Program Description

Computer science is the study of the theoretical and practical aspects of computer technology and computer usage. The Computer Science Department offers courses on a wide range of topics, many of which include a mathematical component, and offers both the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees, as well as the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees. Besides offering instructional courses, the department engages in a substantial research program in which both advanced undergraduates and graduate students participate.

The bachelor of arts program at UC Santa Cruz is designed to give students a solid grounding in both theoretical and practical topics in computer science, computer engineering, and mathematics while leaving flexibility for a broad program of study, including many courses outside of the sciences, or even for a double major in another discipline. The bachelor of science program is appropriate for students desiring a somewhat stronger concentration in the sciences, with more courses in computer science and computer engineering, as well as courses in physics or chemistry; this program also allows for electives outside of the sciences. Because many courses in both programs have prerequisites, students leaning toward either program will enjoy greater scheduling flexibility if they begin some preparatory courses in their first year. The specific course requirements for each undergraduate degree are given below.

Applications of computer science are found in many other areas of study, from art and music to business and science. Thus, interdisciplinary activities are encouraged. For those students whose primary interest is in another area, a minor in computer science is offered.

Courses for Nonmajors

The Computer Science Department offers a wide range of courses intended for nonmajors as well as majors. These include course 2, Computer Literacy; course 10, Introduction to Computer Science; course 80B, Systems and Simulation; and course 80C, Computer Arts and Graphics. Course 10, Introduction to Computer Science, may be beneficial to students who are considering the major but have a limited background in computer science. There are also introductory programming classes intended for nonmajors: courses 60G and 60N, Beginning Programming.

Computer Science Policies

Admissions Policy

Admission to the computer science majors is selective. First-year applicants may receive direct admission at the time they apply to UCSC based on their high school record and test scores. Admission to the major after a student has entered UCSC is based on performance in the foundation courses: courses 12A and 12B (or 13H); Computer Engineering 16 or 16H; and Mathematics 19A-B. Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for the full admissions policy.

Disqualification and Satisfactory Progress in the Major

Students who do not make adequate progress in the computer science major may be disqualified from the major. Adequate progress normally means passing a minimum of three courses required for the major over every three consecutive quarters. (For part-time students, 15 credits attempted equals one full term.) Students who do not expect to meet this requirement should consult their faculty adviser and/or the undergraduate director for their major beforehand.

Students who receive a total of three grades of D, F, or No Pass in the key courses, Computer Science 12A, 12B, 13H, 101; Computer Engineering 12C, 16, and 16H may, at the discretion of the department, be disqualified from the major.

The department may, at its sole discretion, disqualify from the major any student making two unsuccessful attempts in any one of the following principle courses commonly used to satisfy degree requirements:

• Computer Science 12A, 12B, 13H, 101, 102, 104A, 104B, 111, 112, 115, 116, 130, 132, 160, and 161;
• Computer Engineering 12C, 16, 16H, 100, 107, and 110;
• Engineering 27, 131, and 147;
• Physics 5A, 5B, 5C, 6A, 6B, and 6C;
• Chemistry 1B, 1C, 4A, and 4C;
• Mathematics 19A-B and 23A.

Each grade of D, F, or No Pass counts as one unsuccessful attempt; each grade of W counts as one-half of an unsuccessful attempt.

The School of Engineering section contains additional disqualification policies, such as maintaining a 2.0 GPA in the major and the ethics requirement, that apply to computer science majors.

Students at risk of disqualification must meet with the undergraduate director to discuss their options for continuing in the major.

Letter Grade Policy

Effective fall 2001, the Computer Science Department requires letter grading for all courses applied toward the B.A., B.S., and minor in computer science with the exception of two lower-division courses which students may elect to take Pass/No Pass. This policy includes courses required for the computer science majors but sponsored by other departments.

Transfer Students

Most courses in the computer science program at UCSC have a strong theoretical component to prepare the student for designing, as opposed to simply using, computer systems. Often, courses taken at other institutions which emphasize applications of current languages and computers do not count toward the computer science major at UCSC.

At UCSC, students are first introduced to programming using the programming language Java. The core programming sequence, courses 12A and 12B, exposes students to both Java and C. Many upper-division courses that involve programming use the C programming language. Transfer students who are not familiar with both Java and C may need to take a remedial course. Students familiar with C++ only should find the transition to Java and C relatively simple.

Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for the policy regarding transfer students.

School of Engineering Policies

Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for additional policies that apply to all School of Engineering programs. These policies include admission to the major, limits on the number of times courses can be attempted, and the need for computer science students to obtain preapproval before taking courses elsewhere.

Preparation for the Major

It is recommended that high school students intending to apply to the computer science major have completed four years of mathematics (through advanced algebra and trigonometry) and three years of science in high school. Comparable college mathematics and science courses completed at other institutions also serve to properly prepare a student for the computer science major.

B.A. Major Requirements

The aim of this program is to expose students to a rigorous curriculum in computer science while maintaining sufficient flexibility so that students can take courses outside computer science, pursue a minor in another discipline, or complete a double major. Every student must complete a minimum of 17 courses, eight lower-division and nine upper-division. Out of these, the eight lower-division courses and the first upper-division course are required preparatory courses for every student. Once these preparatory courses are completed, students tailor their own program by choosing eight additional upper-division elective courses. To provide an adequate balance in subject matter, these additional courses must be divided between those that emphasize the theoretical aspects of the field and those that have a more practical focus. To provide a depth of study in one aspect of computer science, three of the eight courses must be chosen from an approved depth sequence.

Lower-Division Requirements

Each student must successfully complete the following nine required preparatory courses:

Computer Science

12A, Introduction to Programming
12B, Introduction to Data Structures
101, Abstract Data Types

Computer Engineering

12C/L, Computer Organization /Laboratory
16, Applied Discrete Mathematics; or
16H, Honors Applied Discrete Mathematics

Mathematics

19A-B, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
(Credit for one or both may be granted with adequate performance on the CEEB calculus AB or BC Advanced Placement exam.)
23A, Multivariable Calculus

Engineering

27, Mathematical Methods for Engineers (formerly Mathematics 27); or
Mathematics 21, Linear Algebra; and
24, Ordinary Differential Equations

Upper-Division Requirements

In addition to the above nine required courses, students must complete eight upper-division electives. Seven of these courses must be chosen from the theory and practice lists as follows:

• a minimum of three courses from the theory course list and a minimum of three courses from the practice course list;
• in addition, the seven courses chosen from the theory and practice course lists must include all of the courses of one of the depth sequences listed below;
• the eighth upper-division elective must be selected from any upper-division (5-credit) School of Engineering course;
• at least 50 percent of these upper-division courses must be completed at UCSC.

Theory Course List

A double dagger (‡) indicates a course that prepares students for the senior comprehensive examination. (See Comprehensive Requirement below.)

Computer Science

102, Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms ‡
130, Computational Models ‡
132, Computability and Computational Complexity ‡

Computer Engineering

107, Mathematical Methods of Systems Analysis: Stochastic
108, Data Compression
154, Data Communications
177, Applied Graph Theory and Algorithms

Electrical Engineering

103, Signals and Systems
153, Digital Signal Processing (formerly Computer Engineering 153)

Engineering

131, Introduction to Probability Theory (formerly Mathematics 131A)‡
146, Discrete Dynamical Systems
147, Computational Methods and Applications
156, Linear Statistical Models

Mathematics

115, Graph Theory
117, Advanced Linear Algebra
126, Mathematical Control Theory
146, Linear Programming
148, Numerical Analysis

Practice Course List

Computer Science

104A, Fundamentals of Compiler Design I ‡
104B, Fundamentals of Compiler Design II ‡
105, Systems Programming
109, Advanced Programming
111, Introduction to Operating Systems ‡
112, Comparative Programming Languages ‡
115, Software Methodology ‡
116, Software Design Projects
122, Computer Security
129, Data Storage Systems
140, Artificial Intelligence ‡
160, Introduction to Computer Graphics ‡
161, Visualization and Computer Animation
180, Database Systems ‡
190X, Methods of Cryptography
204, Compiler Design

Computer Engineering

100/L, Logic Design/Laboratory
110, Computer Architecture ‡
113, Parallel and Concurrent Programming
117/L, Embedded Software Laboratory
121/L, Microprocessor System Design/Laboratory
123A, Computer Engineering Design Project I
123B, Computer Engineering Design Project II
125/L, Logic Design with Verilog/Laboratory
126/L, Advanced Logic Design/Laboratory
150, Introduction to Computer Networks
152, Analysis and Design of Communication Protocols
154, Data Communications
155, Computer Networks Project
163/L, Multimedia Processing and Applications/ Laboratory

