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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 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 |