CS Graduation Requirements

Graduation application

Done electronically through MyMadison
Select the “Graduation” link in the “other academic” dropdown menu
Tutorial available from JMU: https://www.jmu.edu/computing/ittraining/e-training/graduation-application/

Timeline
December graduates: applications open in early May and begin being reviewed in early September
Spring graduates: applications open in early October and begin being reviewed in early February

Current requirements (Catalog Year 2019 and later)

  • CS 159
  • CS 227
  • CS 240
  • CS 261
  • CS 327
  • CS 345
  • CS 361
  • CS 430
  • Algorithms: CS 412 (applied) or CS 452 (theoretical)
  • Systems elective: CS 432, CS 450, CS 455, CS 456, or CS 470
  • 3 CS electives numbered 300 or higher
    • Only one can be less than 345
    • Can use cross-listed courses: MATH 448, MATH 449
  • Calculus: MATH 231+232 or MATH 235
  • Statistics: MATH 220, MATH 229, or MATH 318
  • Major GPA of 2.0 or better

Previous requirements (Catalog Year 2018 and earlier)

  • CS 159
  • CS 227
  • CS 240
  • CS 261
  • CS 327
  • CS 345
  • CS 361
  • CS 374
  • CS 430
  • Technical Writing: CS 260 or CS 280 (Spring 2020, Section 1, Dent)
  • Systems elective: CS 432, CS 450, CS 455, CS 456, or CS 470
  • 3 CS electives numbered 300 or higher
    • Can use cross-listed courses: MATH 448, MATH 449
  • Calculus: MATH 231+232 or MATH 235
  • Statistics: MATH 220, MATH 229, or MATH 318
  • Major GPA of 2.0 or better

Technical writing

CS 260 is no longer being offered. If your catalog year is 2018 or older, and you have not taken CS 260/280(Dent), you must change your catalog year.

Here's what you will see in your Academic Requirements report will look like if you're missing your Technical Writing course:

Changing your Catalog Year

Email buchhofp@jmu.edu

Include your student ID number, old year, and desired new year. If you have not taken an algorithms course, you must enroll for CS 412 or 452 in your final semester. CS 374 (Databases) will count as an elective class if you have taken it.

Checking graduation requirements

View your Academic Requirements report in MyMadison

Everything needs to be resolved before you are allowed to apply for graduation!

Contact your advisor if you see anything you think is wrong in the report.

Note: the department will make substitutions or waivers only in rare cases:

  • Transfer students may not have received official transfer credit for 159 or 240
  • Elective classes outside the department that were approved before enrollment

Major GPA

Weighted average (by credit hours) of:

  • Every CS course (including cross-listed ones)
  • Calculus class(es)
  • Statistics

If a student has taken a course more than once, then only the highest grade is used to compute their major GPA, even if they did not retake a course with the repeat/forgive option