Electrical Engineering

130, Introduction to Optoelectronics and Photonics

Depth Sequence List

• Compilers and language theory: Computer Science 104A, 112, and 130 or 104B
• Operating systems and hardware: Computer Engineering 100/L, Computer Science 111, and Computer Engineering 110 or 121/L
• Theory: Computer Science 102, 130, and 132
• Software methodology: Computer Science 115 and two of the following: 104A, 112, and 116.
• Graphics: Computer Science 160, 161, and Engineering 147

B.S. Major Requirements

This program is designed for students who wish to maximize exposure to computer science concepts and methods by taking a larger selection of upper-division computer science courses, as well as additional courses in the sciences and mathematics. A minimum of 22 courses must be completed for the B.S. in computer science degree, whereas a minimum of 17 courses must be completed for the B.A. in computer science degree. Out of the 22 courses, 10 are lower-division courses (including two sciences courses), and 12 are upper-division courses. The B.S. is more structured than the B.A. in the sense that 18 specific courses are required, and the remaining four are elective upper-division computer science or computer engineering courses.

Lower- and Upper-Division Requirements

Students are required to take the following 18 courses. A double dagger (‡) indicates a course that prepares students for the senior comprehensive examination (see Comprehensive Requirement below).

Computer Science

12A, Introduction to Programming
12B, Introduction to Data Structures
101, Abstract Data Types ‡
102, Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms ‡
104A, Fundamentals of Compiler Design I ‡
111, Introduction to Operating Systems ‡
112, Comparative Programming Languages ‡
130, Computational Models ‡

Computer Engineering

12C/L, Computer Organization/Laboratory
16, Applied Discrete Mathematics; or
16H, Honors Applied Discrete Mathematics
107, Mathematical Methods of Systems Analysis: Stochastic; or
Engineering 131, Introduction to Probability Theory ‡ (formerly Mathematics 131A)
110, Computer Architecture ‡

Mathematics

19A-B, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
23A, Multivariable Calculus

Engineering

27/L, Mathematical Methods for Engineers/ Laboratory (formerly Mathematics 27); or Mathematics 21, Linear Algebra; and 24, Ordinary Differential Equations

Physics or Chemistry

Either two physics or two chemistry courses, with their associated laboratories, from the following: Physics 5A/L, Introduction to Physics I/Laboratory (or 6A/L)
Physics 5B/M, Introduction to Physics II/Laboratory (or 6B/M)
Physics 5C/N, Introduction to Physics III/Laboratory (or 6C/N)
Chemistry 1B/M, General Chemistry/Laboratory
Chemistry 1C/N, General Chemistry/Laboratory
Chemistry 4A/L, General Chemistry with Quantitative Analysis/Laboratory
Chemistry 4B/M, General Chemistry with Quantitative Analysis/Laboratory

The remaining four courses must be upper-division computer science or computer engineering electives selected from the theory and practice course lists (see B.A. Major Requirements reference above). One of these courses may be replaced by an upper-division mathematics course from the theory course list.

Comprehensive Requirement

In addition to the above B.A. or B.S. requirements, students in the computer science majors must satisfy one of the following three exit requirements: pass the department’s senior comprehensive examination, successfully complete a senior thesis, or obtain a scaled score of 600 or above on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Advanced Computer Science Subject Test.

The senior comprehensive exam is offered once a year during spring quarter. It is designed to be passed by a student who has a good grasp of the material covered in course 101, Abstract Data Types, and at least five of the courses marked with a double dagger (‡) in the listings above. Students who take mathematics or computer engineering courses for their theory and practice requirements, or who substitute a course not listed in the catalog, are advised that the senior comprehensive exam includes only material covered in course 101 and courses marked with a double dagger (‡) in the listings above.

A student is allowed to take the comprehensive examination a maximum of two times; if the examination is taken twice, the second score will be the official score appearing on the student’s record. However, if a student fails the exam on two attempts, he or she may still take the GRE Advanced Computer Science Subject Test and achieve a scaled score of 600 or above to satisfy this requirement.

