Do I need to take CS 101? When Should I Take It?
You must take CS 101 with your first CS class at GMU as a CS major (typically 112, 211, 310, or 367). You may take the class even if you've not declared yet but think you probably will.
CS 101 is only offered in the Fall. If you arrive in Spring, you may take CS classes in Spring but then must take CS 101 in the very next Fall.
CS 101 is required of ALL majors, both freshmen and transfer students, who are under the 2007-2008 catalog or later. You can skip CS 101 only with the CS 101 professor's permission, and then only if you have advanced beyond the 3xx courses prior to coming to GMU. Even so, you might want to take it anyway: it also introduces you to the department and how to get around as a CS major.
CS 123 does not qualify as a substitute for CS 101.
CS 265 is no longer taught. What should I do if I need it?
If you are using an older catalog that required CS 265 then you also need CS 365 (now renumbered CS 465) and ECE 301. (Note that ECE 301 briefly became the 4-hour ECE 303, but has now reverted to the 3-hour ECE 301.)
- If you have not taken CS 265 or ECE 301, take ECE 301 and CS 367 (and CS 262 if taking CS 367 after Spring 2009).
- If you have taken ECE 301 (ECE 3030) but not CS 265, you will need to take CS 367 instead (and CS 262 if taking CS 367 after Spring 2009).
- If you do not need CS 367 under the catalog you are using, it will still qualify for use as a CS-related elective.
CS 303 is no longer taught. What should I do if I need it?
Consult the wikipage Undergraduate :: Sequence Change 2008.
When should I take CS 483?
With respect to prerequisites, it is possible to take CS 483 before taking any other 400-level course and it might help with those courses by providing perspective on the algorithms they use.
What is the purpose of the "CS-related" requirement?
To provide some flexibility in the technical aspects of the CS major program. You can either deepen your knowledge of CS or Math or move into some new areas.