Fall 2020 CICS Undergraduate Program Rule Changes in Response to COVID-19

For the Fall 2020 semester, CS major applicants may elect Pass/Fail grading on up to three courses including contract and/or predictor courses needed for entry to the CS major.

For the Fall 2020 semester, the minimum of 12 letter-graded credits is waived. Students will need to complete 12 credits, but can use as many elective Pass/Fail credits as permitted.

For the Fall 2020 semester, a grade of P (pass) earned in Fall 2020 or Spring 2020 can be used to satisfy any contract or predictor grade requirement needed for entry to the CS major.

Yes, all of the accommodations listed in the next section that apply to students currently in the CS major will also apply to current and future CS applicants who have P (pass) grades earned in Spring 2020 or Fall 2020.

For students who submit an application to join the CS major in Fall 2020 and are not successful, the Fall 2020 semester will count toward the limit of 2 total application opportunites.

The deadline to declare Pass/Fail is Friday, November 20th.  

Undergraduate students can request Pass/Fail grading on Spire.

CS applicants should contact csapply@cs.umass.edu for more information. For general advising, please contact the CICS Advising Office at cicsadvising@umass.edu or 413-545-4822.

For the Fall 2020 semester, students may elect Pass/Fail grading on up to three courses, including undergraduate courses that were previously letter-graded only.

For students who elect Pass/Fail grading on a Spring or Fall 2020 course that is a prerequisite for another CICS course,  a grade of P (pass) will be accepted as meeting the prerequisite requirements for the later course, regardless of when that later course is taken. 

For students who elect Pass/Fail grading on a course taken in Spring or Fall 2020 that satisfies a CS or Informatics major requirement, a grade of P (pass) will be accepted as satisfying that major requirement, regardless of when the student completes their major. 

For students who elect Pass/Fail grading on a course taken in Spring or Fall 2020 that satisfies a CS minor requirement, a grade of P (pass) will be accepted as satisfying that minor requirement, regardless of when the student completes their minor. 

If a 500-level course taken during Spring or Fall 2020 would normally be transferrable into the CS graduate program, it can be transferred with a P (pass) grade so long as the underlying letter grade is a C or above. This is due to the fact that a graduate SAT grade corresponds to a C or higher.

For students who elect Pass/Fail grading on a course taken in Spring or Fall 2020 that satisfies a CS or Informatics departmental honors requirement, a grade of P (pass) will be accepted as satisfying that requirement, regardless of when the student completes the honors program. 

A letter grade of D or higher corresponds to a pass for an undergraduate course.

Students can elect Pass/Fail grading in 500-level CS courses on Spire. For 600+ level courses, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading is available by arrangement with the instructor. A grade of SAT in a graduate course is similar to a P in an undergraduate course.

As in all semesters, an F (fail) grade earned in a Fall 2020 course taken Pass/Fail will result in an F on your transcript and will be reflected in your GPA. Not earning a SAT in a 600-level course taken under Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading will also result in an F on your transcript and will be reflected in your GPA.

The deadline to declare Pass/Fail will be Friday, November 20th. Undergraduates enrolled in 600 and higher level courses must make arrangements with the instructor prior to the end of the semester to receive a SAT instead of a letter grade.

Undergraduate students can revoke a P grade at any time during their degree and up to six months after degree completion.

• Bay State Master: The requirements to qualify for the level of a Bay State Master Scholarship are a minimum grade of a B+ in COMPSCI 311 and a 3.4 GPA. A "Pass" grade will not be accepted for COMPSCI 311.
• Bay State Scholar: The requirements to qualify for the level of a Bay State Scholarship are a minimum grade of a B+ in COMPSCI 311, a 3.6 GPA, and an advanced math course with a minimum grade of a B. Please see our webpage for a list of acceptable math courses. A "Pass" grade will not be accepted for either COMPSCI 311 or the math course. 
• Bay State Fellow: The requirements to qualify for the level of a Bay State Fellow Scholarship are a minimum grade of a B+ in COMPSCI 311, a 3.7 GPA, an advanced math course with a minimum grade of a B, and a one semester independent study such as an honors project. A "Pass" grade will not be accepted for COMPSCI 311 and the math course. However, the independent study can have a Pass" grade for the Spring 2020 or Fall 2020 semester enrollment only.

Undergraduate students can request Pass/Fail grading on Spire for CS courses up to the 500-level. For 600-level and above courses, please contact your instructor to arrange for SAT grading.

Majors who have additional questions about these program changes can reach out to the CICS Advising Office at cicsadvising@umass.edu or 413-545-4822. 

CS minors who have additional questions about these program changes can reach out to askCSminor@cs.umass.edu.