Computer Science Major

Requirements for the Major in Computer Science

Courses used to fulfill major requirements must normally be taken for a letter grade.

1. Introductory courses: CSCI051x PO (including CSCI 051J PO , or CSCI 051G PO ,or CSCI 051P PO ) CSCI 054 PO   and CSCI 062 PO .
2. Mathematics: MATH 058 PO   or MATH 060 PO  
3. Core courses: CSCI 105 PO , CSCI 140 PO , and CSCI142  PO.
4. Electives: Three additional upper-division courses in computer science. Independent study and senior exercise courses are not normally considered electives. Students are encouraged to take computational courses in other disciplines, but they will not normally be counted as Computer Science electives.
5. Senior Seminar: CSCI 190 PO . Students should complete two core courses and one other upper-division course (core or elective) courses numbered 100 and higher before enrolling in CSCI 190 PO .
6.  CSCI Colloquium: Students must attend 12 colloquium talks in each of their junior and senior years.

The major requirements are in effect starting AY 2018-19. Please check the catalog archive for previous major requirements. For students who entered Pomona College before fall 2018, multiple options are available. Please check with the Computer Science Department for details.  

Breakdown of Computer Science Major Requirement Transition

Old Requirements – Entered Pomona College in 2015 or before

1.  Introductory Courses
   1. CSCI051x
   2. CSCI 052 PO  
   3. CSCI 055 PO  OR MATH 103 PO  
   4. CSCI 062 PO  
2. Mathematics
   1. MATH 060 PO  
3. Core Courses
   1. CSCI 081 PO  
   2. CSCI 105 PO  
   3. CSCI 131 PO  
   4. CSCI 140 PO  
4. Electives
   1. Three additional CSCI electives
5. Senior Seminar
   1. CSCI 190 PO  
6. Colloquium
   1. All talks during senior year

Old Intro Sequence & New Upper Division - Entered Pomona College in 2016 and 2017*

1. Introductory Courses
   1. CSCI051x
   2. CSCI 052 PO  
   3. CSCI 055 PO   or MATH 103 PO  
   4. CSCI 062 PO  
2. Mathematics
   1. MATH 058 PO   or MATH 060 PO  
3. Core Courses 
   1. CSCI 101 PO  
   2. CSCI 105 PO  
   3. CSCI 140 PO  
4. Electives
   1. Three additional CSCI electives (no external electives allowed)
5. Senior Seminar
   1. CSCI 190 PO  
6. Colloquium
   1. 12 talks during junior year
   2. 12 talks during senior year

New Intro Sequence & Old Upper Division - Entered Pomona College in 2016 and 2017*

1. Introductory Courses
   1. CSCI051x
   2. CSCI 054 PO  
   3. CSCI 062 PO  
2. Mathematics
   1. MATH 058 PO   or MATH 060 PO  
3. Core Courses
   1. CSCI 081 PO  
   2. CSCI 105 PO  
   3. CSCI 131 PO  
   4. CSCI 140 PO  
4. Electives
   1. Three additional CSCI electives
5. Senior Seminar
   1. CSCI 190 PO  
6. Colloquium
   1. All talks during senior year

New Requirements- Entered Pomona College in 2018 or after

1. Introductory Courses
   1. CSCI051x
   2. CSCI 054 PO  
   3. CSCI 062 PO  
2. Mathematics
   1. MATH 058 PO   or MATH 060 PO  
3. Core Courses
   1. CSCI 101 PO  
   2. CSCI 105 PO  
   3. CSCI 140 PO  
4. Electives
   1. Three additional CSCI electives (no external electives allowed)
5. Senior Seminar
   1. CSCI 190 PO  
6. Colloquium
   1. 12 talks during junior year
   2. 12 talks during senior year

* By default, all students should fulfill the major/minor requirements that were in effect at the time they entered the College. However, we will provide some flexibility and allow the classes of 2020 and 2021 to choose among the following four options:  

1. The entire old major requirements
2. The entire new major requirements
3. Old intro sequence & new upper division (CSCI051x, CSCI 052 PO , CSCI 055 PO  /MATH 103 PO , CSCI 062 PO ) + item 2 to 6 of the new requirements.
4. New intro sequence & old upper division (CSCI051x, CSCI 054 PO , CSCI 062 PO ) + everything else of the old requirements (MATH 060 PO , CSCI 081 PO , CSCI 105 PO , CSCI 131 PO  , CSCI 140 PO , 3 electives, CSCI 190 PO , two semesters of colloquium during senior year).