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container"> <header role="banner" id="page-header"> </header>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-sm-9 col-sm-push-3"> <ol class="breadcrumb"><li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/ugrad" class="menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished active-trail">Undergraduate Program</a></li> </ol> <div id="content"> <a id="main-content"></a> <h1 class="page-header">Becoming a CS Major</h1> <div class="region region-content"> <section id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <div class="block-content"> <div id="node-24991" class="node node-page clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2><strong>Students considering majoring in Computer Science:</strong> </h2> <p>To begin the process of becoming a CS major, whether newly declaring your major or transferring to CS from a different discipline, you need to make an appointment to see your class adviser. He or she will want to get to know you and will need to sign off on your degree program. (CS class advisers are authorized to sign for the director of undergraduate studies on the official form to let you into the major.) <a href="/ugrad/becoming-cs-major/declaring-bse-students">BSE first-year students</a> who will select a major in the spring will follow the instructions sent out by SEAS Engineering. <a href="/ugrad/becoming-cs-major/declaring-ab-students">AB sophomores</a> and any student transferring into CS should meet with Brian Kernighan or the appropriate CS Class Adviser. See <a href="/ugrad/advisers">class adviser</a> listing.</p> <h2>People Who Can Help</h2> <p>There are a number of members of the department who are available to you as you consider your options. Whether you are already concentrating in computer science or just thinking about it, the CS adviser for your class is the best person to discuss requirements and plans of study. He or she knows the rules applying to your class and, if you are a concentrator, is familiar with your record.</p> <p>The two official representatives of the department to the Office of the Dean of the College are the Directors of Undergraduate Studies (DUS): Brian Kernighan (room 311, bwk@cs.princeton.edu) and David Walker (room 211, dpw@cs.princeton.edu). </p> <p><b><a href="/people/profile/bwk">Brian Kernighan</a> </b>is the director of undergraduate studies for pre-majors, non-majors, and study abroad. If you are a first-year student or someone else who isn't yet officially a CS major, but you need information about the CS program you should either see Brian Kernighan or the appropriate CS class adviser. </p> <p><a href="/people/profile/dpw"><strong>David Walker</strong></a><strong><a href="/people/profile/dpw"> </a></strong>is the guardian of the department rules and director of undergraduate studies for majors, which includes oversight of honors and awards, and students leaving the major. If you are already a CS major and have an issue that you do not think your class adviser can or should handle, you should see him — the only exception is study abroad (see Brian Kernighan). If your class adviser is unavailable for an extended period, you may also see him with questions or to sign add/drop forms.</p> <p><a href="mailto:ckenny@princeton.edu">Colleen Kenny</a> (room 210) is the Undergraduate Program Manager. She is a great person to answer any questions you might have on the logistics of how the department works. </p> <p>Current CS majors are an excellent source of information on life in the department and the “inside story” on courses. The <a href="/ugrad/get-involved">Get Involved page</a> lists student groups. </p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </section>  </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> </section> <aside class="col-sm-3 col-sm-pull-9" role="complementary" id="sidebar-first"> <div class="region region-sidebar-first"> <section id="block-menu-block-1" class="block block-menu-block hidden-xs clearfix"> <h2 class="block-title"> Navigation </h2> <div class="block-content"> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-1 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-0 menu-level-2"> <ul class="menu nav"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-1374"><a href="/ugrad/advisers" class="menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished menu-node-unpublished"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right"></span> Advisers & Contacts</a></li> <li class="expanded 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</section>  <section id="block-block-3" class="block block-block clearfix"> <h2 class="block-title"> Additional Resources </h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"> <li><a href="http://ua.princeton.edu/academic-units/department-computer-science-ab" target="_blank">Formal COS A.B. degree requirements</a></li> <li><a href="http://ua.princeton.edu/academic-units/department-computer-science-bse" target="_blank">Formal COS B.S.E. degree requirements</a></li> <li><a href="/ugrad/independent-work/undergraduate-research-topics" target="_blank">Ugrad Independent Work Research Topics</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.princeton.edu/main/campuslife/" target="_blank">Princeton Campus Life</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/" target="_blank">How to Apply to Princeton</a></li> <li><a href="https://engineering-tours.princeton.edu/" target="_blank">Engineering Tours for Prospective Undergraduates</a></li> <li><a href="https://careerdevelopment.princeton.edu/" target="_blank">Center for Career Development</a></li> <li><a href="https://uhs.princeton.edu/counseling-psychological-services" target="_blank">University Health Services</a></li> <li><a href="https://publicsafety.princeton.edu/" target="_blank">Public Safety</a></li> </ul> </div> </section>  </div> </aside>  </div> <div id="social-icons"> Follow us: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrincetonCS" target="_blank"> <img src="/sites/all/themes/pucs_bootstrap/images/icon-facebook.png" alt="Facebook"/> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/princetoncs" target="_blank"> <img src="/sites/all/themes/pucs_bootstrap/images/icon-twitter.png" alt="Twitter"/> </a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-princeton-university-computer-science" target="_blank"> <img src="/sites/all/themes/pucs_bootstrap/images/icon-linkedin.png" alt="Linkedin"/> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer-top-wrapper"> <footer id="footer-top" class="container"> 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