Frequently Asked Questions about Advisement
and the Undergraduate Computer Science Major

Advisement

What is mandatory advisement?
In the past, all students were required to speak with an advisor in his/her college after reaching a certain number of credit hours, however, mandatory advisement is no longer required for students in the College of Arts and Sciences.

When should I seek advisement?
Generally, you should seek advisement whenever you have a question concerning school policy, your schedule, graduation requirements, or any general inquiry about school.  It is recommended that you speak with your advisor at least once per semester to plan out your courses for the upcoming semester.

What types of advisement are available?
There are two types of advisement available to you:

At the College level:

Walk-in Advisement: No appointment is needed. If you have a quick general question, you can ask an advisor at the front desk in the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Assistance Office (7th floor General Classroom Building).

Appointments: If you'd like to sit down and talk with the computer science advisor, you must first make an appointment. This is recommended if you wish to discuss general issues such as core classes, the Regents' Exam, or basic GSU policy.

Click here to see the College of Arts and Sciences advisement schedule.

At the Department level:

If you wish to discuss issues specifically about the computer science program, come to the department (7th floor College of Education building) and speak with an advisor.

Click here to see the Department of Computer Science advisement schedule.

What about career counseling?
Career counseling is available through the Counseling Center (see page 76 in the 2002-2003 GSU Catalog). Career and Job Search Services is located in 217 Alumni Hall (404) 651-2223. The number for the 24-hour Career Service Hotline is (404) 651-3620 (see page 77 in the 2002-2003 GSU Catalog).

How do I declare a CSc major?
Come into the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Academic Assistance (724 General Classroom Building) to fill out a form.

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Courses and Registration

What is the difference between CSc and CIS?
Click here to see Frequently Asked Questions about Computer Information Systems vs. Computer Science. Click here to see Frequently Asked Questions about Computer Information Systems. Click here to go to the GSU Department of Computer Information Systems page.

I'm a CSc major, what courses do I need to take?
Click here to view the list of degree requirements.

How do I register for classes?
You can register online through GoSOLAR.

How do I get into a full class?
Overflow policy varies within each department. It is best to ask the instructor of the class for permission to get into the class. 

What if I don't have the prerequisites for the class?
You should try speaking with the professor of the class for which you are trying to register to get permission to take the course. To avoid this problem, make sure you know what the prerequisites are for each course. Make sure you have fulfilled all prerequisites before trying to register for a class. 

What if the class I need as a corequisite is full?
Get permission form the department or better yet, from the instructor to take the class without being enrolled in the corequisite class. Also, speak with the professor of the full corequisite class to see if you can get an overflow into that class.

What is a reasonable class load?
This depends on each individual student. Some courses require you to put in more time and effort than others, which may be a factor in determining how many classes you choose to take in a particular semester. Take as many courses per semester as you feel you can handle. A full course load for full-time undergraduates is 12 hours (9 hours for graduate students). To graduate in four years, you should complete 30 semester hours toward your degree per year (typically 5 classes [15 hours] per fall and spring semesters). It may even be necessary (or more practical) to take one or two courses during the summer. This is often a good way to get core classes out of the way more quickly so that you may concentrate on courses for your major during the longer fall and spring semesters.

How do I transfer credits?
See your departmental academic advisor and obtain the form "Request for Review of Transfer Credit."

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When should I withdraw from a class?
Should you decide to withdraw from a class for whatever reason (too difficult, conflicts with your schedule, etc.), make sure you do so before the withdrawal deadline. Withdrawing after the deadline will result in a 'WF' on your transcript. 

What do 'W' and 'WF' mean?
Should you withdraw before the mid-semester deadline, you will receive a grade of 'W' or 'WF' at your professor's discretion. (This often depends on your grade in the class upon withdrawing.) Receiving a 'W' does not affect your GPA; this simply means you withdrew from the class. Receiving a 'WF' (withdraw failing) does affect your GPA for it counts as an 'F' on your transcript. Like an 'F,' a grade of 'WF' is permanent. 

How do I withdraw from a course?
You do not need your professor's permission to withdraw, but it is recommended that you at least speak with your instructor first, for he/she is the one who decides whether you receive a 'W' or 'WF.' You must withdraw from a class using GoSOLAR. During registration phases, you can drop courses without penalty. 

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Graduation

Is it possible to graduate in four years?
Yes! (Click here to see a possible four-year course outline.) 

What do I need to do to prepare for graduation?
You should apply for graduation one year before you expect to graduate. Schedule an appointment with your advisor to discuss what you specifically need to do. You will receive a graduation audit which tells you what courses you need to complete before you can graduate. You and your advisor will sign the audit before turning it in to the college department. A final checkout will be done by the college during your last semester to make sure everything is in order before you can graduate.

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Other Questions

Can I minor in computer science?
Yes you can. First, it is recommended that you speak with your college advisor. (Click here for more information or see page 143 in the 2002-2003 GSU Catalog.) 

What is ACM and how do I join?
Click here to read all about ACM.

What computer labs have the software I need to do my programs?
Visit University Educational Technology Services (UETS) to find out about lab locations, hours, and available software.

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