Course Advising

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Course Planning

There are many options for completing your degree in computer science, depending on your interests and previous background. What courses you can actually take will be affected primarily by what courses you may have already taken and by what courses are being offered in a given semester, both within your major and across departments. In any case, remember the importance of completing prerequisites first!


Here are some sample tracks that can be used as a guide in planning your curriculum:

Suggested Course Sequences

Track A: For incoming freshmen without credit for pre-calculus on their transcripts
Sem. 1 Sem. 2 Sem. 3 Sem. 4 Sem. 5 Sem. 6 Sem. 7 Sem. 8
CSCI 12700 CSCI 13500 CSCI 16000 CSCI 26000 CSCI 26500 CSCI 34000 CSCI 49900 CS Elective
MATH 12550 CSCI 15000 CSCI 23500 CSCI 33500 STAT 21300 CS Elective CS Elective
MATH 15000 MATH 15500 MATH 16000 CS Elective
Track B: For students with transfer credit for CSCI 13500, 15000, 16000 and MATH 15000 and 15500
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4
CSCI 23500 CSCI 26500 CSCI 34000 CSCI 49900
CSCI 26000 CSCI 33500 CS Elective CS Elective
MATH 16000 STAT 21300 CS Elective CS Elective

The computer science department has expanded offerings in AI and machine learning for upper division students. The courses range from introductory data science to core courses in machine learning and artificial intelligence to senior-level special topics courses in natural language processing and deep learning. The courses build on the foundations of coding proficiency and facility with statistical methods, linear algebra (also called matrix algebra), and calculus. For the more advanced courses, as well as AI/ML internships and research opportunities, Calculus III is often a necessity, even though it is not required for the computer science major. To be ready for the courses and competitive for local and national opportunities, the following course plans are suggested for the first two years of undergraduate study. Every prospective major is strongly encouraged to take math AND programming every semester right away.

The guidelines below include summer study between first and second years. Apply early for summer funding for Hunter College courses.

For incoming freshmen with strong mathematics preparation from high school
Semester 1 Semester 2 Summer & Sem. 3 Semester 4
CSCI 12700 CSCI 13500 CSCI 23500 CSCI 16000
MATH 15500 CSCI 15000 MATH 25000 CSCI 33500
STAT 21300 MATH 16000
For incoming freshmen with strong mathematics preparation and who know Python
Semester 1 Semester 2 Summer & Sem. 3 Semester 4
CSCI 13500 CSCI 15000 CSCI 33500 CSCI 16000
MATH 15500 CSCI 23500 STAT 21300 MATH 25000
MATH 16000
For incoming Freshmen without calculus knowledge
Semester 1 Semester 2 Summer & Sem. 3 Semester 4
CSCI 12700 CSCI 13500 CSCI 23500 CSCI 33500
MATH 12500 CSCI 15000 MATH 15500 MATH 16000
MATH 15000 STAT 21300 CSCI 16000

Registration Override Request

The following only applies to CSCI courses.

Just like writing code, you will need to TRY to “run the program” first when registering for courses. First, add the courses you want and try to enroll. If there are issues, try “debugging” them, so to speak. Look at the error message generated and try to figure out what you need to do. If that doesn’t help, then continue with the instructions below.

NOTE: The online section of Web Dev is NOT accepting overtally requests at this moment.

Please follow these steps for Spring 2025 registration override requests for requisite issues. This is NOT the form to fill out if you want to repeat a course. You can find the relevant course information here: https://globalsearch.cuny.edu/

  1. Contact the appropriate faculty member who is teaching the course for an override request. Faculty emails can be found on our Faculty and Staff page. If there is no faculty member listed, please email kn963@hunter.cuny.edu.
  2. After you have permission from the appropriate faculty member, fill out the SP25 Registration Override Requests and attach the proof of permission from the appropriate faculty member (example: faculty member’s email response saying yes. Please print the email with all the headers included as PDF and attach it to the form).
    DO NOT SUBMIT THIS FORM WITHOUT ATTACHING PROOF OF PERMISSION(S), except:

    • If there is no faculty member listed;
    • If you retook a pre-req and CUNYfirst does not recognize it (please attach a screenshot of the new grade/registration on your unofficial transcript as proof);
    • If you are taking classes at Hunter on an E-Permit;
    • If you are waiting to take a math placement exam.

If you have not received an update 3 days after submitting the form, please email Ko Naing at kn963@hunter.cuny.edu with your inquiry.

If you have exceeded the unit limit for the semester (trying to register for more than 17 credits), please contact your Hunter (not CSCI) academic advisor and they will be able to fix it for you. You can find their information on Hunter Navigate.

If you want to retake a course for a better grade (D or higher ONLY, F/NC should be able to re-register), please fill out the Course Repeat Form. If you are trying to repeat a course with a lab/recitation component, please fill in the open lab/recitation section with available seats you want to be in, not the main lecture. You can put in the main lecture for the previously attempted course.

