Computer Science Course Access & Request Policy

Core CS courses are reserved for CS, DS and AI majors during peak semesters (semesters when most CS, DS, and AI students take the course, see chart below).

The Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES 

Fall:

CS 18000: is restricted to CS, DS and AI majors only, even if there is space 

  CS 18200: (Off Peak): will only be available to DECLARED* majors during batch registration.

• DECLARED* CS minors will be able to register the Friday before classes begin, space permitting.

  CS 24000: (Off Peak): will only be available to DECLARED* majors during batch registration.

• DECLARED* CS minors will be able to register the Friday before classes begin, space permitting

CS 25000: is restricted to CS, DS and AI majors only, even if there is space 

CS 25100: is restricted to CS, DS and AI majors only, even if there is space 

  CS 25200: (Off Peak): will only be available to DECLARED* majors during batch registration.

• DECLARED* CS minors will be able to register the Friday before classes begin, space permitting.

All requests during batch registration from non-DECLARED* CS/DS/AI majors or minor students will be denied.  

All requests from non-DECLARED* CS/DS/AI majors or minor students during open registration will be deferred pending major or minor approval.

CS 24200: Restricted to DECLARED* Data Science and Artificial Intelligence students only.

Spring:

  CS 18000: (Off-Peak) is open to all students who meet the pre-requisite requirements.

• AI majors take CS 18000 in spring, limiting availability.

CS 18200: is restricted to CS, DS and AI majors only, even if there is space 

CS 24000: is restricted to CS, DS and AI majors only, even if there is space 

  CS 25000: (Off Peak): will only be available to DECLARED* majors during batch registration. 

• DECLARED* CS minors will be able to register the Friday before classes begin, space permitting.

  CS 25100: (Off Peak): will only be available to DECLARED* majors during batch registration. 

• DECLARED* CS minors will be able to register the Friday before classes begin, space permitting.

CS 25200: is restricted to CS, DS and AI majors only, even if there is space 

All requests during batch registration from non-DECLARED* CS/DS/AI majors or minor students will be denied.

All requests from non-DECLARED* CS/DS/AI majors or minor students during open registration will be deferred pending major or minor approval.

Summer

PEAK/OFF-PEAK Semesters

When offered, the following CS courses are open to all students who meet pre-reqs:

• CS 10100 – Digital Literacy

• CS 15900 – Prog Appl For Enginrs

• CS 17700 – Progrmng With MM Objs

• CS 17600 - Data Engineering in Python (restricted to specific majors during batch registration)

• CS 23500 – Intro Organizatnl Comp (will no longer be offered after spring 2025)

• The Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES

• DECLARED* MACS and IMCS majors and DECLARED* CS minors with fewer than 5 CS courses completed for the minor may submit an override request during open registration for needed 300 and 400 level courses. These students should not expect access to additional program-restricted CS courses once major or minor requirements have been met.

• CS 38003
  • Lecture 1 is restricted to DECLARED* Data Science Major students only, even if there is space.
  • Lecture 2 is restricted to DECLARED* Data Science and CS Major students only, even if there is space.

• The Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES

• For courses with CS program restrictions, non-CS and non-degree students who meet prerequisites may submit an override request through the scheduling assistant. Approvals are not guaranteed, even if the course has space.

• Some CS courses are required for CS majors and could be unavailable for non-CS students, even if there is space (CS 50200, CS 50300, CS 52600, CS 53600, CS 55500, CS 56500, CS 57300, CS 57700, CS 57800, CS 58000, CS 58400, CS 58800, CS 59200, all titles and CS 59300, all titiles when offered). 

• When offered, the following courses are open to all graduate majors:

  • CS 50100 - Computing For Science And Engineering

  • CS 51400 – Numerical Analysis

  • CS 51500 – Numerical Linear Algebra

  • CS 52000 – Comput Meth In Optimization

  • CS 53100 – Computational Geometry

  •  CS 53500 - Interactive Computer Graphics

  • CS 57900 – Bioinformatics Algorithms

  • CS 59000L – Computing for Life Sciences

  • CS 59100SE – Security Seminar

CS, AI, and ACS continuing students (CS-BS-TO, CS-BA-TO) are expected to register for Purdue in Indianapolis CSCI/AIS courses. Access to PIN CS or PWL CS courses is not available.

