Note: This page is outdated and is no longer linked from anywhere else. The current plans of study are on the Computer Science Curriculum page of the CS website.
Sample plans of study for new students. Options B and C are recommended for students interested in the Information Security Certificate because classes required for the certificate have CS 361 as a prerequisite.
Making a 4-year Plan
We encourage you to meet with our CS Advisor, Paige Normand, to make a 4-year plan for graduation. You can schedule a meeting with her here: https://jmu-cs.as.me/advisor.
Not sure if you should reach out to Paige Normand or your CS Faculty Advisor about a topic?
Don't worry, there's a Wiki Page for that!
Option A - Delay 261
This option could be described as an “Applications-early” or “Applied” route. By taking 345 in your 3rd semester you “unlock” 3 CS electives 🏆, and by also taking 240, you “unlock” an additional 3 🌈.
For your CS Electives, you need 9 credits above CS 300 and six of those credits must be above 345.
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CS 149 Math 231/235 GenEd GenEd GenEd | CS 159 Math 232/236 CS/MATH 227 GenEd GenEd |
| Year 2 | CS 240 CS 345 MATH 220/318 GenEd GenEd | CS 261 GenEd GenEd Elective Elective |
| Year 3 | CS 361 CS 327 GenEd GenEd Elective | CS 430 CS 4xxS (CS Systems Elective) GenEd Elective Elective |
| Year 4 | CS 412/452 CS Elective Elective Elective Elective | CS Elective CS Elective Elective Elective Elective |
Option B - Delay 345
For your CS Electives, you need 9 credits above CS 300 and six of those credits must be above 345.
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CS 149 Math 231/235 GenEd GenEd GenEd | CS 159 Math 232/236 CS/MATH 227 GenEd GenEd |
| Year 2 | CS 240 CS 261 MATH 220/318 GenEd GenEd | CS 327 CS 361 GenEd GenEd Elective |
| Year 3 | CS 4xxS (CS Systems Elective) CS Elective GenEd Elective Elective | CS 345 CS 430 GenEd Elective Elective |
| Year 4 | CS 412/452 CS Elective GenEd Elective Elective | CS Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective |
Option C - Core Early
For your CS Electives, you need 9 credits above CS 300 and six of those credits must be above 345.
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CS 149 Math 231/235 GenEd GenEd GenEd | CS 159 Math 232/236 CS/MATH 227 GenEd GenEd |
| Year 2 | CS 240 CS 261 MATH 220/318 GenEd GenEd | CS 327 CS 361 GenEd GenEd Elective |
| Year 3 | CS 345 CS 4xxS (CS Systems Elective) GenEd Elective Elective | CS 430 CS 412/452 Elective Elective Elective |
| Year 4 | CS Elective CS Elective GenEd Elective Elective | CS Elective GenEd Elective Elective Elective |
Option D - Second-year Start
It is also possible to compress the major, for example if it is started in the sophomore year. The following table shows one way to do this. (Note: the major requires at least five semesters to complete due to prerequisites).
For your CS Electives, you need 9 credits above CS 300 and six of those credits must be above 345.
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | GenEd GenEd Elective Elective Elective | GenEd GenEd GenEd Elective Elective |
| Year 2 | CS 149 MATH 231/235 MATH 220/318 GenEd GenEd | CS 159 MATH 232/236 CS/MATH 227 GenEd GenEd |
| Year 3 | CS 240 CS 261 CS 345 GenEd Elective | CS 327 CS 361 CS 430 GenEd GenEd |
| Year 4 | CS 412/452 4xxS (CS Systems Elective) CS Elective Elective Elective | CS Elective CS Elective Elective Elective Elective |