Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! You can use this guide to see what programs are recommended for CS students. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and you can more programs/institutions with CMSC courses on the Study Abroad Program Database.

Study abroad courses that are listed on your transcript with a "P" grade cannot count towards graduate degrees. If your study abroad coursework is listed on your transcript with a letter grade of "B" or higher, please contact your assigned advisor for more information.

Yes. There are a few exceptions, i.e. Math and Statistics can be used interchangeably. Some minors requiring upper level coursework in multiple areas are OK to use different courses in the ULC, such as the Sustainability minor. Any minor involving multiple area courses should be approved by your CS academic advisor.

No, CS students do not need to declare a minor. Because the ULC is 12 credits of coursework at the 300-400 level, CS students often choose to pursue a minor because they may be close to meeting a particular minor’s requirements. Some minors require 15 credits or more of upper level coursework, which may be only 3 more credits than the 12 required for the ULC. Consult your academic advisor to discuss if pursuing a minor fits into your academic plan.

There are ULC areas that have minimal prerequisites and do not necessarily require students to be in the major/minor. We recommend reviewing these areas to gauge your interest (not an exhaustive list): EDHD, PLCY, JWST, ISRL, FILM, ASTR, FMSC, LING, HIST, ENGL, ANTH, CLAS, CMLT.

Try to think of any special interest areas you may have had in your previous educational experiences. Were there any topics you wished you could have explored further? Do you have particular academic talents that may set you apart from other CS students? Choose an area with courses that you think you will enjoy, perform well in, and can be a good compliment to your CS degree. If you still aren’t sure what to choose, select GenEd requirements that may help you explore your interests while confirming which ULC area may be right for you.

Although there is significant and growing overlap of skills between specializations, there are common ULC areas that have been notable choices for CS students:

Data Science
- Math and Statistics (MATH/STAT). CS students are already required to take multiple prerequisite courses for Math and Stat upper level courses, so MATH/STAT tends to be a popular choice. MATH and STAT courses can be combined for the 12 required credits.
- Business (BMGT). CS majors who want to use BMGT as their ULC will most likely need to be accepted into the major or minor to gain access to 12 credits of upper level coursework. If pursuing the Business Analytics minor, communicate extensively with your advisor to avoid cross-listed and credit-only-granted-for courses that may be ineligible.
- Psychology (PSYC) or Sociology (SOCY). Psychological skills are invaluable to the work of Data Scientists, which can revolve around ethical decision making, effective communication, understanding of confidentiality, privacy, human behavior, and complex biases. A competitive Data Analyst will have a balance of psychological and technical skills. Many upper level PSYC courses are restricted to students in the major, so be careful to plan for courses without this restriction. Over the Winter and Summer terms, these restrictions are usually not applied, so there may be more options for courses available at these times.

Cybersecurity
- Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES minor, includes HACS courses). The ACES minor allows students to explore cybersecurity at a more concentrated level while gaining access to specialized internship and research opportunities.
- Terrorism Studies (may include BSST, ANTH, AREC, ENES, GEOG, GVPT, etc.)
- Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJS)
- Law (MLAW)
- Public Policy (PLCY)

Machine Learning
- Engineering (ENXX). Engineers, especially in ML, are expected to perform at an advanced level in areas of leadership, teamwork, and work ethic
- Robotics (ENXX/CMSC)
- Technology Entrepreneurship (ENES)

Please consult with your advisor to ensure the courses you plan to take will satisfy your requirement.

The ULC is unique to UMD Computer Science graduates because it allows them the flexibility to set themselves apart from their colleagues. Choosing an area outside of CS that can complement your CS courses can set you apart from other candidates in interviews for internships and full-time positions. The ULC is a great opportunity to strengthen soft skills and discover how you can make your degree stand out.

Yes. The specific way in which AP/IB credit is handled depends on the score and UMD course equivalency. Please see the list of specific gateway course requirements for details. Please review information about prior learning credit  for AP and IB courses, required scores and course equivalency.  The University currently grants credit for AP Computer Science A (but not AP Computer Science Principles) as well as AP and IB Calculus.

