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student:advising:start [2019/11/12 13:29] – remove references to CS 139 mayfiecs | department:advising:start [2023/05/12 14:52] – [Advising FAQ] 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 149, but it concentrates more on fundamental concepts than technical skills. See the [[https:// | + | ====== Helpful Links ====== |
- | ---- | + | * [[https:// |
+ | * [[https:// | ||
- | Q. I have **no programming experience.** What should I do? | ||
- | A. About 2/3 of our incoming majors have no programming experience, and CS is only offered in about 25% of high schools nationwide. So we really don't expect students to have any background. There' | ||
- | ---- | + | ====== Advising FAQ ====== |
- | Q. What type of **laptop** is recommended for CS majors? | + | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 149. What should |
- | + | ||
- | 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 of personal preference than recommended specs. In my opinion, the most important aspect is how large/heavy it will be to carry around all day. 13-inch is popular among students and faculty. 15-inch has a nicer display but costs more. | + | |
- | 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 | + | A. CS 159 and CS 227. See our [[https://www.jmu.edu/cise/cs/academics/undergraduate/curriculum/index.shtml#plans|sample plans of study]] to see some common paths through |
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- | Q. As a CS major, | + | Q. On the [[https:// |
- | A. Nope, pretty much everything we use is free and open source. Some students prefer | + | A. One of your graduation requirements |
- | ---- | + | Whatever the amount of credits you have remaining you need to take courses to meet the 120 credit minimum |
- | Q. When/where should I **get textbooks** for my courses? | + | The 120 credit requirement is a hard requirement: |
- | A. You should go ahead and buy/rent your books before the semester begins. Visit the [[https:// | + | ---- |
+ | 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? | ||
- | ====== Freshmen Spring Enrollment FAQ ====== | + | 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 |
- | + | ||
- | Q. What is the difference between **CS 227 and MATH 227**? | + | |
- | + | ||
- | A. CS 227 and MATH 227 are essentially the same class. The main difference is CS 227 is taught by a CS professor (e.g., Mata-Toledo) and MATH 227 is taught by a Math professor (e.g., Jones). Only CS majors take that class, so just pick whichever one fits your schedule. | + | |
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- | Q. 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. No, unless your math placement score prevents | + | A. Make sure you meet with your CS 159 instructor to discuss your status |
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- | Q. I'm not getting what I want. May I request an **override**? | + | Q. I just finished CS 240 or 261. What should |
- | A. If you have an unusual circumstance, | + | A. Whichever of the two that you haven' |
+ | ---- | ||
- | ====== Upperclassmen Advising FAQ ====== | + | Q. Can you give me an **override into CS 330**? It's the only CS elective I can take! |
- | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 149. What should I take next semester? | + | A. No. Every semester |
- | + | ||
- | A. CS 159 and CS 227. | + | |
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- | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 159 and am applying for the major. I think I' | + | Q. I need to graduate in three semesters. Should |
- | A. You will receive an email after being admitted to the major that will tell you which courses | + | A. Yes, both. Sorry, they are both prerequisites for so many courses |
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- | Q. I'm just finishing up CS 159 and am applying | + | Q. I have a lot of space for **electives**. What should I do? |
- | 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 to the major, drop CS 159 and see the previous question for what to do. If you are not admitted to the major, | + | A. Yes, the CS Major isn't that big, credit-wise, so you're in a good position |
- | ---- | + | 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. |
- | Q. I just finished | + | 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 | ||
- | A. Whichever of the two that you haven' | + | See full [[https://www.jmu.edu/academics/undergraduate/ |
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- | Q. Can you give me an **override into CS 330**? It's the only CS elective I can take! | + | Q. Do you offer courses during the **summer or Maymester**? |
- | 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 | + | A. We generally do not. On occasion, |
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- | Q. Can you give me an **override into CS xxx**? I need it to graduate! | + | Q. I'm taking a **prerequisite class over the summer**; can I get an override into the CS course now? |
- | 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. No. If you're taking, for example, MATH 231 over the summer, we will not give you an override |
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- | Q. I need to graduate in three semesters. Should | + | Q. My enrollment is tomorrow and **I'm worried that [insert CS class] is going to fill up before |
- | A. Yes, both. Sorry, they are both prerequisites for so many courses that if you haven' | + | A. No. We do not offer preemptive overrides or guarantee seats in advance of your enrollment. If you can' |
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- | Q. I have a lot of **extra class slots** in my last two years. What should | + | Q. Can you give me an **override into CS xxx**? I need it to graduate! |
- | A. Congratulations! You've been on top of things and are well-positioned | + | A. If you absolutely need a specific course |
- | ---- | ||
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- | Q. Do you offer courses during the **summer or Maymester**? | ||
- | |||
- | 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. |