Revised: September 2005

Q:  Which major requirements must I follow?

A: This note is for both computer science majors only. It explains which requirements a student must follow to receive a BS degree in that major.

The general principles are:

1. In general, students follow the requirements for computer science majors that were in place when the student first matriculated at UMBC --- regardless of their declared major at that time.

2. If a UMBC student discontinued all college-level studies for two years or more, then that student must follow the major requirements in place when he/she resumed college-level studies.

3. Transfer students may be grandfathered under old requirements and follow the requirements in place when they started college-level studies.

4. If a transfer student discontinued all college-level studies for two years or more, then that student is considered to have started college at the time he/she resumed college-level studies.

5. In all cases students have the option of graduating under newer requirements.

For "normal" students --- i.e., students started college at UMBC and will graduate from UMBC --- the rule is very simple: they graduate under the requirements that were in place the year they entered UMBC. For example, if a "normal" student started at UMBC in 1998, they graduate if they satisfy the 1998 requirements. This is the case even if the student was an English major in 1998 and only became a computer science major in 2000.

Examples:

• A student started her college studies at UMBC in Fall 1997 as a Mechanical Engineering major. In Fall 1999, she changed her major to computer science. She can graduate as a computer science major under the 1997 requirements (i.e., gateway requirements would not apply to her).

• A student started his college studies at UMBC in Fall 1997 as a computer science major. In Fall 1998, he "dropped out" for two years --- did not take college-level courses at any institution. He plans to return to UMBC in Fall 2000. When he does so, he must graduate under the 2000 requirements for computer science majors.

• A student started her college studies at UMBC in Fall 1993 as a computer science major. In Fall 1996, she changed her status to part-time and has been taking one course per semester. She is on track to graduate in Spring 2001. She can do so under the requirements for computer science majors that were in place in 1993.

• A student started her college studies at Anne Arundel Community College in Fall 1998. She plans to transfer to UMBC in Fall 2000 to pursue a computer science degree. When she does so, she can graduate under the 1998 requirements for computer science majors.

• A student started his college studies at Howard Community College in Fall 1995 and graduated with an AA degree in 1997. He discontinued college-level studies and went to work full time. He plans to attend UMBC in Fall 2000 to pursue a BS in computer science. When he does so, he must graduate under the 2000 requirements for computer science majors.