CS, DSCS and AI (Compsci-BS majors incoming fall 2024) students are expected to register for Purdue in Indianapolis CS courses. Purdue in Indianapolis – Compsci-BS majors may register for PWL CS In-person courses. Pre-requisites are expected to be met. Students are responsible for planning their travel time and parking.

Purdue in Indianapolis students not covered above (including CS minors or CERT) are expected to register for Purdue in Indianapolis courses. Course requests will not be approved for PWL CS courses. Requests for Purdue in Indianapolis CS and CSCI courses may be approved on the Friday before classes start if space is available. For spring CS 18000: (Off-Peak) is open to all students who meet the pre-requisite requirements.

CRN (Course Registration Number):

A CRN is a unique numerical identifier for each course and sub section.

Course Registration Restrictions:

Some courses have restrictions that must be met before a student can register.

 Common Course Registration Restrictions:

• Major/Program/Field of Study – Course is restricted to students in specific majors or minors
• College – Course is restricted to students in a specific college
• Level – Course is restricted to students in a specific level, UG or GR
• Pre-Requisite – Academic qualifications that are required to be complete before enrollment

 Course Types

• Lecture (Lec)
• Laboratory (Lab)
• Recitation (Rec)
• Practical Study Observation (PSO)
• Individual Study (IND)
• Research (Res)

 Course Sub Sections

Sub sections are secondary required course sections linked with a lecture (recitations, labs or PSO).

Sub sections are linked to a specific lecture. The link cannot be broken.

• Lecture 1:
  • Labs 1-6
• Lecture 2:
  • Labs 7-12

You must register for all required parts of the course

 VT (Variable Title):

VT courses are often used for independent study/research courses (CS 19000, 29000, 39000, 49000, 59000). How to Request a Variable Title Course

All course access requests (undergraduate and graduate) MUST be submitted through the scheduling assistant. Emails, phone calls and walk-in requests WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. A request is not a guarantee that a seat in a course will be offered or that the request will be approved, even if space is available in the course. Click here for Scheduling Assistant FAQs (PDF).

Your override request will either be approved, deferred or denied.

• If approved, you will received a scheduling system generated email stating you are approved. You need to register for the class. 

• If deferred, your request will be held until a future date. This will only be done for full (closed) section requests. The request may or may not be approved at a future date, depending on space. Only CS or DS majors, CS minor, MACS and IMCS majors will be deferred.

• If denied, we are unable to provide you access to the course. Please read any notes given at time of denial. Waitlists will not be maintained for high demand graduate level courses.

• The only time conflicts that will be approved are ROTC or BAND.

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES.

Scheduling Assistant:

• How to register
• How to add courses
• How to drop courses
• How to join the waitlist
• How to Request a Variable Title Course

• Registration information for Current Students
• Not all courses are available to all students. Some courses are restricted to students in a specific major. Only students in that major may register for that course, even if pre-requisites are met and space exists.
• The Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES
• Registration Error Help
• Please be familiar with the add/drop schedule for each semester.
• Registration Timeline
  • Waitlist will be available from the start of open registration until the Friday before classes begin
    • All course requests must be made through Scheduling Assistant 
    • Once waitlist closes, all pending waitlist requests will be removed from the requests system.
    • Instructors do not receive course requests.
  • Week 1 of classes
    • All course requests must be made through Scheduling Assistant 
    • Instructors do not receive course requests
  • END OF WEEK 1 (Friday after 5pm), instructor and advisor permission is needed to ADD
    • All course requests must be made through Scheduling Assistant  
    • Any pending course requests from week 1 will be removed from the system and new requests will need to be submitted.
    • Instructor and advisor receive requests.

• Declared* CS, DS and AI Majors must use scheduling assistant to request an override including pre-req, level and full section. Email requests will not be accepted.

