Frequently Asked Questions

• What do my advisors do?
• How do I find out who my advisor is?
• If the advisors aren't available, is there someone else that can help me?
• When should we meet with advisors other than at registration time?
• Why do I have to talk to advisors before I register?
• What are important dates I need to know?
• When do I register for next semester?

• What does Computer Science mean?
• What does Pre-Com Sci mean?
• How do I reach "Com Sci" status for my major?
• What accounts do I need to setup as a Com Sci major?

• What are the Computer Science "core" courses like? (Difficult?, etc.)
• Where and How do I figure out what classes I should take?
• What if the classes I plan to take are full?
• What classes should I take if I have no programming experience?
• How many computer courses should I take at the same time?
• Where can I get help with courses?
• What are some easy courses I could take as electives?

• How do I plan my years in college?
• What classes should I take for my first year?
• What should I do to be prepared for graduation?

• What do I do if I'm not sure about which major I want?
• How do I double major?
• How do I know what classes to take for my major?

• How do I select a minor?
• What minors would suit a Com Sci major? (Frequently chosen minors?)

• How do I transfer credits from other schools?
• Where can I get test out and transfer information?

• How do I register for Career Services?
• What Career services are available to Com Sci majors?

• When do I start searching for an internship?
• What do I need to do to prepare for an internship?
• What What sort of jobs can I expect to get with a degree in Computer Science?

• What kind of scholarships are available for Com Sci students?

• How much is tuition?
• How do I drop a class?
• How do the different drop periods work?
• What alternatives do I have to dropping a class?
• If I repeat a course, does the first grade get cancelled?
• How many repeat credits do I get?
• How do I calculate my GPA?
• Why am I on probation?

• Where can I find information on graduation hire rates?
• Who do I contact about...?
• More Questions?

Advisors

What do my advisors do?

Your advisors make sure you are able to graduate. They are responsible for knowing the last day to drop, knowing start days for registration, knowing pre-requisites for CS courses, knowing course availability, meeting with transfer evaluators, helping to write petitions to the LAS Academic Standards Committee, and more.

How do I find out who my advisor is?

Your advisor is assigned the day you come for orientation. They are also listed on your Registration Access Number form. All departments are different, but in the Computer Science Department you can talk to either advisor, and your advisor of record doesn't matter.

If the advisors aren't available, is there someone else that can help me?

You can send your advisor an email, call your advisor, or call the LAS academic advising office at (515) 294-4831.

When should we meet with advisors other than at registration time?

Any time you think you need to and that they are available. Your advisors can answer any questions you may have about the University or the Department.

Why do I have to talk to advisors before I register?

There are specific requirements imposed by the Computer Science Accreditation Board (CSAB) that must be taken care of. Your advisors help you plan for this, so that you can graduate on time. Also, there are a lot of pre- requisites in Computer Science that you may not be aware of that your advisors will help you with.

What are important dates I need to know?

Some important dates are the first day of classes, the last day to drop, your registration date, and last day of final exams. For more dates, check out the ISU Academic Calendar.

When do I register for next semester?

The Registrar determines this based on your total number of credits.

Program

What does Computer Science mean?

At Iowa State, Computer Science is a discipline in the science of computing involving computer architecture, theory, and application. We emphasize problem solving with the use of programming.

What does Pre-Com Sci mean?

It is your status before you become a Computer Science major that entails the core courses.

How do I reach "Com Sci" status for my major?

Complete with a C- or better Com Sci 227, Com Sci 228 and Math 165 and Math 166. Then you can change your major from PCS to COMS.

What accounts do I need to setup as a Com Sci major?

As a Computer Science major, you have a Unix/NT account that you can set up using the terminal between 115 and 116 Atanasoff. Setting up this account gives you access to Computer Science labs (115 and 116 Atanasoff). It also puts you on the ugrad mailing list, where you receive messages from the main office and the advising office informing you of current events within the department. For each CS course you take you will be given an additional account. These are set up for you by the department. For more information, visit the Systems Support Group.

Courses

Where and How do I figure out what classes I should take?

By meeting with an advisor, reviewing your four-year plan, and/or obtaining a copy of degree requirements. You can view the current requirements here.

What are the Computer Science "core" courses like? (Difficult?, etc.)

In general, Computer Science core courses are moderate in difficulty, but the course work is time consuming.

What if the classes I plan to take are full?

If the classes you plan to take are full then you can discuss the possibility of an add slip with your advisor or choose alternate courses. You can also keep checking Access Plus for openings. You can sign a Four-Year Guarantee your first year in attendance as an entering freshman, which guarantees entrance into certain courses regardless of their capacity. (Note: Students transferring after second semester are not eligible.)

What classes should I take if I have no programming experience?

Your first semester you should take CS104 to get some experience working with a software package. You might also want to take CS107: Visual Basic. If you do not enjoy programming in CS107, you will not enjoy programming in more difficult classes.

How many computer courses should I take at the same time?

You should not take more than two Computer Science classes at a time. Also, don't take two theory courses together, so that you will always have one programming course.

Where can I get help with courses?

Tutorial assistance is available to students. You can sign up for a tutor in 1076 Student Services Building. Also, Supplemental Instruction is available for many classes. You can get a list in 1076 Student Services or in your CS 101 class.

What are some easy courses I could take as electives?

Talk to your advisor because "easy" courses differ from person to person. Some popular courses in the past have been: Sociology 134, Music 102, Religion 105, Theatre 106, Speech Communication 212, Physics 302, Geology 100, Meteorology 206, Psychology 101, Anthropology 201, History 389, History 390, Communication Studies 101, and Animal Science 114.

Planning

How do I plan my years in college?

