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Applying To The Major For Current Students As Of Spring 2022

This document outlines the transitional paths forward for current UNC-CH students intending to study computer science who have yet to complete COMP 210, the first core course in the major program. As many of you have experienced or heard, the chance of registering for the courses you need to begin the COMP major has been unpredictable, based on the registration times the registrar assigns to you. If the status quo were to hold for current students, excess demand will continue to build from students who receive the lowest priority registration time slots over multiple semesters. Ultimately, these students would face being unable to complete the major program in time to graduate, while not learning of this fact until their junior year. Thus, we are immediately transitioning away from the status quo to help all students find assured paths forward, in computer science or otherwise, as early as we possibly can.

Eligibility

 

 

Declared majors who have received credit for COMP 210 (including placement credit or transfer credit) prior to Spring 2022, and students who are currently enrolled in COMP 210 and complete the course with a C or better, are considered admitted to the major. They have an assured path in COMP for as long as they continue to meet the graduation requirements. These students should plan to take COMP 211 and COMP 301 in Fall 2022 if they have not already done so. Students beyond COMP 211 and 301 can continue their program of study as planned.

Declared majors without COMP 210 credit and with four or fewer semesters remaining at Carolina (past Spring 2022) must apply for admission to the major this semester as part of the Spring ’22 Application and show a plan for completion. Accepted students will be expected to take COMP 210 in Fall 2022, and have an assured path in COMP, subject to continuing to meet graduation requirements. The most up-to-date information on the Spring ’22 Application is made available here: Spring ’22 Application Information.

Declared majors without COMP 210 credit with five or more semesters remaining at Carolina (past Spring 2022) will be eligible to register for and take COMP 210 in Fall 2022. They apply for admission to the major toward the end of that semester via the Fall ’22 Application. We will significantly increase capacity in COMP210 in the Fall of 2022, but may not be able to satisfy all demand. Students accepted into the program through this application should expect to take COMP 301 and COMP 211 in Spring 2023, and will have an assured path in COMP, subject to continuing to meet graduation requirements. The most up-to-date information on the Fall ’22 Application is made available here: Fall ’22 Application Information.

Incoming transfer students in Fall 2022 without credit for COMP 210 who meet the COMP 210 prerequisites will be encouraged to register for COMP 210 in Fall 2022 and apply for the major as part of the Fall ’22 Application. Students accepted into the program through this application should expect to take COMP 301 and COMP 211 in Spring 2023, and have an assured path in COMP, subject to continuing to meet graduation requirements.

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Incoming transfer students in Fall 2022 with transfer or placement credit for COMP 210 and currently declared majors who obtain transfer or placement credit for COMP 210 after the start of Spring 2022 are expected to apply for the major as part of the Fall ’22 Application. While these students are eligible to register for COMP 301 and/or COMP 211 in Fall 2022 if space in these courses is available, doing so will not affect the chance of admission to the major (i.e., these students still may be denied entry into the major). Students accepted into the program should expect to take COMP 301 and COMP 211 in Spring 2023, if not taken in Fall 2022, and have an assured path in COMP, subject to continuing to meet graduation requirements.

First year students who started in Fall 2022, and all other current students not identified above, will be eligible to register for COMP 210 in Spring 2023 (space permitting) and apply in our first standard admissions process in Spring 2023. Please see here for the most up-to-date information on this process.

We aim that the use of an admissions process and the immediate implementation of the transition admissions processes will help provide clarity to students about their ability to major in computer science as soon as possible. This process, unfortunately, does not change the number of majors that the department can currently support. Of the students eligible to participate in the Spring ’22 and Fall ’22 Applications, we expect significantly less than half of these students to ultimately be admitted to continue further in the major program. For this reason we strongly encourage students covered by these transition plans to actively begin developing an alternative plan in case admission to the major is not offered.