Computer Science is CSE’s fastest growing major. At this time, there is more demand for the program than the department can currently accommodate. In this post, we’ll dive into the admission to the major process and statistics. We’ll also cover the importance of parallel planning.
The Computer Science program has seen a tremendous increase
in interest for more than a decade. While the department has worked to
accommodate the growing demand, the investment in department faculty, staff,
and facilities has been unable to keep pace. Therefore, the department has been
forced to place strict limits on admission to the major until sufficient
capacity has been built to accommodate all interested and qualified students.
The Computer Science Department has put together this webpage
to discuss the recent changes to the major admission criteria.
What else should I be doing as I work toward applying to
the major?
Due the Computer Science Department’s space limitations, we
encourage all students interested in pursuing computer science to keep tabs on
the technical GPA cut-off trends for the major, know which courses count toward
their technical GPA, and create a parallel plan. Parallel planning helps
students more easily pivot majors if needed/desired while limiting stress.
When am I eligible to apply to the Computer Science
program?
Current CSE students are eligible to apply to the Computer
Science major when the have the following courses (or their equivalents) either
completed or in progress: MATH 1371, MATH 1372, CSCI 1133, CSCI 1933, and CSCI
2011. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the term in
which a student is applying for admission to the major with a grade of C- or
higher.
CSE accepts applications to the major during the fall and
spring semesters. Further information on applying to a major, including the
admission to the major timeline, may be found on Application
to a Major Information for Current CSE Students page.
What does the Computer Science Department take into
consideration when reviewing applications to the major?
A student’s technical GPA is the primary criteria used for
determining admission to a major in CSE.
To enable a more holistic review of applicants to the major,
students may also submit a Self-Advocacy Statement.
Please note, the self-advocacy statement is specific to the Computer Science
major. A self-advocacy statement is the only way a student may be admitted to
the Computer Science major with a technical GPA below the cut-off.
I’ve heard a 3.2 technical GPA guarantees me admission to
the major, is this true?
Students who have completed all of the necessary
prerequisite courses and have a 3.2 technical GPA or above by the end of the
fall semester will be guaranteed admission to the major. Students who apply to
the major during the spring semester are considered for the major on a
space-available basis. During the spring semester, there is no guaranteed
technical GPA for admission to the major.
What happens if I am not admitted to the Computer Science
program?
Students are eligible to apply to the Computer Science
program twice. If you have not been admitted to a major after three semesters
of enrollment, or after one semester of enrollment if you are a transfer
student, a Major Declaration Required (MDR) hold will be put on your account. The
MDR hold will only be removed once a student has been admitted to a major in
CSE or if they transfer to another college at the University of Minnesota.
Students who have an MDR hold must meet with their college
advisor to discuss their plans moving forward. Advisors will assist students
with determining the feasibility of being admitted to the Computer Science
major and will support students in parallel planning. Students who cannot
mathematically get their technical GPA up to the recent technical GPA cut-off
range will be encouraged to pivot to their parallel plan. If a student has not
been admitted to the Computer Science program after two attempts, they will be
required to switch to their parallel plan.
You keep mentioning parallel planning, what exactly does
it mean?
Simply put, a parallel plan is a back-up plan. CSE
encourages all pre-major students to identify and create a parallel plan as a
back-up plan to their first-choice major, regardless of their first-choice
major. Parallel planning can help students pivot majors more easily while limiting
stress. Check out our blog
post on parallel planning for more information on how to create your
parallel plan.
What are common parallel plans for computer science
pre-majors?
There are often multiple paths to the same career field.
Some of the most common parallel plans for computer science pre-major students
are:
- Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering
- Data Science
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Information Technology Infrastructure
- Mathematics – Computer Applications
Check out the CSE four-year plans to
help you create your parallel plan and take a look at What can I do with a
major in…? to learn more about typical career outcomes by CSE major.
I still have questions, who should I talk to?
Your college advisor is here to support you throughout your
time in CSE! You can also come to advising
drop-ins for a brief conversation with an advisor. The CSE
Academic Departments can also help answer questions about parallel planning
and career outcomes.
Helpful Resources:
Application
to a Major Information for Current CSE Students
Historical
Technical GPA Cut-offs by Major
Courses
Used in Technical GPA Calculation
What
can I do with a major in…?