If you have an associate's degree from a Maryland public institution and you have completed 40 credits of General Education coursework, you no longer are required to complete General Education requirements, with the exception of Fundamental Studies Professional Writing (FSPW).

A general rule of thumb is that students who start with CMSC131 will take a minimum of 7 semesters to complete the Computer Science degree requirements. However, all students road to graduation is different and depends on myriad factors. To start the academic planning process, you should review the degree requirements for your intended specialization:

• General
• Cybersecurity
• Data Science

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will contact you via email. The Computer Science department does not have information regarding the status of your admissions decision.

If you are transferring from a community college, the University of Maryland will accept a maximum of 60 credits; 90 credits from a four-year institution. If you would like to see if your courses will transfer as direct UMD courses, please review the Transfer Credit Database or speak with the Pre-Transfer Advising Office.

You are required to attend a transfer student orientation. During orientation, you will be introduced to the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and the Department of Computer Science. You will speak with an academic advisor in the department who will assist you in registering for your courses based on previous coursework and any Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit.

• If you are an external applicant and were not directly admitted to Computer Science, you will be admitted to your second choice of major (if you had one) or placed into Letters and Sciences. While in your second choice of major or Letters and Sciences, you will be eligible to complete the gateway requirements and apply via the LEP application.
• If you are an external applicant and are currently completing the gateway requirements and will have them by the time you start attending UMD, you should speak with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions regarding a review of your final transcripts once you have completed the necessary coursework. You will need to accept your offer by the deadline given in your acceptance letter.

You will register online using Testudo to register for classes. The schedule of classes, registration, and your unofficial transcript among other tools can be accessed there as well.

The main thing will be to watch for instructions sent to you via email for Canvas. You are encouraged to ensure that you are able to access Testudo and able to connect remotely at the time of your CS advising session as well.

Students will meet remotely in small groups to plan their courses for Fall 2020 with a CS Advisor. Advisors will review CS major requirements, review class schedules, and assist in registering for classes using our online system, Testudo.

Students will have a combination of video presentations form the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS), online quizzes, and remote advising sessions with Departmental Advisors to ensure that students are properly registered and have the information they need to be successful in their first semester at UMD.

Students will be invited to participate in the College Canvas page where they will access much of the information that they will need. Details and instructions will be emailed to students.

Once a student has completed the Canvas online modules for orientation by the assigned deadline, students will be sent links for their online advising sessions with a Computer Science (CS) Advisor.

Yes, you have until the end of schedule adjustment period in Fall 2020 to make changes to their registration. You are encouraged to check the academic deadlines calendar for other important deadlines as well.

Yes. Toward the end of each semester, a request form will be made available here. Permissions will be granted on or around the last day of classes. All students will receive a response regarding their request. Please note: permission does not guarantee seat availability in the course.

If you would like to change your assigned academic advisor, please email ugrad [at] cs.umd.edu with your full name and 9-digit UID.

Your assigned academic advisor will remain the same each semester. However, we recognize that students sometimes may need, or want, to change their advisor. You may fill out a request form here. Please keep in mind that this switch request is not to be utilized for scheduling purposes. We ask that you contact your advisor directly if you are unable to schedule an advising session during their availability.

CS students can take up to eleven (11) credits per semester. This usually equates to three 3-credit CMSC courses and two 1-credit CMSC courses. Students must wait until the end of the current semester to request their third 3-credit CS course, and students must wait until the start of the next semester to request their second 1-credit CS course.

You will be contacted by your assigned academic advisor prior to your registration date. This email will contain instructions on how to schedule your mandatory advising session via TerpEngage. Your advisor will suggest a period in the semester based on your Total Cumulative Credits to schedule your session.

• Drop-in hours are available for all declared CS majors and minors. These hours are available for brief questions and concerns and are typically no longer than 10 minutes. Students may also email their assigned advisor directly to schedule appointments outside of mandatory advising sessions.
• Students will see the advisor on-duty who may or may not be their assigned advisor. Drop-in hours can be found on the calendar here.
• Please note: a drop-in session does not take the place of a mandatory advising session.

