BA Computer Science
This page updated July 13, 2011.
Four-year plan for Students Admitted Fall 2010 and Fall 2011
The lower division requirements (48 units) are designed to provide a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, methodology and skills, and computer organization.
The upper division core courses (40 units) deal with the theory and design of algorithms, computer hardware, and computer software. Students can gain additional breadth and/or depth in computer science and engineering by an appropriate selection of technical electives (28 units).
The program encompasses the study of hardware design, data storage, computer architecture, assembly languages, and the design of computers for engineering, information retrieval, and scientific research.
Many graduates in this degree program go on to graduate school or choose careers that involve the design of computer hardware and software systems in diverse areas such as: computer graphics, computer-aided design, multimedia systems, databases, parallel computation, distributed computation, artificial intelligence, optical computing, very-large-scale-integration design, and fabrication.
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year | (CSE 8A/8AL,or CSE 11) Math 20A GE |
CSE 12 CSE 15L Math 20B CSE 91 |
CSE 20 Math 20C GE GE |
| Second Year | CSE 21 CSE 30 General Science* GE |
CSE 100 General Science* Math 20F GE |
CSE 110 CSE 101 CSE Tech. Elective GE |
| Third Year | CSE 140 CSE 140L CSE Tech. Elective GE |
CSE 141 CSE 141L CSE Tech. Elective GE |
CSE 120 CSE 105 CSE Tech. Elective GE |
| Fourth Year | CSE 130 CSE Tech. Elective GE |
CSE 131 CSE Tech. Elective GE |
CSE Tech. Elective GE GE |
|
B.A. Computer Science
|
116 units |
||
| Courses | Lower Division | Courses | Upper Division |
| CSE 91 (2 units), Perspectives in CSE | CSE 100, Adv. Data Structures | ||
| CSE 8B/11, Intro. Programming Java | CSE 101, Design & Analysis Algorithms | ||
| CSE 12, Data Structures & OO Prog. |
CSE 105, Theory of Computation |
||
| CSE 15L (2 units), Technique & Tools Lab |
CSE 110, Software Engineering |
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| CSE 20, Intro. Discrete Math | CSE 120, Principles of Operating Systems | ||
| CSE 21, Math for Algorithms & Analysis | CSE 130, Prog. Lang: Principles & Paradigms | ||
| CSE 30, Organization & Systems Prog. | CSE 131, Compiler Construction | ||
| Math 20A, Calculus | CSE 140, Components & Des. Tech. Digitial Systems | ||
| Math 20B, Calculus | CSE 140L (2 units), Digital Systems Lab | ||
| Math 20C, Calculus & Analytical Geometry | CSE 141, Intro. Computer Architecture | ||
| Math 20F, Linear Algebra | CSE 141L, Project in Computer Architecture | ||
| *General Science Requirement: | Upper Division Electives: | ||
| Choose from one group of courses, do not mix them up. | CSE Technical Elective | ||
| Physics 2A, Mechanics (and) | CSE Technical Elective | ||
| Physics 2B, Electricity & Magnetism | CSE Technical Elective | ||
| Chem 6A/H, General Chemistry I (and) | CSE Technical Elective | ||
| Chem 6B/H, General Chemistry II | CSE Technical Elective | ||
| BILD 1, The Cell (and) | CSE Technical Elective | ||
| BILD 2, Multicellur Life | CSE Technical Elective (may also be from list of approved electives) | ||
| BILD 3, Organismic & Evolutionary Biol (and) | |||
| BICD 100, Genetics |
CSE Major Advisors
The CSE Department has two major advisors to assist students.
Students with last names between A-L will contact Viera Kair at ugradinfo@cs.ucsd.edu or go to the CSE Building (EBU3B), room 1236. You may also call 858-822-1535.
Students with last names between M-Z will contact Pat Raczka at ugradinfo@cs.ucsd.edu or go to the CSE Building (EBU3B), room 1238. You may also call 858-534-3621.
CSE Advisory Exam
Students with previous programming experience in a compiled language may start with CSE 11, all others, should begin with CSE 3, or CSE 8A and CSE 8AL. Not sure which class to start with? Take the CSE Advisory Exam to find out which class you should enroll into.
Technical Electives Requirement
- BA Computer Science students must take seven technical electives for a total of 28 units
- As of Fall 2010, 4 units of CSE 197 may be used toward technical elective credit
- As of Fall 2010, 8 units of CSE 198, CSE 199 or CSE 199H may be used toward technical elective credit
- Of the nine electives, two technical electives may be chosen from the wider set of courses that includes other electives as listed under the section titled Electives. This section also lists other restrictions in the selection of technical electives. If you want to deviate from this list of approved electives, you must petition with your CSE Academic Advisor
- In addition, students can also use CSE graduate courses for technical elective credit with approval. Once a CSE graduate course is used for an undergraduate degree that course may not be reused for a graduate degree
Degree Policies
All major requirements and technical electives, except CSE 91, CSE 197, CSE 198 or CSE 199, must be taken for a letter grade. To graduate, a grade point average of 2.0 is required in the upper division major requirements including the technical electives.
