared by students in the General College (i.e., it may only be declared by freshman and sophomores), and is used as a way of identifying potential computer science majors so that they may receive the appropriate advising while in the General College.
Q: Can I declare the Computer Science major without having been a Pre-Computer Science major?
A: Yes. In order to declare the Computer Science major a student must
have completed (or have received credit for) COMP 114/401, 121/410, 120/411, MATH
231, 232, 233, 381 (or OR 215), and PHYS 116, 117 with a grade of C or better
in each course. Any student meeting these criteria may declare the Computer
Science major. It is not necessary to have been a Pre-Computer Science
major first.
Q: Can I minor in Computer Science?
A: Yes. Please visit this page for more
information.
Questions About the Old Mathematical Sciences Degree
Q: Can I still major in Mathematical Sciences?
A: No. The Mathematical Sciences major is now defunct and has been replaced by a new program in Mathematical Decision Sciences, offered by the departments of Operations Research and Statistics. See http://www.or.unc.edu/MDSweb for details.
Q: If I was previously a Mathematical Sciences major do I need to change majors?
A. No. Although students are no longer allowed to declare the Mathematical Sciences major, students who previously had declared this major will be allowed to graduate as Mathematical Sciences majors.
Questions about COMP 14/110 and
114
Q: Is COMP 14/110 a required course for the Computer Science Major?
A: Strictly speaking, the answer is "no." The first required programming course for the major is COMP 114/401. COMP 114/401 lists COMP 14/110 as a formal prerequisite, however, students who have had a formal introduction to programming (e.g., students who have complete an AP Computer Science course in high school or who have taken a programming course at another university), should be able to start their study in the Computer Science major with COMP 114/401. Students who are unsure of their background or have questions about whether or not to take COMP 14/110 are strongly advised to speak with a COMP 114/401 instructor.
Q: I took a programming course at another institution. Can I get credit
for COMP 14/110 ?
A: For the majority of persons asking this question, the answer is
"No." Transfer credit is (very) rarely awarded for COMP 14/110 .
However, students who have had a rigorous introduction to programming may
receive By Examination credit for COMP 14/110 by taking COMP 114/401 and
earning a grade of B or better. Students who wish to exercise this option are
strongly encouraged to consult a Computer Science advisor prior to enrolling
in COMP 114/401 to ensure they have the proper preparation for the course.
In rare circumstances, when a student transfers to UNC from a peer institution
(i.e., a Research 1 university), transfer credit for COMP courses can be
awarded but only after an audit of the student's course work by the Director of
Undergraduate Studies.
Of special note is the fact that credit is never awarded for any course (other than
COMP 4 and COMP 96) for courses taken at community colleges. Unless
unusual circumstances exist, students are not encouraged to petition the
department for exemptions to this rule.
Q: I took an AP Computer Science in high school. Can I get credit for
COMP 14/110 or 114/401?
A: Students who take the College Board AP Computer Science AB exam and
receive a score of 4 or 5, or students who take the College Board AP
Computer Science A exam and receive a score of 5, may receive By Examination
credit for COMP 14/110 . One can also get credit for COMP 14/110 by taking COMP 114/401 and getting a grade of B or better as explained above.
It is not possible to get AP credit for COMP 114/401.
Questions about COMP 14/110 and 16/116
Q: What's the difference between COMP 14/110 and 16/116?
A: COMP 14/110 and COMP 114/401 form the introduction to programming sequence for computer science majors. COMP 16/116 is a created at the request of faculty in mathematics and the sciences, that is intended to be a more self-contained introduction to programming that is also more focussed on examples in mathematics and science. COMP 16/116 uses MATLAB to teach computation and programming, and introduces the C language in the later parts of the course. COMP 16/116 does fulfill prerequisites for COMP 114/401, so that students who become interested in computer science can continue in the discipline, but it is not designed to be or recommended to be used as a substitute for COMP 14/110 . Students wishing to major in computer science should begin with COMP 14/110 . Finally, whereas COMP 14/110 only requires prior knowledge of algebra (e.g., MATH 10), COMP 16/116 requires a first course in calculus (e.g., MATH 31/231).
