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Computer Science

Declare or Change Major

Students interested in a CS major must meet with a Tykeson Hall Academic Advisor on the Scientific Discovery and Sustainability (SDS) team prior to declaring the major.

During the advising appointment, you will develop an academic plan for completing the CS major. You are also encouraged to meet with an advisor as you progress through the major to be sure that you are satisfying your major and UO degree requirements.

Additional information is available for transfer students coming from Oregon community colleges to the University of Oregon.

Declare the Major or Minor

Students who would like to declare a computer science or Math and Computer Science (MACS) major or minor should meet with a Tykeson Hall Advisor on the Scientific and Sustainability path to discuss the major or minor and develop a degree plan.

After meeting with an advisor, students should send their name and student ID (95 number) to advising@cs.uoregon.edu with a cc: to the advisor with whom they spoke, with their intention to declare the major or minor.

Change the Major or Minor

Students who would like to drop a computer science major or minor, a MACS major or a computer and information technology minor are encouraged (but not required) to meet with a Tykeson Hall Advisor on the Scientific Discovery and Sustainability path to update their degree plan. Students should send their name and student ID (95 number) to advising@cs.uoregon.edu with their intent to drop the major or minor.

Transfer Student Information

Preparing for a CS or MACS Major at UO

UO computer science/mathematics and computer science major lower-division requirements are as follows:

  • CIS 210 (CS161)
  • CIS 211 (CS 162)
  • CIS 212 (CS 260)
  • Math 231 and 232 (Discrete Math)
  • Math 251 and 252 (Calculus)
  • Three additional math classes are required for the major. Students may take upper division classes at the UO; Math 253 and/or Math 260 (Linear Algebra) can also count toward this computer science major requirement. (Note: Math 253 is required for the MACS major.)
  • One of the following science sequences: [PHYS 201, 202, 204] or [CHEM 221, 222, 223] or [BIOL 211, 212, 213] or [GEOL 201, 202, 203 (ERTH 201, 202, 203)]. Other options for the additional science sequence are available at the UO.

Students transferring to the UO as computer science majors will usually have taken some, though not necessarily all, of these courses. It is important to schedule an appointment with an advisor to develop an academic plan for the CS major at the UO. You are welcome to meet with a Tykeson Academic and Career Advisor (Scientific Discovery and Sustainability team) in Tykeson Hall to develop an academic plan for the CS major at the UO.

Appointments can be scheduled by sending an email to sdsflightpath@uoregon.edu. You may also schedule an appointment with a Tykeson Academic and Career Advisor via Navigate or call to book an appointment through Tykeson Hall Reception: 541-346-9200.

Programming Languages in the CS Major

CIS 210 and 211 are taught using Python, and CIS 212 is taught using C. Students who have taken CIS 210, 211, and 212 course equivalents at their current school may want to take a course in Python and/or C.

Discrete Math Requirements

Math 231 and 232 are prerequisites for most 300-level CS courses and should be taken with the equivalents of CIS 210, 211, and 212, if possible. CS 250 and 251 Discrete Structures may substitute for Math 231 and 232 by CS Petition form. If the transfer institution does not offer these courses, then they  must be taken during the first two terms at the UO. Students should consult with a CS advisor to develop an academic plan for their first year in the program.

Satisfactory Progress

The equivalents of CIS 210, 211, 212 and Math 231, 232 must be completed with grades of B- or better to register for 300-level CIS courses at the University of Oregon.

CIT Minor and Lane Community College Transfer Students

LCC students who are interested in the Computer Information Technology (CIT) minor at the UO should be aware that the following courses may be able to substitute for UO minor requirements by CS Petition Form to the Computer Science Undergraduate Education Committee.

  • LCC CIS 195 Web Authoring for CIS 110 Fluency with Information Technology
  • LCC 133 Beginning Programming (JavaScript) for CIS 111 Introduction to Web Programming
  • LCC 233 Intermediate Programming (JavaScript) for CIT 281 Web Applications Development I

All courses must have been completed with grades of B or better.

A student who has completed the appropriate lower division courses at LCC will be able to complete the CIT minor in one year at the UO:

  • CIT 381 Database Systems* (Fall)
  • CIT 382 Web Applications Development II (Winter)
  • CIT 383 Networking Fundamentals (Spring)

*Students who have taken CS 275 Database Systems and Modeling and CS 276 Database SQL Programming and received grades of B+ or better should take to a UO Computer Science advisor about possibly substituting another upper division Computer Science class for CIT 381.