Placement Exams
We offer placement exams for two of our introductory programming courses.
CSCI 102
Fundamentals of Computation
CSCI 102
Fundamental concepts of algorithmic thinking as a primer to programming. Introduction to C++.
CSCI 103
Introduction to Programming
CSCI 103
Basic datatypes, assignments, control statements, input/output, functions, arrays, structures, recursion, dynamic memory, file handling. Programming in C/C++.
Eligibility
CSCI 102 - If you have prior knowledge of introductory programming in Java or C++, you are eligible to take the CSCI 102 placement exam. Students who have a score of 4 or 5 on AP Computer Science A do not need to complete the CSCI 102 placement exam.
CSCI 103 - If you have taken a semester length introductory programming course at a transfer institution in C++ before matriculating in to USC, and it covered all of the following topics in detail, you are eligible to take the CSCI 103 placement exam: basic datatypes, assignments, control statements (if, switch, for, while), input/output (printf, scanf, cin, cout), functions, arrays, linked lists, structures, recursion, dynamic memory, and file handling. Students are not permitted to use USC course work to become eligible for the CSCI 103 Placement Exam. Students are not eligible to take their computer science or engineering course work in transfer after matriculating to USC.
Pre-CS students or students planning to enter the Pre-CS program are not permitted to use the CSCI 103 Placement Exam for credit or to waive out of the requirement. Pre-CS students must complete CSCI 103 and CSCI 170 at USC.
Exam Request Form
- Students who have previously attempted or are currently registered in CSCI 102 or CSCI 103 are not eligible to take the placement exam.
- Students who have previously taken the placement exam cannot retake the exam
- Passing a course placement exam does not guarantee D-Clearance/registration in courses. Students must follow the D-Clearance instructions provided here.
- The Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science takes academic integrity violations seriously. Using outside tools like ChatGPT to gain an unfair academic advantage is prohibited. Utilizing outside tools will result in students automatically failing the Placement Exam and being reported to the Office of Academic Integrity. Students will not be able to retake the Placement Exam. No exceptions.
Only request an exam if you are prepared and ready to take it. DO NOT submit duplicate requests. If you have already taken the exam DO NOT submit a request to retake the exam.
The CSCI Placement Exam Request form is now closed. Please monitor the website for future updates.