Questions about COMP 121/410 and 120/411
Q: In what order should COMP 121/410 and 120/411 be taken?
A: COMP 121/410 and 120/411 may be taken in any order and may even be taken
together. However, it is recommended for most students that COMP 121/411 be
taken before COMP 120/411. In any event, note that the two courses have
different prerequistes. COMP 121/410 requires COMP 114/401 and MATH 81/381
or OR 41/215 (Discrete Mathematics) while COMP 120/411 requires only COMP
114/401. (MATH 81/381 or OR 41/215 may be treated as a
co-requisite for COMP 121/410.)
Questions about COMP 190/590
Q: Can COMP 190/590 be used to satisfy one of the Distribution requirements?
A: Maybe! In the Computer Science Department, COMP 190/590 (officially "Topics
in Computer Science") is used as a placeholder for one-time courses or courses
that are in the process of becoming a "regular" course. Thus it is not uncommon
for COMP 190/590 to be on completely different topics in two different semesters.
Whether or not COMP 190/590 can be used to satisfy one of the Distribution
requirements depends entirely on the content of the specific offering of the
course. Usually during the beginning of the course the instructor will make
some announcement about the ability of their course to satisfy one of the
Distribution requirements. Thus to learn if a particular offering of COMP
190/590 can be used to satisfy any graduation requirement, contact either the
instructor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Questions about PHYS 26/116 and 27/117
Q: I recently switched majors into Computer Science and my previous
major required only PHYS 24/104 and 25/105. Do I have to take PHYS 26/116
and 27/117?
A: Yes you do. We require calculus-based physics for the major and
although you cannot get credit hours towards graduation for both
PHYS 24/104, 25/105 and 26/116, 27/117, you must take PHYS 26/116 and 27/117.
Q: I took AP Physics in high school and received placement credit
for PHYS 24/105 and 25/105. Do I have to take PHYS 26/116 and 27/117?
A: Yes you do. However, if your high school course was taught using
calculus, you can ask the Physics and Astronomy Department to examine
you on the material in PHYS 26/116, 27/117 for the purpose of getting By
Examination credit for PHYS 26/116 and/or 27/117.
Questions about COMP 90/396 (Independent
Study)
Q: I'm interested in doing an independent study project and/or
taking COMP 90/396. What is the process?
A: COMP 90/396 is the vehicle for getting credit for an independent study
or undergraduate research project. There are typically two ways in
which sections of COMP 90/396 are created. If the student has an agenda
for a project, she can work with the Director of Undergraduate Studies
to find a mentor/sponsor for the project. Once a sponsor is found a
section of COMP 90/396 will be created for the student. Alternatively,
if the student either has no agenda or is open to suggestions for
projects, the Director of Undergraduate Studies will poll the faculty
for potential projects and attempt to place the student with either a
faculty member or research group.
Q: Can one enroll in COMP 90/396 more than once?
A: Yes. For example, if the faculty sponsor approves, a COMP 90/396
project may span two semesters.
Q: Can COMP 90/396 be used to satisfy one of the Distribution course
requirements?
A: No. COMP 90/396 cannot be used to satisfy any graduation requirement
for the major other than count as hours towards graduation. COMP 90/396
is considered a free elective.
Questions about COMP 92/392 (Computer
Science Practicum)
Q: Is it possible to get course credit for work experiences?
What is the process?
A: Yes it is possible. If the work experience is deemed to be a
substantive educational experience, Pass/Fail course credit can be
obtained by enrolling in COMP 92/392. Enrollment in COMP 92/392 is by
permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies only. The
Director of Undergraduate Studies will evaluate the work experience
to determine if it is substantive enough to be worthy of University
credit.