The senior thesis consists of a self-contained project within the broad scope of computer science, but one that is not available in the regular course offerings. A student wishing to complete a senior thesis must successfully complete a minimum of 5 credits in course 195, Senior Thesis Research; submit a written thesis proposal; and have it accepted by a faculty supervisor. The supervision of a senior thesis student is always at the discretion of the faculty member. For example, an instructor often requires a student to successfully pass the comprehensive examination before agreeing to the supervision of a senior thesis. A written report and an oral presentation to a faculty examining committee are required.

Students who elect to use the GRE Advanced Computer Science Subject Test in place of the senior comprehensive exam must arrange to take the GRE test and have scores submitted to the department before graduation deadlines. Contact the UCSC Career Center for GRE information and application forms.

Computer Science Major Planners

The following are four sample academic plans for first-year students as preparation for the computer science major. Plans One A and Two A are suggested guidelines for students who are committed to the major early in their academic career. Plans One B and Two B are for students who are considering the major. Students who plan carefully can still have several openings free to take other breadth courses they find interesting.

Minor Requirements

Courses required for the computer science minor are Mathematics 19A-B and 23A; Engineering 27/L (formerly Mathematics 27); courses 12A, 12B, and 101; Computer Engineering 12C/L and 16 or 16H; and four additional upper-division computer science courses from a list of approved courses (see the department’s checklist for the computer science minor). In selecting the four upper-division courses, students may elect to focus on one subdiscipline of computer science by completing a depth sequence as shown on the computer science minor checklist. Upper-division computer engineering and mathematics courses that generally apply toward the computer science major may not be applied toward the computer science minor. In addition, some upper-division computer science courses may not be applied toward the computer science minor. There is no comprehensive examination or senior thesis requirement for the minor.

Graduate Programs

Program Description

The Computer Science Department at UCSC offers both a master’s program and a doctoral program. The goal of these programs is to help students develop into independent scholars who are prepared for productive careers in research, teaching, and industry. The master’s degree may be used as a terminal degree or as the first step toward the Ph.D. degree. The student-faculty ratio is five to one, making it possible for students to receive individual attention and to pursue programs that fit their individual needs. The intellectual atmosphere is enriched by regular colloquia and seminars presented by eminent contributors to the field, many of whom are associated with other major universities and industrial research centers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Computer Science Department enjoys a close relationship with the Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering Departments and the new applied mathematics and statistics graduate program currently in development.

Most computer science graduate students are hired as teaching assistants helping with undergraduate courses, hired as research assistants working for computer science and other School of Engineering faculty, or awarded fellowships to pursue their research.

Additional information on the computer science graduate programs can be found on the department’s web pages at http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/.

Requirements for the Master’s Degree: Project Track

Course Requirements

Each student is required to take 50 credits as follows:

Computer Science

• 200, Research and Teaching in Computer Science and Engineering, 3 credits;
• 201, Analysis of Algorithms, 5 credits;
• 203, Programming Languages, 5 credits;
• 296, Master’s Project, 2 credits;
• Computer Engineering 202, Computer Architecture, 5 credits;
• one course each from three different breadth categories for a total of three courses (15 credits). See http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/cs/graduate;
• all remaining credits must be graduate elective courses from the list of approved graduate courses. See http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/cs/graduate;
• two upper-division undergraduate computer science courses (other than course 101) or a graduate course (not seminar) in related disciplines outside the list of approved graduate courses may be substituted for one graduate course, when necessary to strengthen a student’s preparation for graduate studies, with prior approval from the adviser and the graduate director.

Project
Completion of a master’s project is required for the master’s degree. In consultation with the adviser, the student forms a master’s project reading committee of at least two faculty members, each of whom is provided a copy of the project report. The final project must be accepted by the review committee before the award of the master of science degree.

Requirements for the Master’s Degree: Thesis Track

Course Requirements
Each student is required to take 48 credits as follows:

Computer Science

• 200, Research and Teaching in Computer Science and Engineering, 3 credits;
• 201, Analysis of Algorithms, 5 credits;
• 203, Programming Languages, 5 credits;
• Computer Engineering 202, Computer Architecture, 5 credits;
• one course each from three different breadth categories for a total of 3 courses (15 credits). See http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/cs/graduate;
• up to 10 credits of course 297, Independent Study or Research; or course 299, Thesis Research;
• all remaining credits must be graduate elective courses from the list of approved graduate courses. See http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/cs/graduate;
• two upper-division undergraduate computer science courses (other than course 101) or a graduate course (not seminar) in related disciplines outside the list of approved graduate courses may be substituted for one graduate course, when necessary to strengthen a student’s preparation for graduate studies, with prior approval from the adviser and the graduate director.