If you arrive/check-in late to your advising session (5 or more minutes) you may be asked to reschedule your appointment via TerpEngage. It is recommended that you contact your assigned advisor via email without delay. As a reminder: students cannot register for courses (including non-CMSC coursework) without meeting with their assigned advisor.

If you miss your advising session, reschedule via TerpEngage without delay. It is recommended that you also contact your assigned advisor via email.

Drop-in hours are available to students in the Computer Science major or minor. These hours are designed for quick questions, exploratory conversations, and time sensitive issues. Drop-in hours are not to be used in place of mandatory advising; please contact your assigned advisor for mandatory advising and/or in-depth discussions.

Please fill out the permission request form that was sent to you by your assigned academic advisor. There is an option to request a permission swap and indicate which permission(s) you no longer want and the permission(s) you are hoping to gain.

Declared CS Undergraduate majors who have 0 - 75 credits are required to meet with their assigned advisor once a semester. During mandatory advising sessions, advisors help ensure that students meet CS degree and University General Education requirements, discuss their academic performance, and connect their with resources and opportunities. Outside mandatory advising, students are encouraged to email their assigned advisor or attend drop-in hours if they have additional questions. As a reminder: students cannot register for courses (including non-CMSC coursework) without meeting with their assigned advisor.

Newly declared CS majors will be assigned an academic advisor after the schedule adjustment period. Notification will be sent via email. Please make sure your email of record is updated via Testudo

If you have forgotten your assigned advisor, please email ugrad [at] cs.umd.edu

At this time, we are not able to see non-majors/non-minors during drop-in hours. We ask that you email your questions to ugrad [at] cs.umd.edu with your full name and 9-digit UID.

• Effective Fall 2019, Computer Science is a limited enrollment program. For more information regarding eligibility and the application process, please visit the college's CS LEP FAQ page.
• If you are a current student interested in the major, click here. If you are a current student interested in the minor, click here.
• If you are interested in applying to UMD and the CS major, please see our page for prospective students for more information.

If you are a University of Maryland student (undergraduate or graduate), you may request course permissions here. Requests are reviewed on or around the first day of classes. All students will receive a response regarding their request. Please note: permission does not guarantee seat availability in the course. Effective Fall 2019, CMSC131 and CMSC132 no longer require permission of the department.

Once the form is closed, students may email ugrad [at] cs.umd.edu with their full name and 9-digit UID to make any additional requests.

Prior to making a request, students should check that they meet all prerequisites. Students will not be granted permission for a course for which they do not meet the prerequisites.

All internal transfer applicants who started at the University of Maryland (or a USM school or Maryland Community College) prior to Fall 2024 and successfully complete the gateway requirements will be admitted to the major.

Students who start at the University of Maryland in Fall 2024 or later fall under the new LEP Guidelines, and admission to the major is not guaranteed.

Yes. The specific way in which AP/IB credit is handled depends on the score and UMD course equivalency. Please see the list of specific gateway course requirements for details. Please review information about prior learning credit  for AP and IB courses, required scores and course equivalency.  The University currently grants credit for AP Computer Science A (but not AP Computer Science Principles) as well as AP and IB Calculus.

All students who are applying for either the 5th business day of January or June deadline will receive permission after they have been admitted into the program. We are unable to make exceptions for students to receive permission for their coursework earlier.

Final gateway requirements being taken over the summer, must be completed by the end of Summer Session I. If the course(s) you are taking over the summer do not end by that deadline, you will apply for the January deadline.

First, you will need to successfully complete the gateway requirements for the major. By the 5th business day of January or June, you will submit your limited enrollment program application. You may submit your application if you are currently in the process of taking your final gateway course(s). If you are admitted to the program you will receive permission for your next semester courses and an invitation to an online ELMS orientation. You will also be required to submit a declaration of double major form through the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. The paperwork will be available on the ELMS orientation page. Any questions about this process should be addressed with your current academic advisor or advising unit.

