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student:advising:start [2019/11/12 10:09] – [Freshmen Spring Enrollment FAQ] normanap | department:advising:start [2023/08/14 16:13] – [Helpful Links] normanap | ||
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- | ====== Incoming Freshmen FAQ ====== | ||
- | Q. Can you tell me more about **CS 101**? | ||
- | A. CS 101 is a new course that gives a broad overview of computer science, rather than focus solely on programming. It's designed to be as difficult as CS 139/149, but it concentrates more on fundamental concepts than technical skills. See the [[https:// | ||
- | ---- | + | ====== Advising FAQ ====== |
- | Q. I have **no programming experience.** What should I do? | + | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 149. What should I take next semester? |
- | A. About 2/3 of our incoming majors have no programming experience, | + | A. CS 159 and CS 227. See our [[https://www.jmu.edu/cise/ |
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- | Q. What type of **laptop** is recommended for CS majors? | + | Q. On the [[https:// |
- | A. Pretty much any laptop you can find will do. I finished my PhD on a $300 netbook with no problem. Now I have a Macbook Pro because I like the hardware. But it's more a question | + | A. One of your graduation requirements is to take three CS electives. Another graduation requirement |
- | The Macbook Pro is fairly top of the line but overpriced. If you plan to buy a Mac, wait until the next model comes out. They always keep the same prices and upgrade the hardware periodically. Keep an eye on [[https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/# | + | Whatever the amount |
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+ | The 120 credit requirement is a hard requirement: the university under no circumstances will budge on this number | ||
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- | Q. As a CS major, is there any ** software** I should | + | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 159 and am applying for the major. I think I' |
- | A. Nope, pretty much everything we use is free and open source. Some students prefer | + | A. You will receive an email after being admitted |
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- | Q. When/where should | + | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 159 and am applying for the major. I do anticipate the **3.0 GPA requirement being a problem**. What should I do? |
- | A. You should go ahead and buy/rent your books before the semester begins. Visit the [[https:// | + | A. Make sure you meet with your CS 159 instructor to discuss your status and likelihood of admission to the major. If the latter is not a given, you should go ahead and register for CS 159 to save a seat in case you have to re-take it. If you are admitted |
- | ======Freshmen Spring Enrollment FAQ ====== | + | ---- |
- | Q. What is the difference between **CS 227 and MATH 227**? | + | Q. I just finished |
- | A. CS 227 and MATH 227 are essentially the same class. | + | A. Whichever of the two that you haven' |
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- | Q. Should I **wait** another semester to take **CS/MATH 227**? | + | Q. Can you give me an **override into CS 330**? It's the only CS elective I can take! |
- | A. No, unless your math placement score prevents you. CS majors typically take both 159 and 227 their 2nd semester | + | A. No. Every semester |
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- | Q. I'm not getting what I want. May I request an **override**? | + | Q. I need to graduate in three semesters. Should |
- | A. If you have an unusual circumstance, then it might be possible to work things out. However please don' | + | A. Yes, both. Sorry, they are both prerequisites for so many courses that if you haven' |
+ | ---- | ||
+ | Q. I have a lot of space for **electives**. What should I do? | ||
- | ====== Upperclassmen Advising FAQ ====== | + | A. Yes, the CS Major isn't that big, credit-wise, |
- | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 149. What should I take next semester? | + | Some minors that have overlap with CS include math, robotics, computer information systems, environmental information systems, and logic & reasoning. A surprising number of CS students minor in music. |
- | A. CS 159 and CS 227. | + | Most importantly: |
- | ---- | + | Or -- since you're already doing the hard thing by pursuing a CS major -- maybe your minor could just focus on a passion or explore an exciting topic. What are you interested in? JMU is a liberal arts college and you should take advantage of that. |
- | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 159 and am applying for the major. I think I'll **meet the 3.0 GPA requirement**. What should I take next semester? | + | See full [[https:// |
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- | A. You will receive an email after being admitted to the major that will tell you which courses to sign up for. It will be one of CS 240 and CS 261, as well as possibly CS 345 or some other course. | + | |
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- | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 159 and am applying for the major. I do anticipate | + | Q. Do you offer courses during |
- | A. Make sure you meet with your CS 159 instructor to discuss your status and likelihood of admission to the major. If the latter is not a given, you should go ahead and register for CS 159 to save a seat in case you have to re-take it. If you are admitted | + | A. We generally do not. On occasion, a faculty member may decide |
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- | Q. I just finished CS 240 or 261. What should | + | Q. I'm taking a **prerequisite class over the summer**; can I get an override into the CS course now? |
- | A. Whichever of the two that you haven't finished, plus anything else you can take given prerequisite | + | A. No. If you're taking, for example, MATH 231 over the summer, we will not give you an override into the CS course it is a prerequisite |
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- | Q. Can you give me an **override into CS 330**? It's the only CS elective | + | Q. My enrollment is tomorrow and **I'm worried that [insert |
- | A. No. Every semester we have a dozen people with the same predicament and we cannot accommodate everyone. If you don't get in, wait until next semester when you have more prerequisites and thus more options. This would be a good time to start looking at picking up a minor with your extra class slots next semester. | + | A. No. We do not offer preemptive overrides or guarantee seats in advance of your enrollment. If you can't get a seat, get on the waitlist. That's the only thing to do. |
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Q. Can you give me an **override into CS xxx**? I need it to graduate! | Q. Can you give me an **override into CS xxx**? I need it to graduate! | ||
- | A. If you absolutely need a specific course to graduate *this* semester, talk to the undergraduate program coordinator--they are the only person who can give you an override. | + | A. If you absolutely need a specific course to graduate *this* semester, talk to the undergraduate program coordinator, Dr. Buchholz (buchhofp@jmu.edu) |
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- | Q. I need to graduate in three semesters. Should I **take CS 240 or CS 261 first**? | ||
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- | A. Yes, both. Sorry, they are both prerequisites for so many courses that if you haven' | ||
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- | Q. I have a lot of **extra class slots** in my last two years. What should I do? | ||
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- | A. Congratulations! You've been on top of things and are well-positioned to pick up a minor or second major. Recommended minors include math, robotics, telecom, and logic & reasoning. Obviously, personal preference holds weight here as well. If you are interested in chemistry, music industry, or theatre, do it! JMU is a liberal arts college and you should take advantage of that. | ||
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- | Q. Do you offer courses during the **summer or Maymester**? | ||
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- | A. We generally do not. On occasion, a faculty member may decide to offer one during the summer session, but that does not happen often and only for particular courses. We never offer courses during Maymester. |