Frequently Asked Questions About Undergraduate Concentrations
1. Is it possible to place out of CSCI0150/0160 or CSCI0170/0180?See http://www.cs.brown.edu/ugrad/concentrations/ap.credit.html.
2. May I use COGS1020 as an AI course for the ScB?
No. You must take a CS AI course, such as CSCI1410.
3. How may I place out of the Math prerequisites?
You must either have AP credit that places you out of MATH0090 and MATH0100, or you must pass a higher-level Math course that requires and uses a knowledge of calculus at least as advanced as that taught in MATH0090 and MATH0100. Any of (and only) the following courses may be used for this purpose:
MATH0180, MATH0190, MATH0200, MATH0350, MATH1010, MATH1130, MATH1140, MATH1260
APMA0330, APMA0340, APMA1180, APMA1260, APMA1330, APMA1340
4. If I take a Math or Applied Math course from the above list to satisfy the Math prerequisites, may I also use this course as one of the Math or Applied Math courses beyond MATH0100/0170 that I'm required to take for the ScB?
Yes
5. I passed the AP exam, placing me out of MATH0090 and MATH0100. However, the results of the exam do not appear in my transcript. Will I still be allowed to graduate?
No. For AP credit to count, it must appear on your transcript. Please obtain the appropriate form from the registrar. However, see the answer to question 6.
6. I understand that the Sc.B. requires an approved two-course sequence in some science. What are the approved two-course sequences?
In general, we want a two-course sequence such that one of the two is a prerequisite for the other. In particular, the following two-course sequences are allowed: Biology: BIOL0200 along with one of BIOL0190, any other Biology course for which BIOL0200 is a prerequisite, or NEUR (Neuroscience) 0010. Chemistry: CHEM0330 followed by CHEM0350 (note that CHEM0100 may not be used to satisfy part of a science sequence. However, if it was approved prior to September 2005, and thus is on your concentration contract, it will be allowed). Engineering: ENGN0030 followed by ENGN0040. Geological Sciences: GEOL0220 followed by GEOL0230, GEOL0240, or GEOL1450. Physics: PHYS0050 followed by PHYS0060, or PHYS0070 followed by PHYS0080 (PHYS0030 followed by PHYS0040 is discouraged, but permitted).
7. Is it possible to place out of the Sc.B.'s science requirement?
Yes. If one of the science departments gives you credit for one of the sequences listed above and (this is very important!) this appears in your transcript and your concentration contract, we will consider you to have completed your science requirement.
8. What if I already have a signed concentration contract that has a two-course science sequence that's not one of those listed above?
We will honor your signed contract. (It is a contract, after all.)
9. The Sc.B requirements state that I must complete "ENGN1640 or some other 1000-level engineering course in digital logic design, communications, or VLSI". Which courses are allowed?
Currently the only course other than ENGN1640 that satisfies this requirement yet does not have other Engineering prerequisites is ENGN1630. If you've somehow managed to complete ENGN1580 or ENGN1600, we'll accept them as well.
10. The Sc.B. requirements state that I must complete seven 1000-level courses. Areas are given for five of these courses. Allowing for overlap, that means that I must take two or three additional approved 1000-level courses in "Computer Science, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Psychology, Economics, Music, Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, and other departments that cover material relevant to the student's concentration and that are not duplicates of CS courses." Is there a list of approved courses?
Yes. The following courses are definitely acceptable. Other courses might be acceptable, depending on your program: check with your concentration advisor, who will consult with the director of undergraduate studies.
Acceptable courses:
CS: All 1000-level and 2000-level courses, as well as CSCI0920.
Applied Math: APMA1170, APMA1200, APMA1210, APMA1360, APMA1650, APMA1660, APMA1670, and APMA01710.
Cognitive Science: COGS1020, COGS1360 (cross-listed as CSCI1460).
Economics: ECON1110, ECON1160, ECON1620, ECON1630, ECON1640, ECON1870.
Engineering: ENGN0520, ENGN1570, ENGN1580, ENGN1600, ENGN1630, ENGN1640, ENGN1660.
Math: any course beyond first-year Calculus except for MATH0420.
Music: MUSC1210.
Neuroscience (BN): NEUR1020, NEUR1030, NEUR1040, NEUR1650, NEUR1670, NEUR1680.
11. How do questions get added to the FAQ?
Either the director of undergraduate studies (currently Tom Doeppner) makes them up out of thin air, or people ask him things sufficiently often that he decides to do something about them. Feel free to email him your questions.
12. In general, may the various sections of CSCS1950 be used to satisfy concentration requirements?
In general, the answer is yes. Which requirements they satisfy depends on the section in question, but usually it's pretty obvious. Please contact the instructor or the director of undergraduate studies (Prof. Doeppner) to find out for sure. (And make sure you add such courses to your signed concentration contract as soon as possible, just in case he changes his mind.)
13. Both APMA1710 (Information Theory) and MATH1580 (Cryptography) seem to be related to CS theory. May they be used as CS theory courses for the CS concentration requirements?
Though the names sound suggestive, they aren't CS theory courses. Thus they may not be used to satisfy concentration requirements for a CS theory course. However, both courses may be used as 1000-level courses in CS or related areas for the ScB.
14. I've taken MATH0200, but the Applied-Math/CS ScB requires MATH0180. May I use the former in place of the latter?
Yes.
15. May the writing requirement be satisfied by a course in which I write in some language other than English?
Yes. The intent of the writing requirement is for you to get practice in expressing yourself in written form in a natural language. This may be done in any natural language (including dead ones), as long as your work is deemed acceptable by a member of the Brown faculty who is qualified to judge the language in question.
16. For the Math/CS ScB, MATH0520 or MATH0540 is listed as a prerequisite for the concentration. I already know linear algebra; must I take one of these courses?
No. Instead, as one of your 1000-level Math courses, you must take a course that demonstrates your knowledge of linear algebra. Either MATH1530 or MATH1540 may be used for this.
17. I have a signed concentration contract based on older concentration requirements. Is it still valid with the most recent concentration requirements?
Yes it is: we will honor any concentration contract that is no more than three years old.
18. I've taken PHYS1720, which covers a lot of linear algebra. Must I still take MATH0520 to satisfy the requirements for the CS ScB?
No. PHYS1720 may be used as a substitute for MATH0520 for the CS ScB.
19. I haven't taken CSCI 320, but I did take CS 36. Do I need to take CSCI 320 to satisfy concentration requirements? May I use CS 36 in place of CSCI 320 for courses that require the latter as a prerequisite?
Though we encourage students, particularly those with strong interests in software, to take CSCI 320 in addition to CS 36, CS 36 is a valid substitute for CSCI 320 both for concentration requirements and for course prerequisites. However, note that Banner doesn't necessarily know this and thus you may have to have the instructor give you an explicit override to let you into a course for which CSCI 320 is a prerequisite.
| Page Owner: Kathy Kirman | Last Modified: Fri Jan 4 11:52:02 2008 |