Prerequisite Information

Prerequisites and Out of Sequence Courses
About the CSCI 402 - Operating Systems Prerequisite
About the EE 450 - Computer Networks Prerequisite
CSCI Prerequisite Chart

Important Note: Only the CS Faculty have the ability to waive, add, and/or change prerequisites for the courses they teach.  Permission to waive a prerequisite must come from the instructor of the course, not your CS Advisor.   There are no waiver examinations for CSCI courses.

Prerequisites and Out of Sequence Courses

Prerequisites are courses that must be passed and/or specific background that must be demonstrated prior to advancing to the next course in a prescribed sequence of courses. Passage of appropriate examinations or consent of the academic unit offering the course will waive prerequisites. However, a prerequisite course within the same discipline taken after the higher level course has been passed will not be available for unit or grade point credit.

Examples:

If you are taking CSCI-530 (or CSCI-555) this semester and had the prerequisite of CSCI-402 waived, then you cannot take CSCI-402 in the future for GPA or Unit Credit.

If you are taking CSCI-587 because the professor deemed it appropriate to waive CSCI-585 for you, then you can never take CSCI-585 for GPA or Unit Credit.

If you take CSCI-548 because the professor deemed it appropriate to waive CSCI-561 and/or CSCI-585 for you, then you can never take CSCI-561 and/or CSCI-585 for GPA or Unit Credit.

Once you complete the higher level course, you cannot go back and take the lower level course. This would be considered out of sequence and the lower level course will not count in your degree.

About the CSCI 402 - Operating Systems Prerequisite:

ALL Computer Science (CSCI) Majors:
For CSCI students that are interested in the following courses: CSCI 530, CSCI 551, and CSCI 555, the department will waive the CSCI 402 prerequisite if the student has completed an operating systems course during his/her undergraduate degree.  If he/she has not completed an OS course during the bachelor's degree, then the student is required to complete CSCI 402 here at USC and earn a grade of "C" or better.  Students in Scientists & Engineers are required to take CSCI 402 and cannot have it waived off.

NON-Computer Science Majors:
For Non-Computer Science Majors who are interested in the following courses: CSCI 530, CSCI 551, CSCI 555, and CSCI 558L, you must complete CSCI 402 here at USC and earn a grade of "C" or better.  We will not grant any waivers.  There is no placement examination.

About the EE 450 - Computer Networks Prerequisite:

The department will not waive the EE 450 prerequisite for CSCI 551 or CSCI 558L.  All students (CS and non-CS) are still required to either pass the EE 450 placement examination or complete EE 450 here at USC and earn a grade of "C" or better

EE Placement Examination Information

 Common CS Prerequisites