Fall 2023 Curriculum Changes
The CS program continuously evaluates and updates our curriculum to reflect the recommendations of the accreditation board (ABET). Effective Fall 2023 there are several changes to the CS, CS w/ CSO/HCC/SE concentration majors. Data Science and CS + Design students are not significantly impacted by the changes.
If you started your CS, CS w/ CS/HCC/SE Major in Summer 2023 or earlier, you have the option to continue your degree under the previous requirements or switch to the new one. This page explains the differences between these two options to help you decide which to do.
After reviewing the changes, if you choose to switch the new curriculum you can submit the request via General Student Petition with the College of Engineering, at: https://engineering.uic.edu/undergraduate/resources/.
Video link of townhall on these changes: Heading link
Summary of Changes Heading link
There are 5 key updates to the curriculum:
Credit Hours Change
The following courses’ credit hours have been increased by 1 hour each:
- CS 211 – 2 to 3
- CS 261 – 3 to 4
- CS 361 – 3 to 4
- CS 362 – 3 to 4
How will this affect you?
No effect if you stay in the previous curriculum or change to the new curriculum.
Students switching to the new curriculum that have already completed the courses prior to F23 will have to make up the missing hours with free electives.
Students deciding to stay in the previous curriculum that have not already completed some of these courses will have their free electives reduced accordingly.
Science Elective Requirement
Science elective hours requirement reduced from 10 to 8 if you switch to the new curriculum.
How will this affect you?
- If you switch to the new curriculum and completed more than 8 hours in this category, remaining will be used for free electives. Be advised that students switching to the new curriculum CANNOT use supplemental science electives to satisfy the 8 hour science elective requirement
- All in the curriculum prior to F23 will continue to need 10 hours
CS 377 Requirement
CS 377 will be split into CS 277 (Technical & Professional Communication) and CS 377 (Ethical Issues in Computing) – 3 hours each.
How will this affect you?
CS 277 will be required ONLY if you are changing to the new curriculum.
Students who did not complete CS 377 and chose to remain in the previous curriculum will have an opportunity to take CS 277 as free elective. Priority for registration in the class will be given to those switching to the new curriculum.
free electives change
Change to offset other changes – will vary based on when above classes are taken and if following the new / previous curriculum.
How will this affect you?
Effects will vary based on if you choose to stay in the previous curriculum and how many of the CS 211, 261, 361, 362 and science electives you have completed.
CS 461 Requirement for Computer Science Majors
CS 461 will be:
- No longer required for CS, HCC & SE majors, though it can be taken as a tech. elective.
- Required for the CSO concentration.
How will this affect you?
No effect. However, CS/HCC/SE students admitted prior to Fall 2023 will need to submit a general student petition to use another technical elective in place of CS 461.
CS Majors Impacted by These Changes Heading link
The following majors will be impacted by the new curriculum:
impacted by
Impacted by all 5 changes above.
impacted by
Impacted by changes 1-4 above.
impacted by
Impacted by all 5 changes above.
impacted by
Impacted by all 5 changes above.
impacted by
- CS 211 increased by 1 credit hour.
- CS 261 now an elective course instead of a required course.
- Total degree hours changed from 120 to 120-122.
impacted by
- CS 211 increased by 1 credit hour.
- Free electives decreased by 1 credit hour.
impacted by
- No changes overall – CS 211 1 credit hour increase is offset by ENGR 100, which does not count towards the degree.
- UPPA concentration courses restricted.
Curriculum Change FAQs Heading link
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automatically changed?
No. You will remain in the curriculum in use at the time of your enrollment into the major unless you choose to opt in to the new curriculum.
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how to change
You can submit the request via General Student Petition with the College of Engineering, at: https://engineering.uic.edu/undergraduate/resources/.
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appointment?
Yes. You can make an appointment with your CS academic advisor. You can also run degree audits for your current curriculum and a ‘what if’ for F23 and compare.
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science electives
Students following the new curriculum will need only 8 hours and have to choose courses listed under the science electives. Courses from the ‘Supplemental Science List’ do not satisfy this requirement.
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what-if audit
You can run a ‘what-if’ now. Be advised that the automatic semester choice is Fall 2023 and depending on whether you will switch to the new curriculum or stay in your old, your requirements change. If you decide to stay in your old curriculum, choose the semester to which you were admitted to the CS major.
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new curriculum
CS department will collect all requests to ‘opt-in to switch to the new curriculum’ until September 30, 2023. On October 2, 2023 we will send the list to the College of Engineering so that you can be switched to the new curriculum. This might take several business days to be effective.
All students who submitted the form will also be notified by the department that they were part of the list submitted to COE. Your audit report will be reflected by October 16th.