B.S. Computer Science | Computer Science
Updated July 6, 2022
This is CSE’s core major, preparing students to contribute to the profound societal changes being brought about by innovations in computing. Courses and research are centered on exciting areas like algorithms, computer architecture, computer vision & graphics, cryptography & security, databases, embedded systems, machine learning (AI), mobile computing, programming languages, software engineering, and systems & networking. Students interested in a hardware emphasis might also consider Computer Engineering (CS25). The CSE program provides three majors in all, with numerous electives, allowing flexibility to explore your academic and career interests.
The lower-division course requirements are designed to provide a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, programming methodology and skills, and computer organization. Upper-division core courses deal with the theory and design of algorithms, hardware, and software. Electives allow students to gain additional breadth and/or depth in computer science and engineering.
UCSD Catalog
Degree Plan Checklist:
- BS Computer Science Checklist (Fall 2022 Curriculum): a checklist of all major requirements for students on the Fall 2022 curriculum
- All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
- BS Computer Science Checklist (Fall 2021 Curriculum): a checklist of all major requirements for students on the Fall 2021 curriculum
- All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
- BS Computer Science Checklist (Fall 2020 Curriculum): a checklist of all major requirements for students on the Fall 2020 curriculum
- All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
- BS Computer Science Checklist (Fall 2019 Curriculum): a checklist of all major requirements for students on the Fall 2019 curriculum
- All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
-
BS Computer Science Checklist (Fall 2017 Curriculum): a checklist of all major requirements for students on the Fall 2017 curriculum
-
All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
-
For CSE majors on an old degree curriculum, if you want to switch to Fall 2017 requirements, please send a request to advising through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) or come in to meet with an advisor
-
Four Year Plans:
-
Academic Planning Worksheet (link to copy a Google Sheet): blank worksheet for students to be able to create a sample long term plan which can be brought to an advising meeting
-
Sample Plans By College: sample long term plan that includes college requirements
-
Sample 4-year Plan (Fall 2022 Curriculum):
Year
Fall
Winter
Spring
First Year
CSE 8A or 11*1
MATH 20A
GE
LDE
CSE 8B*1
MATH 20B
GE
CSE 12 & 15L
CSE 20*2
MATH 20C
Second Year
CSE 21*3
CSE 30
CSE General Science
CSE 100
CSE 105
CSE General Science
CSE 101
CSE 110
MATH 18
Third Year
CSE 140
CSE 140L
CSE 103 (or MATH 183/ECON 120A/ECE 109)
Systems/Networks
CSE 141 or 142*4
CSE 141L or 142L*4
Language/Databases
Learning/Vision/Graphics
CSE Elective
Fourth Year
Security/Cryptography
CSE Elective
CSE Elective (CSE 197)
CSE Elective
CSE Elective
CSE Elective (or Technical Elective)
CSE Elective (or Technical Elective)
*1: Students who do not have programming experience should begin with the two-track course: CSE 8A (take CSE 8B in the second quarter). Students who have programming experience may begin with CSE 11 (take CSE 12 and CSE 15L in the second quarter).
*2: CSE 20 may be substituted with MATH 109. This is a manual update an advisor needs to make. Send a message through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
*3: CSE 21 may be substituted with MATH 154 or MATH 184. This is a manual update an advisor needs to make. Send a message through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
*4: Students must either take CSE 141 + 141L or CSE 142 + 142L.
*Electives: Students are permitted to take any of these pre-approved courses to fulfill their CSE Electives and Technical Electives requirements. Please note that courses on this list may not automatically populate in the correct area of a student’s degree audit. In order to update the audit, please contact the CSE major advisors through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
Major restrictions – The following majors may NOT double major or minor in CSE:
– Any majors that fall under the Jacob’s School of Engineering
– Data Science majors (DS25)
– Math-Computer Science majors (MA30)
Transfer Students:
Transfer students are in a special situation where the credits they come in with vary vastly from one student to another. To assist transfer students with their long term plans for completing major requirements, we have created different long term plans with different entry points depending on the CSE credits students typically come in with. These plans only include CSE major requirements, for questions regarding your college and university requirements please check with your college.