FERPA is a federal student privacy law. In order to ensure your privacy and security, please always use your email of record to contact us and include your UID and full name in email communications. Further questions about this policy may be directed to your assigned advisor.

Yes. Toward the end of each semester, a request form will be made available here. Permissions will be granted on or around the last day of classes. All students will receive a response regarding their request. Please note: permission does not guarantee seat availability in the course.

Students should review the schedule of classes on Testudo for the pre/corequisites for each course. If you register for a course for which you are not eligible, you are at risk of being administratively dropped from the course.

You may request a second CMSC 1-credit course on the first day of classes. Please email your assigned advisor directly to request permission for the course.

Computer Science students cannot take MATH or CMSC courses required for their major at another institution. The Department of Computer Science and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) will consider exceptions to policy ONLY in rare and extenuating circumstances. Full documentation is required to show extenuating circumstances. If you would like to request an exception to policy to take a CMSC or MATH course at another institution, please review the instructions below. Note that you should obtain approval from both the CS Department and the College by submitting the appropriate forms before registering for a CMSC or MATH course at another institution.

• Check the Transfer Credit Services database to find a CMSC or MATH course at another institution that is transferable to UMD. Be sure to review all notes related to the course, such as start or end dates.
• Contact your assigned advisor to obtain a Computer Science Department Exception to Policy Request form. Complete the form and include documentation to show extenuating circumstances. Once completed, submit the form to your assigned CS advisor. You will receive a response within 7-10 business days.
• After you obtain approval from the CS Department, please fill out the College's Permission to Enroll form.
• After you obtain approval from the College, complete the registration process for the non-UMD institution. Once you have completed the course, you are responsible for submitting all final official transcripts from the other institution. Transfer courses will post to a students' UMD record only from official transcripts received from the institution at which the credit was earned. Transcripts should be sent to the Office of the Registrar. More detailed information can be found here.

Yes! Due to the kindness of our generous donors, the Computer Science Department is able to offer scholarships to current undergraduate students who have completed at least one academic semester within the major. These scholarships are awarded to recognize academic excellence in the field of computer science. You can find more information about our scholarships and deadlines here.

CS students can take up to eleven (11) credits per semester. This usually equates to three 3-credit CMSC courses and two 1-credit CMSC courses. Students must wait until the end of the current semester to request their third 3-credit CS course, and students must wait until the start of the next semester to request their second 1-credit CS course.

During your mandatory advising session, you may be granted up to two 3-credit CMSC course and one 1-credit CMSC course permissions. In addition to these course permissions, students may request permission for a third 3-credit CMSC course after all students have registered. Students may request a course permission via a form which will be made available around the last week of classes.

• Starting on the first day of classes, students may request permission for a second 1-credit STICs course.
• Students should make sure that they have satisfied the prerequisite(s) for their course(s) request.

• Drop-in hours are available for all declared CS majors and minors. These hours are available for brief questions and concerns and are typically no longer than 10 minutes. Students may also email their assigned advisor directly to schedule appointments outside of mandatory advising sessions.
• Students will see the advisor on-duty who may or may not be their assigned advisor. Drop-in hours can be found on the calendar here.
• Please note: a drop-in session does not take the place of a mandatory advising session.

Please fill out the permission request form that was sent to you by your assigned academic advisor. There is an option to request a permission swap and indicate which permission(s) you no longer want and the permission(s) you are hoping to gain.

The Upper Level Concentration (ULC) requirement is 12 credits at the 300/400 level all in one discipline that is outside of your major courses. Students must earn an overall GPA of C- (or 1.7) or higher.

Computer Engineering, Information Sciences, and any courses that are crosslisted with CMSC cannot be used to fullfill the ULC requirement (e.g., CMSC/MATH456). If a course is CS related, it may not fulfill the ULC requirement. Students are encouraged to review their proposed courses in advance with their assigned advisor.