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES 

• Indianapolis CS, DSCS and AI (Compsci-BS majors incoming fall 2024) students are expected to register for Purdue in Indianapolis CS courses. Purdue in Indianapolis – Compsci-BS majors may register for PWL CS In-person courses. Pre-requisites are expected to be met. Students are responsible for planning their travel time and parking.

• Instructors cannot override full sections.

• Declared* CS Minors will be able to register for core courses the Friday before classes begin, space permitting. Minors will not be given access to core courses in peak semesters. Plan accordingly. 

• All efforts will be made to accommodate requests, however CS, DS and AI majors have priority.

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES 

• Instructors cannot override full sections.

• Purdue in Indianapolis students who are not CS majors (including CS minors or CERT) are expected to register for Purdue in Indianapolis courses. Course requests will not be approved for PWL CS courses. Requests for Purdue in Indianapolis CS and CSCI courses may be approved on the Friday before classes start if space is available. For spring CS 18000: (Off-Peak) is open to all students who meet the pre-requisite requirements.

• Declared* MACS or IMCS students will be able to register for core courses in off-peak semesters during open registration, space permitting.

• These majors should submit a request for all 300+ courses during open registration.

• All efforts will be made to accommodate the requests.

• Students requesting more CS courses than needed to complete the major will have the request denied.

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES 

• Instructors cannot override full sections.

• A majority of CS course are restricted to declared* CS, DS and AI majors. Non CS majors or minors should not plan to take CS courses.

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES.

• Instructors cannot override full sections.

When offered, the following CS courses are open to all students who meet pre-reqs:

• CS 10100 – Digital Literacy

• CS 15900 – Prog Appl For Enginrs

• CS 17700 – Progrmng With MM Objs

• CS 17600 - Data Engineering in Python (Space will be limited)

• CS 23500 – Intro Organizatnl Comp - (will no longer be offered after spring 2025)

• Purdue in Indianapolis students who are not CS majors (including CS minors or CERT) are expected to register for Purdue in Indianapolis courses. Course requests will not be approved for PWL CS courses. Requests for Purdue in Indianapolis CS and CSCI courses may be approved on the Friday before classes start if space is available. For spring CS 18000: (Off-Peak) is open to all students who meet the pre-requisite requirements.

• Declared* STAT-CS joint MS students are limited to a total of 5 CS program-restricted courses. Students may be denied override requests once 5 CS course are completed, even is space is available. 

• All efforts will be made to accommodate the request, however, no course is guarenteed.

• Some CS courses are required for CS majors and could be unavailable for non-CS students, even if there is space (CS 50200, CS 50300, CS 52600, CS 53600, CS 55500, CS 56500, CS 57300, CS 57700, CS 57800, CS 58000, CS 58400 and CS 58800 when offered). 

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES.

• Instructors cannot override full sections.

• Students interested in other CS program-restricted courses must use scheduling assistant for requests. Some CS courses are required for CS majors and could be unavailable for non-CS students (CS 50200, CS 50300, CS 52600, CS 53600, CS 55500, CS 56500, CS 57300, CS 57700, CS 57800, CS 58000, CS 58400 and CS 58800 when offered).

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES.

• Instructors cannot override full sections.

• When offered, the following courses are open to all graduate majors:

  • CS 50100 - Computing For Science And Engineering

  • CS 51400 – Numerical Analysis

  • CS 51500 – Numerical Linear Algeb

  • CS 52000 – Comput Meth In Optimization

  • CS 53100 – Computational Geometry

  • CS 57900 – Bioinformatics Algorithms

  • CS 59000L – Computing for Life Sciences

  • CS 59100SE – Security Seminar

• CODO Requirements

• Applying for a CODO does not guarantee approval.

• If your CODO request or added CS, DS, or AI major has not been approved at the time of your course override request, your request will be deffered or denied.

• If your CODO request or added CS, DS, or AI major is approved, once it is added to your academic record, you will be able to register, space permitting.

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES.

• Minor in Computer Science - Department of Computer Science - Purdue University
• Declared* CS Minors will be able to register for core courses the Friday before classes begin, space permitting. Minors will not be given access to core courses in peak semesters. Plan accordingly. 

• The West Lafayette Computer Science Department will be using the WAITLIST FOR ALL COURSES.