Thesis
Completion of a master’s thesis is required for the master’s degree. To fulfill this requirement, the student submits a written proposal to a faculty member, usually by the third academic quarter. By accepting the proposal, the faculty member becomes the thesis adviser. In consultation with the adviser, the student forms a master’s thesis reading committee with at least two additional faculty members, each of whom is provided a copy of the proposal. The student presents an expository talk on the thesis research, and the final thesis must be accepted by the review committee before the award of the master of science degree.

Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

Course Requirements
Each student is required to take 58 credits as follows:

Computer Science

• 200, Research and Teaching in Computer Science and Engineering, 3 credits;
• 201, Analysis of Algorithms, 5 credits;
• 203, Programming Languages, 5 credits;
• Computer Engineering 202, Computer Architecture, 5 credits;
• one course each from three different breadth categories for a total of 3 courses (15 credits). See http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/cs/graduate;
• up to 10 credits of course 297, Independent Study or Research; or course 299, Thesis Research;
• all remaining credits must be graduate elective courses from the list of approved graduate courses. See http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/cs/graduate;
• graduate courses (not seminars) in related disciplines outside the list of approved graduate courses may be substituted, when necessary to strengthen a student’s preparation for graduate studies, with prior approval from the adviser and the graduate director. Course selection should form a coherent plan of study and requires adviser approval. Undergraduate courses may not be used to satisfy Ph.D. course requirements;
• each student is required to complete at least one quarter of teaching assistantship. This requirement can be met after advancement to candidacy. Certain exceptions may be permitted for those with extensive prior teaching experience or those who are not allowed to be employed due to visa regulations.

Ph.D. students who have satisfied the requirements for the master’s degree are eligible to receive a master’s degree.

Dissertation

Each student writes a Ph.D. dissertation. The dissertation must show the results of in-depth research, be an original contribution of significant knowledge, and include material worthy of publication. As the first step, a student submits a written dissertation proposal to a School of Engineering faculty member. By accepting the proposal, the faculty member becomes the dissertation supervisor. The dissertation proposal is publicly and formally presented in an oral qualifying examination given by a qualifying exam committee, approved by the graduate committee and the Graduate Council. The student must submit his or her written dissertation proposal to all members of the committee and the graduate assistant one month in advance of the examination.

Students are advanced to candidacy after they have completed the course requirements, passed the qualifying examination, cleared all Incompletes from their records, have an appointed dissertation reading committee, and paid the filing fee. Students who have not advanced to candidacy by the end of their fourth year will be placed on academic probation.

Each Ph.D. candidate submits the completed dissertation to a reading committee at least one month prior to the dissertation defense. The appointment of the dissertation reading committee is made immediately after the qualifying exam and is necessary for advancing to candidacy. The candidate presents his or her research results in a public seminar sponsored by the dissertation supervisor. The seminar is followed by a defense of the dissertation to the reading committee and attending faculty, who will then decide whether the dissertation is acceptable or requires revision. Successful completion of the dissertation fulfills the final academic requirement for the Ph.D. degree.

Transfer Credit

Up to three School of Engineering courses fulfilling the degree requirements of either the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees may be taken before beginning the graduate program through the concurrent enrollment program.

Ph.D. students who have previously earned a master’s degree in a related field at another institution may substitute courses from their previous university with approval of the adviser and the graduate committee.

Courses from other institutions may not be applied to the M.S. degree course requirements.

Petitions should be submitted along with the transcript from the other institution or UCSC extension. For courses taken at other institutions, copies of the syllabi, exams, and other course work should accompany the petition. Such petitions are not considered until the completion of at least one quarter at UCSC.

At most, a total of three courses may be transferred from concurrent enrollment and other institutions.

Review of Progress
Each year, the faculty reviews the progress of every student. Students not making adequate progress towards completion of degree requirements are subject to dismissal from the program. See http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/cs/graduate/CSCurrentReq.html for more information on this policy.