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Computer Science
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Department Orientation

Welcome to Computer Science!

Navigating university life can feel like learning a new language. To help you hit the ground running, here is a breakdown of the essential terms and roles you’ll encounter during your time here.

Getting Started

If you have not yet been accepted to BYU, here are some resources to help you get started!
BYU Admissions

If you are an international student, there are some more things that you will want to check:
International Students

Things To Know:

Declaring a Major/Minor

Incoming freshmen may declare a major on their application, but they still need to meet with the College Advisement Center to finalize the process.

Learn more about declaring a major/minor

Location of the Department

Though your Computer Science classes may be spread across many buildings on campus, the department itself, along with the professors' offices, research labs, and the department office, are housed in the Talmage Math & Computer Science building.

The CS 240 Flag

Students are only allowed to take 300- or 400-level classes once they have passed CS 240 with a C- or higher and have completed a department interview. Once both are complete, the student will receive a "CS 240 flag" that will allow them to register for upper-level courses. If students are trying to register for the next semester, they can have the interview once they pass the Programming Exam, which is part of the CS 240 course. A flag will be temporarily granted. If the student doesn't at least receive a C- as a final grade for the course, then the flag will be removed, and the student will no longer be allowed to register for upper-level courses.

Helpful Resources

There are many resources available to you within the department! They are meant to help you have a good experience and lessen the stress of college life! Here are a few examples that you can check out!

  • Program Flow Charts – Each of the undergraduate programs has a link to a flow chart that makes it easier to see what classes are required, and what the prerequisites are. The chart even gives guidelines for planning out your classes by semester!
  • Career Advisement – The department has a career advisor who can help you begin planning your career, apply for internships, work on your resume and cover letter, practice interviews, and navigate the industry. There are also other Employment Resources.
  • Academic Advisement – The academic advisors and peer mentors can help you plan classes, work through requirements, make a graduation plan, and help you with your educational goals.
  • Belonging Office – The CS Belonging Office can help you find your place here in the Computer Science community!
  • Accessibility Resources – If you have a disability or need accommodations, this is a great place to get started
  • Educational Resources – If you would like to learn more about Computer Science or computer programming, we have listed some online materials that may be useful to you!
  • Campus Resources – There are many on-campus resources that will help you as you navigate the beginning of your education! These include Tutoring, Counseling, Food and Housing, etc.
  • Frequently Asked Questions – We keep a running list of the questions that we get asked most frequently in our office, and we do our best to provide the best answers possible here in our Frequently Asked Questions. This includes things like questions about classes, student employment, transferring credits, and even what computer you should buy!

KEY TERMS:

College

In a university setting, a College is a large division that groups together related academic disciplines. For example, the Computer Science Department is a part of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. The College oversees broad requirements, graduation ceremonies, and high-level administrative decisions for all the students within its umbrella. The College Advisement Center also helps with declaring majors and minors.

Department

The Department is your specific academic home (e.g., the Department of Computer Science). This is where the specialized action happens. Your department defines your major’s core requirements, hosts your professors’ offices and research labs, and manages the specific resources, such as TA labs and classrooms.

Undergraduate

The term Undergraduate refers to a student’s first level of university study aimed at earning a Bachelor’s degree. This stage involves completing a specific program, which is a structured map of courses that includes both foundational general education and specialized major-specific classes. Once these requirements are met, the student graduates and is eligible to move into the workforce or pursue more advanced graduate degrees.

Graduate

Graduate students are those who have already earned a Bachelor’s degree and are now pursuing advanced titles, such as a Master’s (MS) or a Doctorate (PhD). You will often see them acting as mentors, researchers, or instructors.

TA (Teaching Assistant)

TAs are students hired to help professors manage a course. They grade assignments, hold office hours to answer your questions, and sometimes lead smaller "lab" or "recitation" sections. If you are stuck on a project or homework, the TAs can help you!

RA (Research Assistant)

RAs are students hired to work on specific research projects under the supervision of a professor. While TAs focus on education, RAs focus on discovery. This is a paid or credit-earning role where you contribute to cutting-edge developments in the field.

Research, Labs, and Opportunities

Research is the process of investigating new ideas to solve problems that don't have answers in a textbook yet. In this department, research happens in our research labs, which are groups of faculty and students collaborating on specific themes like AI or Cybersecurity. Joining a lab is a great way to apply classroom theory to real-world projects while strengthening your resume.

Advisement

The Advisement Center is your college roadmap. Academic advisors can help you plan which classes to take and when, ensuring you meet all requirements to graduate on time. If you ever feel overwhelmed by your course load or are considering changing your emphasis, go talk to an advisor immediately.

Directory and Office Hours

The directory has a list of all of the professors and department staff, along with contact information and office hours on each individual profile.

Some professors and TAs set aside specific times each week called office hours. This is "open door" time where you can show up without an appointment to ask questions, seek career advice, or just introduce yourself.

Syllabus

Every class has a syllabus. You can find it by going to your class on LearningSuite or Canvas. Consider this your "contract" for the semester. The syllabus lists every assignment deadline, grading policy, and required textbook for a class. If you have a question about when the midterm is, check the syllabus first!

Prerequisite (Prereq)

A prerequisite is a course you must complete before you are allowed to enroll in a more advanced class. For example, you usually need to pass Calculus I before you can take Calculus II. Plan your schedule carefully around these so you don't get "blocked" from higher-level courses later on. Academic advisors can help you make a semester plan!

Scholarships

Scholarships are financial awards that you do not have to pay back, usually granted based on academic merit, financial need, or specific talents. Scholarships are offered at the University, College, and Department levels. These help cover the costs of tuition, texbooks, and other academic needs.