Taking Courses

The following pages contain descriptions of the courses that are available in the Graduate Program in Computer Science. For each course, it is indicated in which term (Fall and/orSpring) the course is usually given, and the number of credits provided. Note that more advanced graduate courses are usually not given every year.

The first courses listed are 300 and 400 level courses and are, strictly speaking, undergraduate courses. However, the Graduate Program in Computer Science has approved of them (and only them) for credit toward a graduate degree; at most two undergraduate courses can be taken for credit towards a graduate degree in computer science. Some of these courses are recommended to students whose background in computer science is weak.

Any 300 and 400 level courses for which the student wishes to have graduate credit must be registered with a G-prefix; write `G' under `credit hour prefix' on the registration card. A student registering for an undergraduate course other than from the approved list must register with an E-prefix: write `E' under `credit hour prefix' on the registration card; this means that the student does not receive graduate credit.

Other special credit registrations: A student who is a Teaching Assistant registers for 6 credits of 198:877 with an E-prefix. A student who is a Graduate Assistant registers for 6 credits of 198:866 with an E-prefix. A student registering for Matriculation Continued registers for 198:800 and no special prefix. The N-prefix means that the course is taken `not for credit' and no exam or grades are given.

Important! Whether or not it is expressly stated in the prerequisites of each 500 level course, it is assumed that the student has had the background required for admission. These will be referred to as `entrance requirements'. Prerequisites are to be taken as strong guidelines that should help a student to decide whether to register in a specific course at a given time in the course of his studies. Normally, students taking a course should satisfy the course prerequisites. However, if a student is unclear about the prerequisites of a course or if he has doubts about his qualifications for the course, he should consult the instructor in charge. Although special cases will be considered individually by the instructor, students who have not had the prerequisites should not expect to be allowed to take the course.

 

Another important point is about the maximum number of credits for which you are allowed to register. See the sections on Course Load for those constraints. The total number of credits for which you register includes all courses. Thus, your TAship or GAship credits, your PALS credits and your regular courses are all counted.