Curriculum Transition
The transition period is determined by the quarter students began the CS or CE majors. By "starting the major" we mean the quarter a student took his/her first CSE 300-level course(s), regardless of when the student was admitted to the major. So, for the purpose of the curriculum revision and 3xx requirements, the quarter you "start the major" is the quarter you completed your first 300-level CSE course.
1. Who is Covered by the Transition?
- Students who started the major Spring 2009 or earlier are under the old requirements. These students must complete CSE303, 321, 322, 326, 341, 370, 378, and one of STAT390/391/(394&395). All degree requirements are the same as when students started the major. The one exception is that CSE332 may be taken in place of CSE326. This document does not impact students who entered CSE before Spring 2009.
- Students who started the major in Spring 2010 or later are completely under the new requirements. This document does not impact students who entered CSE in Spring 2010 and after.
- Students who started in Fall 2009 or Winter 2010 are under the transition requirements described in this document.
2. The Transition is More Flexible
The purpose of the transition requirements is to be flexible enough to allow students to complete their 300-level courses while we are in the process of switching over to the new courses. As a result, transition degree requirements are a flexible hybrid of the old and new. Except maybe in a couple strange corner cases that will affect almost nobody, the old requirements satisfy the transition requirements and the new requirements satisfy the transition requirements.
3. The 300-Level Required Courses
Except where noted, all uses of OR are exclusive meaning students may not receive credit for courses on both sides. (This is because the material overlaps substantially.) This section considers only 300-level courses in CSE and STAT/MATH/AMATH. Other degree requirements are discussed in the next section. This section is the more important one for students early in the major during the 2009-2010 academic year.
300-level CSE Core List courses that are not required count toward CSE Senior elective credit.
Computer Science transition students must complete the following:
- (321 AND 322 AND STAT 390/391) OR (311 AND 312)
- For students who skip 321 and go directly into 322, they should follow 322 with 312. Transition students have the option to take Stat 390/391 in place of 312, but 312 is preferred. If a student takes CSE 321 and 322 and prefers to take CSE 312 instead of stat 390/391 that is an option, but we ask that they wait until period 3 registration to give students who took 311 priority because 312 is the only course they can take while 321 and 322 students can take stat 390 or 312. This only applies to students entering the major Autumn 2009 or Winter 2010.
- (370 AND 303 AND 378) OR (331 AND 351)
- 326 OR 332
- Students who take CSE 321 and 322 and STAT 390; CSE 326 or 332; and CSE 331 and 351 must take one additional 300 or 400 level CSE course. This could include anything from the CSE Core Course List.
Side Notes/Exceptions:
- Students taking 303+370+378 will not receive credit if they take CSE 331 or 333.
- Students may take both CSE312 and STAT 39X. In that case, STAT 39X counts as CSE Elective credit.
Computer Engineering transition students must complete the following:
- (321 AND 322 AND Stat390 or STAT 391) OR (311 AND 312)
- (370 AND 303 AND 378) OR (331(software) or 333(hardware) AND 351 AND 352)
- 326 OR 332
- The new Math and Natural Sciences requirements (which are more flexible than the old, but do require 41 credits)
Side Notes/Exceptions:
- Students taking 303+370+378 will not receive credit if they take CSE 331 or 333.
- For transition students only, if a student took CSE 321 and 322 they can take 312 in place of stat 390 but only if they register during the 3rd day of the quarter.
Special pre-requisites during the transition are as follows:
- For CSE332, either CSE311 or CSE321 is acceptable.
- For CSE312, either CSE321 or (CSE311 AND CSE332) is acceptable. (CSE332 may be a co-requisite.)
4. The Full Computer-Science Degree Requirements for Transition Students
The key point is the third bullet below.
- Language Skills, Reasoning and Writing in Context, Areas of Knowledge, and Natural Science are the same under the old and new requirements (nothing changed here).
- Mathematics is as under the new requirements: (Math 124, 125, 126 and 308) or (Math 134, 135, 136).
- 300-level required courses as described above in Section 3.
