Undergraduate FAQs

How many credits do I need to take to be considered a full-time student?
A student taking 12 or more credit hours or a student who is registered for co-op is considered full-time.

As a first-year student how do I know what classes I take next and how to register?
What courses to register for in the next term varies from student to student. Your schedule is dependent on AP and transfer credits as well as your placement score in Math. In your first term at RIT, your assigned academic advisor will present registration information to you in your mandatory advising meeting. You will also receive information in your Discovery class. If any questions remain, we suggest that you seek assistance from an advisor by making an appointment.

As a general rule, both Computer Science and Mathematics are sequenced courses; this means that there are follow-up courses to each. As a Computer Science major, you are required to take Problem-Based Intro to CS, Data Structures for Problem Solving, and Object-Oriented Programming, as well as Calculus 1-3 (or the equivalent). Follow the sequence taking one course from Computer Science and Calculus each term until they are complete. In addition to taking Data Structures for Problem Solving and the next Calculus course for your sequence, many students will also take Discrete Math 1 (1016-265) in the Winter term and Discrete Math 2 (1016-366) in the Spring term along with a Liberal Arts course in each term.

What is Discovery? Do I need to take it?
Discovery is a course designed to acclimate students to college life and specifically, college life at RIT. All first year students must take the Discovery course in their first term (Fall) at RIT. Students are automatically enrolled in Discovery for Fall and are expected to complete it.

What are the Wellness/Physical Education requirements?
All students must successfully complete two DIFFERENT wellness activity courses (tennis, rock climbing, skiing, etc.) prior to graduation in order to complete the Wellness/Physical Education requirements.

What courses count as Science electives?
A list of approved Science electives can be found in the online version of the Undergraduate Advising Handbook. Please read the side notes carefully to ensure that you are selecting appropriate courses for your student profile. If you have questions or any doubt about whether or not a course will count, please seek the assistance of your Academic Advisor.

Is there a descriptive list of Liberal Arts minors and concentrations online?
Yes, you can find this list at COLA Minors and Concentrations page.

Can I do a minor and if so, is there a complete list of minors that RIT offers?
Absolutely! RIT offers many minors that are appealing to Computer Science majors. A complete list can be found online in the Minors section of the RIT undergraduate bulletin.

I don’t think that Computer Science is the right major for me. What should I do if I am considering changing my major?
The first thing that you should do is meet with your CS Academic Advisor. Your advisor will discuss options with you, refer you to different departments on campus to learn more about them and initiate the Change of Program paperwork that needs to be completed. In the Computer Science department, YOU MUST meet with your academic advisor before we will send Change of Program paperwork to another department.

How do I arrange to see my academic advisor?
Your assigned advisor is available by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, either email or call your advisor directly or stop by the CS Student Services Office (GOL-3005) to make an appointment.

How can I schedule an appointment with my faculty advisor?
Faculty advisors post their advising hours outside their office doors. You can also call or email the faculty member for an appointment. Contact information and office hours for faculty members are posted on each Professor's website. An online directory of the CS Faculty can be found here.

How do I find out who my faculty advisor is?
At the beginning of each year, you are sent a letter with the name of your faculty advisor. Faculty advisors are assigned by the first letter of your last name. Please refer to the table below to identify your faculty advisor.