*These plans only focus on CSE coursework. For a list of all CSE Major requirements (including math and general science courses needed), please see the BS Computer Science Checklist above.
- Incoming Computer Science (CS26) majors with transfer credit for CSE 8A and CSE 20, click here for sample long-term plan.
-
Fall Quarter – Year One
Winter Quarter – Year One
Spring Quarter – Year OneCSE 11
CSE 12
CSE 30CSE 21
CSE 15L
CSE 105Technical Elective
CSE Elective
CSE Elective
Technical Elective
Fall Quarter – Year Two
Winter Quarter – Year Two
Spring Quarter – Year TwoCSE 100
CSE 101
CSE 120/123/124CSE 140
CSE 130/CSE 132A
CSE 141 or 142CSE 140L
CSE 110
CSE 141L or 142LCSE 103/MATH 183
CSE Elective
CSE ElectiveFall Quarter – Year Three
CSE 107/127
CSE 150/151/152/158/167
CSE Elective
- Incoming Computer Science (CS26) majors with transfer credit for CSE 11 and CSE 20, click here for sample long-term plan.
-
Fall Quarter – Year One
Winter Quarter – Year One
Spring Quarter – Year OneCSE 12
CSE 30
CSE 100CSE 15L
CSE 105
CSE 140CSE 21
Technical Elective
CSE 140L
CSE ElectiveFall Quarter – Year Two
Winter Quarter – Year Two
Spring Quarter – Year TwoCSE 101
CSE 141 or 142
CSE 107/127CSE 110
CSE 141L or 142L
CSE 150/151/152/158/167CSE 103/MATH 183
CSE 120/123/124
CSE Elective
CSE Elective
Technical ElectiveFall Quarter – Year Three
CSE 130/132A
CSE Elective
CSE Elective
- Incoming Computer Science (CS26) majors with transfer credit for CSE 11, CSE 12 and CSE 20, click here for sample long-term plan.
-
Fall Quarter – Year One
Winter Quarter – Year One
Spring Quarter – Year OneCSE 15L
CSE 100
CSE 101CSE 21
CSE 105
CSE 110CSE 30*
CSE 140
CSE Elective
CSE 140L
Technical ElectiveFall Quarter – Year Two
Winter Quarter – Year Two
Spring Quarter – Year TwoCSE 120/123/124
CSE 130/132A
CSE 107/127CSE 103/MATH 183
CSE 141 or 142
CSE 150/151/152/158/167CSE Elective
CSE 141L or 142L
CSE ElectiveCSE Elective
Technical Elective
CSE Elective - Incoming Computer Science (CS26) majors with transfer credit for CSE 11, CSE 12, CSE 20, and CSE 30, click here for a sample long-term plan.
-
Fall Quarter – Year One
Winter Quarter – Year One
Spring Quarter – Year OneCSE 15L
CSE 100
CSE 101CSE 21
CSE 140
CSE 110Technical Elective
CSE 140L
CSE Elective
CSE 105
Technical ElectiveFall Quarter – Year Two
Winter Quarter – Year Two
Spring Quarter – Year TwoCSE 120/123/124
CSE 141 or 142
CSE 107/127CSE 103/MATH 183
CSE 141L or 142L
CSE ElectiveCSE 130/132A
CSE 150/151/152/158/167
CSE Elective
CSE Elective
CSE Elective
Fall Quarter – Year One
Winter Quarter – Year One
Spring Quarter – Year One
CSE 15L
CSE 100
CSE 101
CSE 21
CSE 140
CSE 110
Technical Elective
CSE 140L
CSE Elective
CSE 105
Technical Elective
Fall Quarter – Year Two
Winter Quarter – Year Two
Spring Quarter – Year Two
CSE 120/123/124
CSE 141
CSE 107/127
CSE 103/MATH 183
CSE 141L
CSE Elective
CSE 130/132A
CSE 150/151/152/158/167
CSE Elective
CSE Elective
CSE Elective