We offer challenge exams for two of our introductory programming courses.

CSCI 102 - If you have taken a prior introductory programming course in Java, Python, or C++ you are eligible to take the CSCI 102 challenge exam. Students who have a score of 4 or 5 on AP Computer Science A may automatically waive CSCI 102.

CSCI 103 - If you have taken a prior semester length introductory programming course in C++ and covered all of the following topics in detail, you are eligible to take the CSCI 103 challenge 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.

Continuing USC students who begin their computer science studies with CSCI 102 at USC must take CSCI 103 at USC.  CSCI 103 cannot be skipped with the challenge exam. Students are not eligible to take their computer science or engineering course work in transfer after matriculating to USC.

• Students who have previously attempted or are currently registered in CSCI 102 or CSCI 103 are not eligible to take the challenge exam.
• Students who have previously taken the challenge exam cannot retake the exam

Only request an exam if you are prepared and ready to take it.

Please note that challenge exam requests will be processed after the add/drop deadlines of each semester.

THE FINAL DEADLINE TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE EXAMS FOR FALL 2023 IS FRIDAY, JUNE 16