Frequently Asked Questions
for Columbia College Undergraduates

The bulletin says COMS W1007 is required for the major.  Can I take the honors section COMS W1009 instead?

Yes. Either 1007 or 1009 is an acceptable first course for the major.  However, anyone contemplating the 1009 honors section should first consult with the instructor.

The bulletin says COMS W3139 is required for the major.  But isn't that the honors section?  Can I take COMS W3137 instead?

Yes.  Either 3137 or 3139 is acceptable for the major. Anyone contemplating the 3139 honors section should first consult with the instructor.

If I take W1009, am I then required to continue the honors track with W3139?

No.  You can "mix and match" 1007/1009 with respect to 3137/3139.  However, anyone contemplating either 1009 or 3139 honors section should first consult with the instructor, in the case of 3139 even if they have already completed 1009 satisfactorily.

I have already taken COMS W1001, and now I would like to change to a computer science major (or concentration).  Should I take COMS W1007?

Yes, in most cases.  However, you cannot "count" both 1001 and 1007 towards your CS courses, in particular, you will not be able to use 1001 as one of your major (or concentration) electives.  It may, however, qualify for degree credit, contact your dean's office.

In extremely rare cases, highly qualified students may be able to jump directly from 1001 to 3137 (or 3139).  Or, alternatively, take the 1-point W3101 Programming (Java section) to brush up on your Java skills prior to 3137/3139. You should discuss this with the 1007 instructor, and/or the 3137 (or 3139)  instructor to determine if it is reasonable for you to skip 1007.

I have already taken COMS W1003 (or COMS W1004), and now I would like to change to a computer science major (or concentration).  Should I take COMS W1007 (or COMS W1009)?

Not in most cases.  If you did well in W1004 (in Java), you should go directly to 3137 (or 3139).  If you took W1003 (in C), you should first take the 1-point W3101 Programming (Java section) prior to 3137/3139. In any case, it would be wise to discuss your plans in advance with the 3137 (or 3139) instructor.

I  took the computer science AP exam in high school, and received a 4 (or 5). Do I still have to take 1007 (or 1009)?

No, a 4 or 5 on the CS AP exam (either A or AB versions) automatically places you out of 1007.  Since 3137/3139 requires fluency in Java programming, you should first take the 1-point 3101 Programming (Java section) prior to 3137 or 3139.

However, if you feel your computer science skills are rusty, it may be wiser instead to start in 1007 or 1009. Note then that you can not count both the 3 points for the AP course and the 3 points for 1007 (or 1009) towards the CS major (or concentration). 

I already did a lot of programming in high school.  I'm not a CS major, but would like to take more programming. My friends with similar backgrounds tell me 1001 is too easy. Which course should I take?

Any of W1003, W1004, or W1007, but speak to the instructor first. W1003 (in C) and W1004 (in Java) are targeted towards non-CS engineering majors, so you may feel more comfortable in W1007 (in Java) where a large proportion of the class are college (as opposed to engineering) students. 

Alternatively, if you are already fluent in at least one programming language, you may want to try one of the 1-point W3101 Programming courses, in the section(s) of your choice. W3101 may be repeated for credit if different languages are taken.

I received a D in one of my CS courses. Can I still graduate with a CS major (or concentration)?

One D may be credited to the major (or concentration).  Or one P, if taken pass/fail, but not both a D and a P. If you receive a second D, you must  retake one of the courses and receive a higher grade. 

In extremely rare cases, a student whose D does not accurately reflect his/her current understanding of the material (e.g., you've undertaken substantial self-study or acquired relevant job experience since then), may instead take a higher level course (if there is one) in the same topic with the instructor's permission.  And of course you need to receive a higher grade.  For instance, say one of your D's is in W3824.  Instead of repeating W3824, you may take W4824 with the instructor's permission.  Note in this case the higher level course would "substitute for" the lower level course in which you received the D, so you'd receive in total credit for only one course. You can not use either course to fulfill any other requirement (such as a track or major/concentration elective).

I am a computer science major (or concentrator).  Am I allowed to take a course in the major pass/fail?

Yes, you may take up to one course pass/fail.  However, you cannot credit both a course with a P and another course with a D towards the major (or concentration). See above.

I am taking (or plan to take) a 3 point independent study project (COMS W3998 or COMS W4901).  The project is with Prof. Fu Bar in the systems track.  Can this project count as one of my four courses in the systems track?

No.  Project courses can not count towards any of the pre-defined tracks, you must take four lecture courses.

However, in some cases one project course might be applicable towards the five courses required for the self-defined track.  The project must be clearly relevant to the subject area of the self-defined track, and must be approved by the faculty member who has agreed to advise your self-defined track.

The bulletin says the computer systems track consists of four computer science courses, any numbered in the W4100s, W3800s, or W4800s, at least one of which is in the W4100s and at least one of which is either in the W3800s or W4800s.  Can I take instead one or more 6100 or 6800 courses?

Yes.  However, CC students are usually restricted to at most 9 points of "E" (engineering) courses, and all CS 6000 level courses are "E".  You would have to petition the CC Committee on Instruction for permission to receive credit towards your degree for a total of more than 9 points of "E", if applicable.

Of course, the computer systems track must still consist of at least one hardware course and at least one software course in any case.  Hardware courses are numbered x8yz and software courses are numbered x1yz.

Analogous rules must be observed for the other tracks.

Can I apply a COMS W4995, W4996, E6998 or E6999 course to a track?

Yes, if it is clearly related to that track.  For instance, for the systems track it must be a hardware or software course.  Check with the CC departmental representative for the acceptability of any given course offering for a particular track.

Can I apply a COMS W3995 or W3996 course to a track?

No.  Every track course must be 4000 level or above, with the exception of W3998 which may (or may not) be acceptable for the self-defined track.  See above.

How does a graduating student obtain "departmental honors"?

See the general CC rules about departmental honors at http://www.college.columbia.edu/bulletin/regulations/acad_stand.php. Besides ranking in the top ten percent by GPA, minimum 3.6 in the major, the student must complete an undergraduate thesis (COMS W3902) and/or an independent study project (COMS W3998 and/or W4901), and be recommended by the thesis/project advisor.

More coming...

last updated August, 2001.
Copyright © 2001 Gail E. Kaiser.