Your CRC Certificate in Computer Science education plan

The CRC Certificate in Computer Science contains 6 courses:

CISP 300 => CISP 360 => CISP 400 => CISP 430, CISP 440
                     =>        CISP 310

The arrows show the prerequisite chain. CISP 400 requires a passing grade from CISP 300 and then CISP 360. CISP 310 can be taken any time after passing CISP 360.

If you have any questions about whether other courses can substitute for any of the 6 courses above please email Prof. Chapman.

Where Do You Start?

If you've already passed MATH 400 (Calculus 1) or you scored high enough on the AP Calculus exam then you'll start with CISP 360. In this situation you can request from the CIS Department that CISP 300 is not needed for the certificate. Your request will be granted.

If you scored high enough on the AP Computer Science exam then you'll start with CISP 400. In this situation you can request from the CIS Department that CISP 300 and CISP 360 are not needed for the certificate. Your request will be granted.

If have not already completed Calculus 1 then you'll start with CISP 300.

Create Your Computer Science Education Plan

Let's go through this process with Shuri, a new CRC student. She has not taken calculus and did not take AP Computer Science in high school.

Step 0

Make a grid showing Fall/Spring/Summer semesters.

Fall 1		Spring 1	Summer 1


Fall 2		Spring 2	Summer 2


Fall 3		Spring 3	Summer 3

Step 1

Put the six CISP courses from above into the grid.

Shuri wil start with CISP 300 in Fall 2021. Then her grid looks like:

Fall 1		Spring 1	Summer 1
CISP 300        CISP 360

Fall 2		Spring 2	Summer 2
CISP 400        CISP 430
CISP 310        CISP 440

Notice that the Summer 1 term is empty. CISP 400 and CISP 310 are too complicated for the summer term. Those courses should be taken in Fall or Spring.

Now Shuri has an Education Plan for the CRC Computer Science certificate.

If she's decided to transfer to a university then she'll have another 10 or so courses to put in her Education Plan.

If she is not going to transfer to a university then she has room during the first year for other courses. She can consider other CRC computer courses or perhaps another CRC computer certificate. She can ask Prof. Chapman for advice about this.

Last updated March 14, 2021