Your assigned advisor will set an expiration date on your permission stamp on or around the last day of classes. If you need to make a CMSC course or section change after that date, email your advisor with your request. Students are encouraged to check Testudo for course availability and prerequisites before emailing their assigned advisor.

The CS Department conducts prerequisite checks at the end of each semester to ensure that students meet all necessary prerequisites and corequisites. This check occurs after the expiration date to ensure that all students are enrolled in appropriate courses.

Starting in Fall 2019, lower level CMSC courses do not have expiration dates.

Yes. Students can register for multiple exams, but will need to take them in order: CMSC131/132 --> 216. CMSC250 can be taken out of order.

Yes. Students can be registered for multiple exams simultaneously. Only one exam can be taken per 2-hour timeslot. Your CMSC216 exam score will not be released until your CMSC131/132 score is released. If you do not place out of CMSC132, your CMSC216 exam will not be graded.

If you scored a 5 on the AP Computer Science A exam, you will receive credit for CMSC131 and do not need to place out of this course via exemption exam. You should only take the CMSC131/132 exemption exam if you wish to place out of CMSC132.

No. Exemption exams allow students to be exempt from a CMSC course, but will not give cumulative credits. For example, if a student passes the CMSC131 exemption exam, they can begin with CMSC132 in their first semester at UMD. They will not have earned 4 credits for CMSC131.

No. CS exemption exams are free.

The Math Department has a "Credit By Exam" process. Please see the Credit by Exam page here. Please contact the Math department at math-ugadvisor [at] umd [dot] edu with any questions. MATH140 does NOT need to be complete at the time of enrollment for CMSC131; these courses are corequisites. MATH140 would need to be complete, whether through AP/IB credit, transfer credit, or credit by exam, before registering for CMSC132 (MATH140 is a prerequisite of CMSC132).

There is no penalty for not passing an exemption exam(s). Students are notified via UMD-registered email of their scores.

No, only students who have not yet matriculated to UMD are eligible to take an exemption exam. Once you have attended class, you are ineligible.

Students should register for the exams in the Winter or Summer prior to their first semester at UMD, College Park. Students are encouraged to register for an exam prior to their orientation date.

Yes, CS majors can study abroad! The ideal time to study abroad is typically the spring semester of your junior year. However, if you plan to take CMSC courses abroad, you must have successfully completed CMSC330 and CMSC351.

We recommend that your schedule of classes while abroad be similar to what you would take at UMD (2-3 CMSC courses along with General Education courses, Upper Level Concentration courses, elective coursework, and/or courses for another major or minor). Speak to your Education Abroad advisor to ensure that you are following policies and guidelines for the institution you plan to attend.

It is not required that you take CMSC courses abroad, although your four-year plan may be extended if you do not. While abroad, you can take courses that satisfy other degree requirements including General Education, Upper Level Concentration, general electives, and/or coursework for a second major or a minor. Please be sure to confer with your assigned CS Advisor as you make your plans.

For a course to be accepted as a UMD 400-level CMSC course, the course will be evaluated by CS faculty for comparable content/material, assessment, and rigor. Sometimes a course may not have a direct equivalency at UMD, but the course may still satisfy a CMSC Electives requirement.

Note that the database reflects the courses that have been evaluated thus far. If you’re interested in taking a course or studying at an institution that is not on the list, please send a current copy of the course syllabus to your assigned academic advisor. Please note that we ask for up to 7-10 business days to process this request.

• CS minors are not required to meet with an advisor to request CMSC course permissions. Declared CS minors may request upper level CMSC course permissions here. Requests are reviewed weekly. All students will receive a response regarding their request. Please note: permission does not guarantee seat availability in the course.
• Once the form is closed, students may email ugrad [at] cs.umd.edu with their full name and 9-digit UID to make any additional requests.
• Prior to making a request, students should check their eligibility to ensure that they meet all prerequisites. Students will not be granted permission for a course for which they do not meet the prerequisites.
• CS minors must follow the LEP benchmarks.
• CS minors may request the same total number of CMSC courses as CS majors.

