Navigating the Minimum Course Requirements for an Undergraduate CS Degree at Stanford

Attaining an undergraduate degree in Computer Science (CS) from Stanford University may seem like a daunting task, particularly when it comes to understanding the number of courses required to complete the degree. While the process involves a substantial amount of coursework, this article dissects the minimum course requirements, helping prospective students and current students better understand the academic journey.

General Education Requirements (GERs)

The primary means of determining course requirements at Stanford is through units, not classes. For a standard 4-year degree, students need 180 units, which averages to 15 units per quarter. GERs include a diverse range of classes that all undergraduates must take, with an average allocation of 4 units per class. The table below summarizes the GER units and classes:

GER Units:

Disciplinary Breadth (DB) Classes: Various DB classes (units vary) Education for Citizenship (EC) Classes: Two of four possible classes (units vary) Writing Classes: PWR 1, 2, and WIM (units vary) Foreign Language: Three quarters (5 units each) Thinking Matters Courses (for Class of 2016 and later): One course (4 units)

Based on an average of 4 units per GER class, students need to take approximately 14 GER classes, amounting to at least 58 units.

Requirements Set by the School of Engineering

The School of Engineering at Stanford sets specific requirements for the computers science (CS) major, which include calculus, mathematics electives, physics, and technology in society (TIS) classes. Here is a breakdown:

Engineering Units:

Calculus Classes: Math 41 and Math 42 (10 units) Mathematics Electives: 3 to 5 units each (6 to 10 units total) Physics Classes: Physics 41 or 21 or 61 Physics 43 or 23 or 63 (8 units total) Science Elective: 3 to 5 units TIS Requirement: 3 to 5 units Engineering Fundamentals Classes: ENGR40 (5 units) ENGR Fundamentals Elective (3 to 5 units)

This totals 11 classes and at least 48 units.

Core Computer Science Courses

The CS core courses provide a solid foundation in the field and are required for all CS majors. These consist of:

Core Units:

Systems Courses: CS106B or X, CS107, CS110 (15 units) Theory Courses: CS103, CS109, CS161 (15 units)

Collectively, these courses total 30 units and 6 classes.

CS Track-Specific Requirements

The final leg of the journey involves fulfilling CS track-specific requirements. In the Systems track, these include:

Track-Specific Units:

Track Requirement A: CS140 (4 units) Track Requirement B: CS143 or EE103B (4 units) Track Requirement C: 2 courses (6-8 units total) Computer Science Electives: 3 to 5 units each (9-15 units total)

These courses total between 28 and 34 units and between 7 and 9 classes.

Senior Project

Completing a senior project is mandatory for all CS majors, and this requirement averages to 3 units. This totals 4 units and 1 class.

Remaining Units

After fulfilling all these requirements, a minimum of 12 units (3 classes) are still required to reach the full 180 units needed for the undergraduate degree.

Conclusion

While the minimum course requirements seem stringent, the actual minimum number of courses required for a CS degree from Stanford is often higher, coming in at around 39 classes or 168 units, assuming the Systems track. This shows that the university aims to provide a comprehensive education with ample flexibility to explore various interests. For a true Stanford experience, taking more than the minimum is highly encouraged.

Notes and Final Thoughts

Between GER waiver options, the varying units for specific courses, and the ability to exceed the 180 unit requirement, there is still a significant amount of academic freedom available. Embrace the opportunity to explore various interests while at Stanford and aim to maximize your college experience.