If you are currently enrolled in the course you want to retake next semester, there is nothing the department can do about it. Either drop the course or wait for the end of the semester.

If you are having registration issues not related to class requisites, please send an email to Ko at kn963@hunter.cuny.edu and include your full name, EMPLID, class and section you want to register for, and a brief explanation of the issue. If you have not received notification 3 days after submitting the form, please send an email again.

Course Repeat Request

The following only applies to CSCI courses.

To repeat a course for a better grade (D or higher ONLY), please fill out the Course Repeat Form.

If you received an “F” in a course, please register for the course through CUNYFirst. If there are pre-req issues with your course repeat because of a F/W grade, please look here: Registration Override Request.


If you are trying to repeat a course with a lab/recitation component, please fill in the open lab/recitation section with available seats you want to be in, not the main lecture. You can put in the main lecture for the previously attempted course.

Please note that the registrar has to manually add the course to your schedule so it may take 3-5 business days. Please keep checking your schedule to make sure it is added.

For point of contact, please use either Ko Naing (kn963@hunter.cuny.edu) or your CSCI advisor.

Credit by Exam

The Computer Science Department allows students to “test-out” of CSCI 127, CSCI 135 and/or CSCI 150. If you can pass the “Test-out Exam” with a grade of 80% or better, we will award you course credit (listed on your transcript as “Credit by Exam”) and permit you to take more advanced computer science courses as if you had successfully completed the course itself.


Note: Per department policy, if you have attempted these courses (even in cases of W/WU), you may not take the test-out exams.

Test-out dates have been finalized for the Winter 2025 sessions. These exams will be in-person. The first test-out session will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, 21 and 22 January 2025. The second test-out session will be announced at a later time. Please ensure you are able to come in-person to the Hunter Main Campus to take your test-out exam. Test-out registration is now open. Please register for the test-out exams here: WIN25 CSCI Test-Out Exam Registration.

The Computer Science department offers three test-out periods a year: mid-January, mid-July, and mid-August. There will generally be two days of testing offered consecutively, with exams taking place somewhere between 11 am – 2 pm each day. Here is the currently-projected schedule for test-outs this winter:

Course Date Time
CSCI 12700 Tuesday, January 21, 2025 11am
CSCI 12700 Wednesday, January 22, 2025 11am
CSCI 12700 Tuesday, August 20, 2024 11am
CSCI 12700 Wednesday, August 21, 2024 11am
CSCI 13500 Tuesday, January 21, 2025 11am
CSCI 13500 Wednesday, January 22, 2025 11am
CSCI 13500 Tuesday, August 20, 2024 11am
CSCI 13500 Wednesday, August 21, 2024 11am
CSCI 15000 Tuesday, January 21, 2025 11am
CSCI 15000 Tuesday, August 20, 2024 11am

Please fill out the form to register for your test-out exam. Your registration through the form is due by 2 days prior to your chosen exam date. Both exam periods can provide you with Credit by Exam for the fall/spring semesters, although you may wish to take advantage of the earlier dates in order to ensure a smooth course enrollment process for the fall.

View the Department of Computer Science “Test-out Policy”.

Course Number Supplemental Materials Exam Details
CSCI 127 Test-out topics (syllabus) 2 hour written examination. One page of notes (letter-sized) is allowed.
CSCI 135 Test-out topics
Sample questions		 2 hour written examination. One page of notes (letter-sized) is allowed.
CSCI 150 Test-out topics 3 hour written examination. No notes allowed.

Familiarize yourself with Hunter College’s Policy on Academic Integrity.

This test-out is a means for you to gauge your ability level. If you don’t feel confident after taking it, it is perfectly fine to take the course.

ePermit and Permit Courses

ePermit/Permit provides matriculated students with the opportunity to pursue courses at other CUNY colleges or non-CUNY institutions with authorization from the Office of the Registrar while simultaneously attending Hunter College. This will allow the course taken at another institution to be transferred and applied to the student’s record at their home school (where they intend to graduate) to fulfill degree requirements.

Requirements
Students are required to complete at least HALF of their credits at Hunter, and at least HALF of CSCI credits with the Hunter CSCI department. Students who have attempted a course at the Hunter CSCI department and have earned a letter grade of “D”, “F”, “WU”, “NC”, or “FIN” in the course are NOT allowed to ePermit the same course at another institution—the course must be repeated again at Hunter.

Disclaimer
Submitting an ePermit application does not:

  1. Guarantee approval nor does it provide automatic registration at the host.
  2. No seats are reserved or held for those on ePermit.
  3. Do not expect immediate enrollment at the host(s) if your request is approved by Hunter.
Learn How to File an ePermit