Students interested in COMP 92/392 should contact the Director of
Undergraduate Studies for an assessment of the proposed work experience.
This initial contact should ideally occur before the work experience
has started. If the work experience is deemed to be substantive, approval
for enrollment in COMP 92/392 will be given, however, the student will not
actually enroll in COMP 92/392 until after the work experience has
been completed. (See below.)
Q: What does one "do" in COMP 92/392?
A: One writes a paper in COMP 92/392. To get credit for COMP 92/392 the
student must get a favorable report from his or her work supervisor and
write a paper describing their work experience. The paper is typically
15-20 pages long and is written after the work experience has ended.
Q: What sorts of work experiences qualify for COMP 92/392 credit?
A: The work experience should involve a learning experience that is
roughly comparable to that had in an undergraduate COMP course.
An example of an acceptable experience would be learning a new
programming language and participating on an implementation team
to build or maintain a software product. An example of an unacceptable
experience would be creating a set of web pages for an organization.
Q: Can one enroll in COMP 92/392 more than once?
A: Yes. COMP 92/392 may be taken for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
However, if the course is taken more than once, the work experiences
used as the basis of each course must be unrelated.
Q: Can COMP 92/392 count as one of the Group A or Group B required
electives?
A: No. COMP 92/392 cannot be used to satisfy any graduation requirement
for the major other than count as hours towards graduation. COMP 92/392
is considered a free elective.
Questions about graduate-level (600-level) COMP
courses
Q: Is it possible for an undergraduate to enroll in a 600-level COMP
course?
A: 600-level courses are courses for graduate students. It is possible
for an undergraduate to take 600-level course, however it requires the
explicit permission of the instructor. As a general rule only
candidates for graduation with Honors should attempt graduate COMP
courses and should only do so after consulting with their Computer
Science advisor and the instructor of the course in question. For example,
in many cases it will turn out that a COMP 90/396 Independent Study project
in the subject area in question is more appropriate for the student than
taking a graduate-level course.
Questions about Graduation with
Honors
Q: What are the requirements for Graduation with Honors?
A: There are three requirements for Graduation with Honors:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better.
- A GPA in the major of 3.2 or better.
- Successful completion of an Honors project with a computer science faculty
member.
If one achieves a GPA of 3.6 or higher they are eligible for Graduation
with Highest Honors. The decision as to whether such a student will be
awarded Honors or Highest Honors will be determined by the student's
thesis exam committee based on the quality of the student's performance
on the research project.
Q: What exactly is an Honors project? Do I have to enroll in a special
course to do an Honors project?
A: An Honors project is a collaboration between a student and a Computer Science
faculty member on a problem or topic of mutual interest. Typically the student
will enroll in at least one section of COMP 90/396 Independent study with the
faculty member during their senior year, however, taking this course is not
required. To be an Honors project, rather
than just an independent study project, the student must write a substantive
paper on their project (an Honors Thesis) and present the results of their
project to a review committee of three faculty members.
Q: What courses are included in the computation of my major
GPA?
A: All COMP, MATH, STAT, OR, and PHYS courses taken to satisfy
graduation requirements in the major are counted.
Q: How do I register my interest in Graduation with Honors?
A: Students who are eligible for, and interested in, Graduation with Honors,
are strongly encouraged to start discussing possible Honors projects with
prospective faculty, or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, in their junior
year. This is important as most Honors projects require a certain amount of
planning and preparation.
early in your final semester of study. If you qualify for graduation with
Honors, an Honors Oral Examination will be scheduled for you.
Questions about grades
Q: I received a grade lower than a C in one of the nine courses required to
declare the Computer Science major. What options do I have to declare the
major?
A: If a student receives a grade lower than a C in any of the courses whose completion is required for the declaration of the major, they must retake the course and receive at least a C. (Note that the permission of a Dean is required in order to take a course for a second time.) Students in this situation are strongly advised to consult with a General College advisor to assess their suitability for the Computer Science major.
