Major

Computer Science Major

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Department/Program
Computer Science

Total credit requirements for a Computer Science major: A student who enters Whitman College with no prior college-level experience in Computer Science will need to complete 34 credits.

  • Required Courses
    • Computer Science 310, 370, 495, and 496
    • Computer Science 320 and 327
      • May be elected as Mathematics 320 and 327, but must be elected as Computer Science to apply toward the total credit requirement in Computer Science.
    • 12 additional credits of Computer Science courses at the 200-level or higher
      • A student will typically take Computer Science 167, 210, 220, and 270 as prerequisites to the explicitly required courses, plus three additional elective credits at the 200-level or higher.
  • Senior Requirements
    • Computer Science 495 and 496
    • Written and oral examinations
  • Honors
    • Students do not apply to admission to candidacy for honors.
    • Students must submit a proposal for their thesis or project within the first six weeks of the two-semester period in which they are eligible.
    • Accumulated at least 87 credits
    • Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman
    • Major GPA of at least 3.500
    • Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.
    • Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis or project and the honors thesis course.
    • Pass the senior assessment with distinction.
    • Chair of the department will notify the Registrar of students attaining honors no later than the beginning of Week 12.
    • An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
  • Notes
    • Mathematics 124 or 125 is a prerequisite for Computer Science 220.
    • No AP credits in Mathematics and Statistics.
    • Students with a 4 or 5 on the AP Computer Science (A) exam are considered to have completed the equivalent of Computer Science 167 and receive four credits in Computer Science.
    • No more than 10 credits earned in domestic or foreign study programs, transfer credits, and/or AP or IB credits may be used to satisfy the course and credit requirements for the major.
    • If considering graduate study, majors are encouraged to take additional courses in Mathematics and Statistics, particularly Mathematics 240 or 247.
    • No P-D-F after declaration.
    • No independent study credits may be applied toward the major requirements.
Total Credits
34