B.S. in Computer Science

Our bachelor's degree in Computer Science is offered from The Grainger College of Engineering. See the Degree and Programs Options page for a listing of the other degrees that we offer.  

The information on this page is for students entering in fall 2013 and beyond. Students who entered prior to fall 2013 should see a CS academic advisor.

See also: Prerequisite Flowchart and Course Planning Forms

University and The Grainger College of Engineering Requirements (39 - 51 hours)

Hours

Courses

4

Composition I

3

Advanced Composition - can be completed by choosing one of the following options - see technical track requirements below for details: CS 427 and CS 429; CS 492 and CS 493; CS 499

0

ENG 100

3

Science Elective

8-10

Physics Sequence - PHYS 211, 212.

18

Humanities and Social Sciences For specific requirements see the Liberal Education Electives page on The Grainger College of Engineering Undergraduate Advising wiki.

0-12

Foreign Language

 

Department of Computer Science Requirements 

Hours

Courses

1

CS 100 (recommended but not required)

11-12

Calculus through Math 241 Calculus III

3

MATH 415 Applied Linear Algebra (MATH 416 Abstract Linear Algebra also satisfyies this requirement )

4

CS 125 Introduction to Computer Science
3 CS 126 Software Design Studio (Students who have taken CS 242 need not take this course.)

3

CS 173 Discrete Structures

2

CS 210 Ethical and Professional Issues in CS

4

CS 225 Data Structure and Software Principles
4 CS 233 Computer Architecture (Students who have taken CS 231 and CS 232 need not take this course.)

4

CS 241 System Programming
3 CS 357 Numerical Methods I
3 CS 361 Probability and Statistics for Computer Science (Current students can no longer substitute MATH 461 or STAT 400 after Fall 2018.)

4

CS 374 Algorithms and Models of Computation (Students who have taken CS 373 and CS 473 need not take this course.)
3 CS 421 Programming Languages and Compilers

18

Technical electives: At least six additional 400-level CS* courses comprising at least 18 hours (excluding CS 491, but up to two courses and six hours may be CS 499). (*One "CS-like" course in another department (e.g., ECE) may also be counted as a CS 400-level course with permission of the academic office. Non-CS tech electives will not be considered in focus areas.)

  • One of the six CS courses must satisfy the team project requirement. Currently this requirement is satisfied by any of the following courses:
    CS 427, CS 428, CS 429, CS 445 (until Spring 2018), CS 465, CS 467, CS 493, CS 494, CS 497, CS 498 sections: virtual reality (Spring 2018 and later), Internet of Things (Fall 2019 and later). Additional courses will be added upon department evaluation. Note: Courses transferred from other universities (including both Study Abroad and domestic universities) will not satisfy the team project requirement even if they are articulated as equivalents to the courses listed above.
  • Three of the CS courses must be chosen from a single focus area, from among the areas below:

    • Software Foundations: 422, 426, 427, 428/429, 476, 477, 492/3/4, 498 (art and science of web prog.), 498 (logic), 522, 524, 526, 527, 528, 576, 598 (verification), 598 (languages)

    • Algorithms and Models of Computation: 413, 473, 475, 476, 477, 481, 482, 498 (logic), 498 (parallel algorithms), 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 579, 583, 584, 598 (crypto)

    • Intelligence and Big Data: 410, 411, 412, 414, 440, 443, 445 (was 498 computational photography), 446, 447, 466, 467, 498 (data visualization), 498 (deep learning), 498 (applied machine learning), 498 (social & info. networks), 510, 511, 512, 543, 544, 546, 548, 566, 576, 598 (machine learning & signal proc.)

    • Human and Social Impact: 460, 461, 463, 465, 467, 468 (was 498 technology & advertising), 498 (art and science of web prog.), 498 (computational advertising), 498 (data visualization), 498 (applied machine learning), 498 (HCI), 498 (social & information networks), CS 498 (virtual reality), 563, 565

    • Media: 414, 418, 419, 445, 465, 467, 468 (was 498 technology & advertising), 498 (art and science of web prog.), 498 (computational advertising), 498 (virtual reality), 498 (data visualization), 519, 565, 598 (machine learning & signal proc.)

    • Scientific, Parallel, and High Performance Computing: 419, 450, 457, 466, 482, 483, 484, 498 (parallel algorithms), 519, 554, 555, 556, 558

    • Distributed Systems, Networking, and Security: 423, 424, 425, 431, 436, 438, 439, 460, 461, 463, 483, 484, 498 (wireless network labs),  523, 524, 525, 538, 563

    • Machines: 423, 424, 426, 431, 433, 484, 523, 526, 533, 536, 541,584,598 (parallel)
6 Advanced Electives: At least two courses comprising at least six hours of 400-level coursework in any area offered at UIUC (including independent study**). These might be CS courses, but need not be. Courses must be taken for a letter grade (CS 491 and most other seminar courses do not count).  It is expected that students will select these additional advanced courses in a way that best augments their program of study. You are encouraged to consult with your faculty mentor. (**CS 397 may also be used to count towards these two additional advanced courses.)

In addition, students have to complete a number of hours of free electives, which are courses beyond major and general education requirements that students complete to attain the 128 Total Hours Required. Caution: there are a few limitations on what students can take to complete free electives.  These limitations are spelled out on this page on The Grainger College of Engineering Undergraduate Advising wiki.

Prerequisite Flowchart and Course Planning Forms - B.S. in Computer Science (from The Grainger College of Engineering)

Prerequisite flowchart for students who began undergraduate work in fall 2013 or later. (Students who entered prior to fall 2013 should see a CS academic advisor.) This flowchart does not cover the technical electives requirements, which are discussed above.

Course planning forms provide a checklist of all requirements for the major and a framework for creating four-year plan on the back of the form. These forms vary, depending on when you entered the major. (Students who entered prior to fall 2013 should see a CS academic advisor.)

Students who entered Fall 2018 or later
Students who entered Fall 2016 until Fall 2018
Students who entered Fall 2013 to Fall 2016