Q: I received a D in a junior/senior class that is required for the major.
Do I have to retake the class?
A: If the course is an explicitly required course (e.g., MATH 147/547, STAT
126/435, or COMP 122/550), then you must retake the course and receive a grade
of at least a C-. If the course is a course from the list of distribution
courses, then the student has the option of either retaking the course
or taking another course from the same distribution group. Note that
in all cases the permission of a Dean is required in order to take a
course for a second time.
Q: How do I compute my computer science major GPA? Which classes
"count" in the major GPA?
A: Your major GPA is computed from the grades received in all of the
required COMP, MATH, PHYS, and STAT courses and those courses used to
satisfy the Distribution Requirement.
Questions about taking COMP/MATH
classes over the summer
Q: I'm behind in my program of study for the major. How can I
catch up? In particular, can I catch up by taking courses over the
Summer?
A: Students who are behind in their program of study typically have
little option other than enrolling for an extra semester. In particular,
at present the Department of Computer Science normally offers only
COMP 4/101, 14/110, and 96/380 during the Summer and hence Summer School
is not an effective vehicle for catching up on COMP coursework.
(However, note that there are a few of the required advanced
MATH courses offered each Summer.)
In special and rare circumstances it is possible
for students to arrange to take an advanced COMP course over the
summer as an Independent Study course. This requires the approval
of the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the consent of a faculty
member to offer the Independent Study course. Requests for summer
offerings of Independent Study are typically approved only for
students with above average grades who have a compelling reason
why they cannot take the desired course during the regular school
year. Examples of compelling reasons include trying to graduate
on time after a semester of study abroad or after withdrawing from
the University for reasons beyond the student's control. Examples
of non-compelling reasons include trying to graduate early or
trying to make up time after transferring to UNC from another
institution.
Questions about taking classes at
other Universities
Q: Can I take a computer science class at another University
over the summer and use the course to satisfy a specific graduation
requirement?
A: In general students are discouraged from taking computer science
classes at other Universities and using these course to satisfy UNC
graduation requirements. While all courses taken outside UNC will
be evaluated for transfer credit, transfer credit for courses beyond
COMP 14/110 is rarely granted. Therefore, any student intending to
satisfy a graduation requirement by taking a computer science
course outside UNC is strongly advised to consult the
Director of Undergraduate Studies before they enroll in
the course. As a general rule, only courses taken at peer institutions
(i.e., a Research 1 university) are likely candidates for
transfer credit.
Questions about jobs and internships
Q: I'm interested in a computer science internship in local
industry. How do I go about finding information about internships?
A: The student's primary point of contact for information regarding
internships should be University Career Services (UCS). UCS assists
students in finding internships and full-time jobs through on-campus
interviews, career fairs, career panels, and more. For more information,
please call 962-6507 or visit the UCS website at
http://careers.unc.edu.
The career counselor who works with Computer Science students
is Holly Linam. She can be reached at
sinche@email.unc.edu.
Note that it is possible for Computer Science majors to earn academic
credit for certain internships or job experiences. See the section
"Questions about COMP 92" above.
Q: I know that the Department of Computer Science offers support
jobs and internships to Computer Science majors. How do I go about
finding information about these positions?
A: The Department of Computer Science typically hires several
undergraduate students as research interns each year. The process
of finding an internship within the department is the same as
arranging an Independent Study project (see "Questions
about COMP 90" above).
The Computer Services organization within the department also hires
several undergraduates during both the academic year and the summer
months to assist with various computer support and systems administration
functions. For information on these positions contact Ms. Jane Stine
at stine@cs.unc.edu.
For More Information, Contact:
Prof. Kevin Jeffay
Advisor & Director of Undergraduate Studies
SN 324, (919) 962-1938
jeffay@cs.unc.edu
|
