CS173 Registration and Prerequisite information

Registration

Right now, the course is full.

If you signed up on the waitlist, watch for an email from Holly Bagwell about getting an override into the course. Respond quickly and use the override quickly, so we can ensure you get into the class before we open the last few seats to general registration.

If you are a CS, CE, or CS/X major (e.g. CS/linguistics) and you have the prerequisites (see below), contact Steve Herzog (smherzog@illinois.edu) RIGHT AWAY.

If you are in some other major and not on the waitlist, you must show up to the first lecture and sign in on the sheet provided. Also watch the registration system: you may be able to add yourself if other students drop.

You MUST attend lectures and keep up with assigned work (e.g. online exercises).

Prerequisites

This course assumes that you have taken an introductory programming class similar to CS 101, CS 125, ECE 190, or ECE 220 (aka 198KL). You must also have completed Calculus I (Math 220, 221, or 234), or have proficiency, transfer, or AP credit for one of these classes.

When classes start in the spring, we will check everyone's background and remove anyone who does not have adequate programming experience. At that point, you'll have an opportunity to tell us about items that haven't yet appeared officially on your transcript (e.g. pending transfer or AP credit) and any informal background. Right now, we'll leave it to you and your advisor to verify that you will have the right background by the start of spring classes.

You are ok if

• You have a grade of A/A-/A+ in CS 103.
• You have a score of 4 or 5 on the CS AP exam (the university should automatically give you credit for CS 101).
• You pass the CS 101 or CS 125 proficiency exam given at the start of spring term.
• You have transfer, AP, or proficiency credit that's still being processed.
• You have taken a course similar to CS 101 or AP programming. You should have moved data around in arrays, seen recursive functions/procedures/methods, and seen some type of dynamic data structure (linked lists and/or trees and/or calls to malloc/new).
• You have informal programming experience equivalent to the above.

The following are NOT acceptable ways to satisfy this prerequisite

• You have taken CS 105 or ECE 120 (aka 198JL).
• You have a grade less than A- in CS 103.
• You are taking one of the prerequisite classes (e.g. CS 125 or ECE 220/198KL) at the same time as CS 173.

If you have a grade below B- in calculus or introductory programming, you will probably find this course too difficult. We strongly recommend that you firm up your background before attempting CS 173. For example, if you got a C in Calculus I, you should take Calculus II before this course.

If you are unsure of your background or need help with administrative details, please consult

• Steve Herzog (smherzog@illinois.edu), especially regarding transfer credit, or
• Margaret Fleck (mfleck@illinois.edu), especially regarding informal programming experience.

Honors and Proficiency Exam

If you have taken previous proof-based math courses, you may wish to attempt the proficiency exam. For more information, see the CS Proficiency Exams page.

If your background is strong and your schedule is not very full, you may wish to do the Honors Add-on. You can add this after classes start.