Computer Science
(Letters and Science)
Department of Computer Science,
Engineering I, Room 2106;
Telephone (805) 893-4321
The College of Letters and Science offers a bachelor of arts degree in computer science in cooperation with the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering. Both the B.A. and B.S. degree programs in computer science are accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board. Students begin the curriculum by declaring a pre-computer science major.
Students in other majors should note that enrollment in some computer science courses is restricted to declared pre- and full computer science majors. Students who are admitted to UCSB in a different major (or undeclared) and who are planning to enter the pre-computer science program must complete at least 16 units of pre-major coursework at UCSB, including 8 units in computer science, with at least a 3.0 grade-point average for all pre-major courses completed at the University of California. Students who have completed the entire computer science pre-major with at least a 2.75 University of California grade-point average will be admitted to full major standing upon petition whether or not they have been officially declared pre-majors. Petitions for changing to the pre-computer science or computer science majors may be filed any time upon meeting the above requirements.
Students may satisfy some of the requirements for the computer science degree through the College Board Advanced Placement Tests. With a score of 3, 4, or 5 on Computer Science Examination AB, equivalent credit will be granted for the university course Computer Science 5PA. A score of 4 or 5 may be substituted for Computer Science 10 at the student's request by petition; however, students with high scores may take Computer Science 10 for full credit. Students substituting AP credit for Computer Science 10 must take Computer Science 11JA before enrolling in Computer Science 20.
For additional information concerning the programs in computer science, see the entry of the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering, which describes departmental facilities, faculty, advising services, courses offered, career opportunities, and graduate study.
Students with a bachelor's degree in computer science who are interested in pursuing a California Teaching Credential should contact the credential advisor in the Graduate School of Education as soon as possible.
Upon completion of the preparation for the major with a satisfactory grade-point average, the pre-major student should submit a change of major petition, available in the office of the Department of Computer Science. At that time, the student must declare an intent to pursue either a B.A. degree through the College of Letters and Science or a B.S. degree through the College of Engineering.
Upper-division major. Forty-eight upper-division units, including the following, are required: Computer Science 110A or 110B, 130A-B, 136, 154, 162, 170, 186; Electrical and Computer Engineering 152A; Probability and Statistics 120B. At least 7 units of upper-division major field electives must be completed; prior approval by the student's advisor is required*.
Courses required for the major or pre-major, lower- or upper-division, inside or outside of the Department of Computer Science, cannot be taken with the passed/not passed grading option. They must be taken for letter grades.
*All computer science majors are strongly encouraged
to take Engineering 101. This course will not count as part of the pre-major
or major, but it will apply to the upper-division Letters and Science elective
unit requirement.