BA in Computer Science Degree Requirements

students sitting in auditorium

The Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences offers an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Computer Science. The program began in Fall 2010.

The BA degree gives students the chance to study computer science with more room to pursue interdisciplinary interests through a four-course outside concentration, which is why this degree is particularly appropriate for students who are interested in combining Computer Science with another discipline as a double major. 

Students interested in joining a CS major should submit an application. If you have questions after reviewing the process, please contact the appropriate list on our Who to Contact page. 

If you are currently a CS major and want to switch between BS and BA, talk with your advisor and fill out a program change form. Finally, students completing the Computer Science BA (or BS) and a Math major or minor will find some helpful advice here.

BA Requirements

Requirements for Students Starting Fall 2023 and Later

 In Spring 2023, the Faculty Senate approved a revision to the BA in Computer Science that will be effective starting September 2023. These requirements apply to students who start in the CS BA in September 2023 and later (or until the program is revised again).

Requirements for Students Starting Spring 2023 and Earlier

In Spring 2023, the Faculty Senate approved a revision to the BA in Computer Science that will be effective starting September 2023. Students who started the BA in Spring 2023 and earlier follow the requirements listed below. Note that the 2023 revision updated the CICS introductory course sequence. The old introductory courses COMPSCI 121, 186, and 187 are no longer being offered as of fall 2023. For more information, including the details of grade replacement, see CS Introductory Course Revision.

The tracking forms are informal descriptions of the programs, for guidance only, and they do not define official policy. See Academic Requirements Report (ARR) on SPIRE.

When Does a Course Count for the CS Major?

A computer science major may not use any course taken on a pass/fail basis to fulfill the computer science program requirements (including mathematics, lab science, and computer science introductory, core, and upper-level elective courses). Students must maintain an average grade of at least C (2.0) in all courses used to satisfy the major degree requirement (see major GPA on the ARR). While courses with grades of C-, D+, or D may be counted toward the degree, students normally repeat these courses so that the new grade will replace the old in their GPA calculation (see Academic Regulations for rules about repeating courses). A grade below C will normally not suffice as a prerequisite for a later course. For example, enrolling in COMPSCI 220 requires a grade of "C or better" in COMPSCI 187.

What is an Approved CS Elective?

Any regularly numbered COMPSCI course at the 300-level or above may be used as an elective, excluding CICS 305 (formerly COMPSCI 305), or if it is specifically barred as an elective in its course description.

The following require ARR Fixes which may be updated closer to graduation:

  • Experimental courses (x90), seminar courses (x91-x95), and special topics (x97) may only be used as CS electives at the 300- or 400-level, depending on the level if specifically stated in the course description.  *Only 3 credits of a CS Capstone course (499T/P) can be used as a CS elective 400+ (see NOTE). ONLY email upd [at] cs [dot] umass [dot] edu (upd[at]cs[dot]umass[dot]edu) if you want to EXCLUDE one of these courses.
  • Independent studies (x96) at the 300-level (or above) are reviewed for CS elective credit via the independent study approval process during registration. Of UPD-approved major requirements, *only 3 credits of independent study can be used as a CS elective (see NOTE).  ONLY email upd [at] cs [dot] umass [dot] edu (upd[at]cs[dot]umass[dot]edu )if you want to EXCLUDE.

*NOTE: Only 3 credits of either COMPSCI 499P/T or COMPSCI 396/496/596 may be used toward CS Major requirements.

'Saving' a Course for a Graduate Program

CS Majors sometimes 'save' CS 500-level+ courses to use for a graduate program.  Courses saved must not be used for any requirements for the undergraduate degree (gen ed, college, major, minor, honors, including counting toward the 120 credits; 150 for a dual degree).  If you would like to 'save' a CS500-level+ course for a graduate program, then email upd [at] cs [dot] umass [dot] edu (upd[at]cs[dot]umass[dot]edu) and tell us your plan.

The only thing that may change if you 'save' a course is your CS Major GPA and this is only seen on the ARR.  All courses will still show on your transcript and count toward your overall GPA. Saving a course is an option to transfer a course to a graduate program if that program will accept the course. Some students think that the CS Major GPA is more important and choose not to 'save'. The CS Major GPA only includes courses counting toward the major requirements, so any courses either 'saved' or not used are excluded.  Changes are not allowed after students are cleared for graduation..