When you begin as a computer science student at NIU, your major will initially be listed as pre‑computer science. This designation reflects the department’s status as a limited admission program, the only one within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Admission to the formal computer science major is an important milestone. Once admitted, you receive priority registration for CSCI courses each semester and become eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in computer science. Admission decisions are based primarily on your academic performance at NIU, with particular emphasis on grades earned in CSCI coursework.
Pre‑major Meeting Requirement
As a pre‑computer science major, you are required to attend a departmental informational session, commonly referred to as a pre‑major meeting. You are expected to attend one session during your first semester at NIU. Multiple meetings are offered each fall and spring semester to accommodate your schedule.
These sessions provide a detailed overview of the limited admission process and allow the department to learn more about your academic interests, such as intended areas of emphasis and preferred CSCI electives. Your attendance also initiates the development of a personalized academic plan, which outlines the computer science courses you should take each semester and provides a projected timeline for completing the major.
Declaration of the Major
To declare the formal computer science major, you must first meet the admission requirements outlined below.
- Must have attended the pre-major meeting (major only)
- Must have completed at least 30 semester hours of college-level coursework
- Must have attained a minimum 2.500 cumulative GPA at NIU
- Must have attained a minimum C-grade average in CSCI coursework from NIU
- Must have completed (or will complete in the current semester) the following coursework:
- (Major only) MATH 206, MATH 211, MATH 229 and/or STAT 200
- (Minor only) MATH 110: College Algebra or a higher level Math class
View computer science minor course requirements.