- CSE Electives: Students must take courses from the CSE Electives List such that:
- 59 total CSE Core and Elective credits must be taken, with a minimum of 13 CSE courses total. This includes the 300-levels, and CSE 142, CSE 143, and Stat 390/391 *will* also count toward the 13 course requirement. Additionally, students must take four 400-level CSE courses from the new CSE Core List as part of the 13 classes. The remaining credits to reach 59 total can come from the CSE Core List or CSE Senior Electives(as long as you have taken 13 CSE classes).
- Free Electives to bring total credits up to the 180 required for graduation.
Example Schedule for Computer Science Transition Students
- Student A: If a CS student took CSE 142, 143, 321, 322, 326 and Stat 390 or 391 in addition to CSE 331 and 351, they would need to take 5 more courses from the CSE Core List, including at least four 400-level courses, plus additional CSE Senior Elective credits to bring the total up to 59.
- Student B: If a CS student took CSE 142, 143, 303, 370 and 378 in addition to CSE 311, 312 and 332, they would also need to take 5 more courses from the CSE Core List, including at least four 400-level courses, plus additional CSE Senior Elective credits to bring the total up to 59.
The bottom line is that student need to have a minimum of 13 CSE courses and a minimum of 59 CSE elective credits to meet graduation requirements for the major. In addition to the 300-levels, students must take at least four 400-level core classes to satisfy these requirements.
7. The Full Computer Engineering Degree Requirements
- Written & Oral Communication and Areas of Knowledge are the same under the old and new requirements (no change here).
- Mathematics and Natural Sciences are all as under the new requirements (Math 124, 125, 126, and Math 308) or (Math 134, 135, and 136); Physics 121 and 122, plus 10 additional credits of approved natural science from the CSE Handbook; 3-6 additional credits of approved Math/Science to bring the total credits up to 41.
- CSE451 and CSE461 are the same under the old and new requirements (no change here).
- Students may take either EE215 or EE205 (Intro to Signal Conditioning).
- 300-level required courses as described above in Section 3.
- The new requirements for either the hardware or the software specialization as outlined on the degree requirement sheets. Note: CSE333 (Hardware) or CSE331 (Software) *cannot* be taken by students who complete CSE303+370+378.
- At least four additional Engineering credits. These can be additional CSE Electives not otherwise counted toward the degree, but they can also be other courses taken in Engineering.
- Free Electives to bring total credits up to the 180 required for graduation.
Example Schedule for Computer Engineering
A. Software Students
- Student A: If a CE software student took CSE 142, 143, 321, 322, 326 and Stat 390 or 391 in addition to CSE 351 and 352, and EE 205 or 215, they would then need to complete all the new software engineering degree requirements, plus at least 4 engineering credits, which can be any course with a prefix of CSE or other Engineering departments.
- Student B: If a CE Software student took CSE 142, 143, 311, 312, 332, 303, 370 and 378, and EE 205 or 215, they would not take CSE 331, but the rest of the new Software Specialization requirements would need to be met, plus at least four additional engineering credits, which can be any course with a prefix of CSE or other Engineering departments. Student B would also need to take an additional 3-6 credits of approved Math or Science to reach the 41 total credits required. Courses that meet this include Stat 390, 391, 394, Math 307, 309, 334, 335 or AMATH 351 or 353. Stat 391 is recommended.
A. Hardware Students
- Student C: If a CE hardware student took CSE 142, 143, 321, 322, 326 and Stat 390 or 391 in addition to CSE 351 and 352, and EE 215 or 205 they would then need to complete all the new hardware engineering degree requirements, plus at least four additional engineering credits, which can be any course with a prefix of CSE or other Engineering departments.
- Student D: If a CE Software student took CSE 142, 143, 311, 312, 332, 303, 370 and 378, they would not take CSE 333, but would complete the rest of the new Hardware Specialization requirements, plus at least four additional engineering credits, which can be any course with a prefix of CSE or other Engineering departments. Student D would also need to take an additional 3-6 credits of approved Math or Science to reach the 41 total credits required. Courses that meet this include Stat 390, 391, 394, Math 307, 309, 334, 335 or AMATH 351 or 353. Stat 391 is recommended.
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