No. Students in the Computer Science minor are not requirements to go through mandatory advising session with our department. You may be require. to attend advising through your primary major/department. If you have CS specific questions, you are eligible for drop-in advising hours. If you cannot make drop-in hours, please email us at ugrad [at] cs.umd.edu

Yes, admissions are competitive; however, we have managed to accommodate/admit the majority of qualified applicants; we encourage all applicants to acquire some research experience and to submit the most robust application package they can assemble.

Study abroad courses that are listed on your transcript with a "P" grade cannot count towards graduate degrees. If your study abroad coursework is listed on your transcript with a letter grade of "B" or higher, please contact your assigned advisor for more information.

No, scholarship funds, including the Banneker/Key Scholarship, do not carry over. Any extra or unused funds from the scholarship will not be transferred or extended.

It’s highly recommended that at least one recommender is a tenured CS professor. Recommendations can also come from tenured professors in other fields or from supervisors in research-based internships, provided they can comment confidently on your potential in the program.

The MS program involves completing 30 credits. By flagging 3 courses (9 credits) for double-counting, you shorten the program length by one semester. However, to feasibly complete the MS within one-year post-BS, you should consider taking an additional graduate-credit only course during your undergraduate studies. This brings the remaining credit requirement down to 18, allowing for the completion of the program in two semesters with a load of three courses per semester.

Consult with your undergraduate studies advisor to ensure this aligns with your academic plan and doesn't hinder your undergraduate degree completion. If this path is suitable, you’ll be guided to fill out a Graduate Credit Permission form to proceed.

For your initial combined BS/MS form submission, you'll need one letter of recommendation. Keep in mind, that this is separate from the formal recommendation letters required for the admission process.

When applying to the Graduate School, you are required to submit three letters of recommendation. We advise that at least two of these letters come from CS faculty members, and at least one should be from a tenure-track faculty member.

Those without research experience can still apply, but a strong recommendation from a faculty member who plans to advise you with suitable justification for admission would be needed.

The Combined BS/MS program is not a formal academic program upon matriculation; however, once the Graduate School reviews and approves your Combined BS/MS form, the "Combined Bachelor's/Master's" option will become accessible for selection under "Level of Study".

Yes, please click here to review the recommended academic plan for students interested in pursuing the BS/MS program. Please review your plan with your assigned academic advisor before committing to your upper level CMSC courses.

Students are permitted to take any Computer Science (CMSC) course at the 400-level or higher, excluding independent studies and special topics.
Suitable 400-level (or higher) courses from Applied Mathematics & Statistics, Scientific Computation (AMSC), Mathematics (MATH), and Statistics (STAT) AMSC/MATH/STAT may also be used as substitutes.
! Please note that since CMSC412 is a 4-credit course, you can only double count two courses totaling 7 credits, as the maximum allowed cannot exceed 9 credits.

Students cannot be concurrently enrolled as an undergraduate and a graduate student at UMD and therefore should apply for the semester that immediately follows their graduation from the Bachelor’s program.

When to submit your “Combined BS/MS” application: Ideally, 2 to 3 semesters before your undergraduate graduation.

When to start your MS program: In the semester immediately following your undergraduate graduation term.

When to apply for your MS program: You should apply in the fall semester of the year preceding your intended MS matriculation. This means:

• If you're graduating in Fall 2024, apply for the Spring 2025 semester by the end of September 2024.
• If you're graduating in Spring 2025, apply for the Fall 2025 semester by mid-December 2024. For exact dates, please refer to our Information for Prospective Students page.

Yes, you can. Students can only receive permissions and register for 1 STIC course initially, but can request permissions for an additional STIC course once the semester starts.

Taking 3 STIC courses amounts to 1 or 2 credits of 300 or 400-level CMSC elective course work.

You can find more information, including a full course catalog, on the UMD STICs website: https://stics.umd.edu/. There are STICs offered in multiple departments including BMGT, MATH, and more!

As the name suggests, the instructors for STIC courses are students with extensive subject matter expertise in the material they teach. STICs are often taught by multiple student instructors/TAs and each STIC has its own faculty advisor.