Make a four-year plan with the help of an advisor, so you can decide which courses to take and when.

What classes should I take for my first year?

A typical first semester would include: an English composition course, a math course, two computer science courses, and a social science or arts and humanities course.

What should I do to be prepared for graduation?

You should see your advisor each semester at registration time to make sure you are fulfilling all requirements. Senior year you need to fill out an "Application for Graduation" form so that your name will appear in the program at graduation.

Major

What do I do if I'm not sure about which major I want?

You can talk with an advisor, take a variety of courses and enroll in LAS open option until you decide what it is you want to do.

How do I double major?

First, you need to get a double major form from you advisor, then you need to speak with an advisor in the area of your second major, and then go to the College Classifications Office for the college of your second major. Some classifications offices are located at:
LAS - 109 Catt Hall
Business - 1200 Gerdin
Engineering - 110 Marston
Design - 134 Design
Agriculture - 138 Curtiss
FCS - 124 MacKay

How do I know what classes to take for my major?

In CS 101 you will get a degree program list that has the requirements. Also the degree audit you receive before registration every semester lists what courses you still need to take. For more information check out LAS Degree Audits.

Minor

How do I select a minor?

In your academic advising office you can complete a "Request for Minor" form.

What minors would suit a Com Sci major? (Frequently chosen minors?)

Some common minors are Math, History, Philosophy, English, and Music. However anything else of interest to you can be a minor. Only three extra classes are required for many of these areas to complete a minor.

Transfers

How do I transfer credits from other schools?

Request that the previous schools transfer the credits. The transcripts should be sent to the Registrar in 214 Alumni Hall.

Where can I get test out and transfer information?

From your advisor or:
Admission of Transfer Students for transfer information.
Student Services Building for testing information.

Career Services

How do I register for Career Services?

The LAS career services office is in 141 Catt Hall (Phone: 294-4841). You need to talk with the staff there. Their services are free to ISU students. For more information, visit The LAS Career Services Page or The Engineering Career Services Page.

What Career services are available to Com Sci majors?

Services include resume help, practice interviews, job searches, internship searches, and salary comparisons.

Internships

When do I start searching for an internship?

You can start going to career fairs your first semester of your freshman year. Both the LAS career fair and the Engineering career fair may have internship opportunities for Computer science majors. Use the information you gather to actively look for an internship for the summer between your Sophomore and Junior years.

What do I need to do to prepare for an internship?

First, you should prepare a resume. List the Computer Science courses you have taken. Secondly attend career fairs, and register with career services for either the Engineering College or LAS.

What sort of jobs can I expect to get with a degree in Computer Science?

Computer Science majors can be software designers, network administrators, software engineers, systems administrators, web designers, and more.

Scholarships

What kind of scholarships are available for Com Sci students?

For Scholarship information, visit The Computer Science Scholarships Page and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Scholarships Page. In addition, scholarships are offered through various companies at various times.

University Policies

How much is tuition?

Spring 2006, for full-time students (12 credits or more)
Resident: $2688.50
Non-Resident: $7933.50

How do I drop a class?

During the first five class days of every semester you can drop a class on Access Plus without having to get any signatures. After the first five days you can pick up a drop slip at the advising office and then have it signed by both the instructor and your advisor. You must do this before the last day to drop. After the last day to drop (usually a week or two after midterms) you can only drop a class if there were extenuating circumstances during the last days to drop such as a death in the family. If you feel you have extenuating circumstances you can appeal to the LAS Academic Standards Committee for a late drop.

How do the different drop periods work?

There are three periods that affect drops:

1. First five days of class - can drop on Access Plus.
2. From the sixth day until the last day to drop - get a drop slip from advisor and signatures from advisor and instructor.
3. From the Monday after the last day to drop until the last day before finals - appeal to LAS Academic Standards Committee (extenuating circumstances).

What alternatives do I have to dropping a class?

You can withdraw and lose all of you classes for the semester, this also has to be done before the last day to drop without extenuating circumstances. Alternatively you can finish the course and take whatever grade you get and then use designated repeat credits to replace the first grade with the grade you got the second time. Unfortunately when using designated repeat the second grade always replaces the first, even if the first grade was better, so use with caution. Audits must be done in the first 5 days of class. You can take a class Pass/Not Pass, but this can only be done if you have 40 credits or more, and the course does not fulfill any specific subject area requirements.

If I repeat a course, does the first grade get cancelled?

The first grade will not count toward your GPA, however it will still show up on your transcript.

How many repeat credits do I get?

You get 15 credits of designated repeat. You can request more if there are extenuating circumstances, such as a change of major after having used all your designated repeat credits on the first major. It is not easy to get extra however so use them carefully.

How do I calculate my GPA?

In CS 101 you learn how to calculate your GPA. Each grade has a quality points assignment A: 4, B: 3, C: 4, D: 1, F: 0. There is also a GPA Calculator, which can do the work for you.

Why am I on probation?

You are on probation because you did not do well in your courses and have more than 10 quality deficiency points. The easiest way to get off academic probation is to use designated repeat credits on the courses you failed the semester before to improve you grades.

Miscellaneous

Where can I find information on graduation hire rates?

Talk to advisors in 213 Atanasoff or the Career Services office in 141 Catt Hall.

Who do I contact about...?

If you have questions, you can call your advisors at (515) 294-6607 or (515) 294-9937. You can also just stop by the advising office, and talk to your advisor in 213 Atanasoff.

Watch for a Contacts link to be added to the Advising Page for miscellaneous contacts in the Computer Science Department and on campus.

More Questions?

If you have questions, which are not answered here, please email the Student Advisory Board, and we will try to get them answered for you.