Undergraduate Forms and Policies

At Boston University all students are expected to  maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity. All students are responsible for having read Boston University’s Academic Conduct Code and should understand what constitutes a violation of the Code.

At the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, the Student Academic Conduct Review Board, composed of faculty, administrators, and students, investigates all charges of academic misconduct brought against students. The procedure is managed by the Academic Conduct Code Administrator in lieu of a designated dean.

The Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences (CDS) adheres to the Boston University policy on Academic Standing for Undergraduate Students in Full-time Programs.

CDS full-time students maintain good academic standing when they achieve all three of the following:

1. Earn at least 12 academic credits in the semester just completed
2. Earn a semester grade point index (GPI) of at least 2.00
3. Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00

In addition to this policy, students should review the Satisfactory Academic Progress information from Boston University Financial Assistance.

Meanings and Procedures

Academic Probation
A student is placed on Academic Probation when they are in danger of not making sufficient academic progress toward their degree.  Students will receive electronic notification from CDS informing them of the details of their probationary status. Students who have been notified that they are on Academic Probation must request an appointment with their CDS advisor for consultation.

Academic Suspension
A student faces Academic Suspension when they have spent one or two semesters on Probation and have not achieved Good Standing as defined in the Boston University policy on Academic Standing, following the most recent semester of Academic Probation. Specifics regarding the duration and terms of the Academic Suspension will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Students will receive electronic notification from CDS  informing them of the details of their Academic Suspension. Students who have been notified that they are on Academic Suspension must request an appointment with their CDS advisor for consultation.

Reinstatement after Academic Suspension
Students who have fulfilled their period of Academic Suspension must meet with their CDS Academic Advisor for reinstatement.  Students are reinstated to a probationary standing.

Dismissal

• A student faces Dismissal if they have spent one or two semesters on Probation and have not achieved Good Academic Standing in the most recent semester of Academic Probation.
• A student also faces Dismissal if they have spent at least one semester on Suspension and have not fulfilled the terms of the Suspension.

Appeals for Suspension or Dismissal
Appeals of Suspension or Dismissal are made, in writing, to the CDS Director of Undergraduate Studies, within a timeline outlined in the written notice. The student will be notified in writing of the decision. A final appeal may be made to the Associate Provost of the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences. The decision of the Associate Provost on cases of suspension or dismissal is final.

Students who attain a Grade Point Index (GPI) of 3.5 or higher in academic coursework in the fall or spring semester will be placed on the Dean’s List for that semester.

To qualify, a student must have full-time status for that semester.  Once established for a given semester, Dean’s List eligibility is not recomputed; late grade changes are therefore not reflected in the Dean’s List. Neither transfer credits nor Summer Term may be credited toward Dean’s List eligibility.

What is Tuition Overload?
All students taking 12–18 credits are charged the basic full-time tuition. Students can overload up to a maximum of 20 credits, with each credit over 18 charged at the standard per-credit rate. CDS students in the first semester of their freshman year or in their first semester transferring to Boston University are not eligible to take more than 18 credits.

Students with questions about this payment process should contact Student Accounting Services.

Tuition Overload Fee Waivers
Starting Fall 2023, CDS students who enroll for 19-20 credits for the upcoming semester may have the associated fees waived if they meet either of the following requirements:

• Senior class standing
• Cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher

Overload tuition waivers for the following semester are processed twice. Once, at the conclusion of the current semester after grades have been posted and GPAs have been updated for any students that meet the above requirements. The second waiver processing occurs the week after the last day to add classes for the semester.

Fall Semesters

For students who add courses after spring grades post, or are taking summer courses, waivers will be processed one week after the last day to add classes for the fall semester.

Spring Semesters

Tuition overload waivers will not be processed to your account until after your tuition bill is due.

Summer Semesters

Summer Term is independent of CDS, and has its own policy on the number of credits that can be taken and how students should request an overload, if needed. For summer semester information, please visit the Summer Term FAQs page.

 

Tuition Overload Fee Waiver Request

• First Name*
• Last Name*
• BU ID*
• Email*
• Class Standing for Current Semester*
  • First Year
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
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• Semester and Year for Fee Waiver*
  Fall 2024Spring 2025
  There are specific timelines for evaluating these requests! Refresh your memory by reviewing when YOURS will be processed by clicking on the appropriate semester above.
• Expected Date of Graduation*
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• A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater 
• Completion of at least 12 credits per semester for at least one semester at BU
• A grade of B- or higher for any non-CDS courses to be used towards the foundational and core requirements for the major (see below)

To learn more, visit our academic advising page to schedule an IUT appointment!

This is NOT intended for students declared in CDS -- substitutions only apply to students pursuing an IUT who already have many or all of the listed courses completed.

Our 'Foundations of Data Science' sequence contains different realms of mathematics important to data scientists within a single course rather than dedicating a semester-long course focusing on one.

Due to this, CDS will not accept a single math course to satisfy anything within this series. Students interested in an IUT who have some of the mentioned standalone mathematics should complete the remaining requirements in their associated sequence, satisfying 'Foundations of Data Science' I, II, & III upon success in their final substitution course.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINES

• August 1st - Fall
• November 15th - Spring 

CDS Intra-University Transfer is OPEN

• Name*
  First Last
• Email*
• BU ID*
• What College or School are you currently in?*
  SelectCASCFACOMENGQSTPardeeSARSHAI don't see my College/School
• Provide the name of your current College/School
• What is your current Major?
• What is your current Major?*
• What is your current concentration(s)?
• I have met the minimum requirements to IUT and would like to join CDS beginning the following semester:*
  • Fall 2025
• Indicate your reason for wanting to transfer into the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences. (250-300 words)*
• Please include the department and course number (eg. CAS CS 111), of any courses you would like to be considered as potential substitutions for DS major requirements.
  You must have received at least a B- or better in any courses submitted.
• Applications will be reviewed after final grades for the current semester are formally released. Students will exercise patience when awaiting updates regarding their status.*
  • I understand
• By submitting this form, you will schedule a meeting with the advising team if you have not already done so.*
  • I understand
  An access link will appear upon acknowledgment so you may schedule a meeting or make note of upcoming walk-in advising hours
• BEFORE YOU SUBMIT
  Click here to open the CDS Academic Advising page in a new tab

Program Requirements

A program requirement refers to any of the content of the 64-credit hours that make up the DS major. Students who must repeat any program requirement will be unable to enroll in a similar course within or outside of Boston University in place of their original attempts (refer to Repeating Program Requirements).

Minimum Grades

Students must earn a minimum letter grade of C for any requirement to be used toward the Data Science (DS) major or minor, with the exception of the minimum grades outlined in the Intra-University Transfer (IUT) policies above; which requires a B- or higher in any non-CDS course to be used to satisfy components of the DS major.

If the minimum grade is not earned in a requirement, students are unable to enroll a course or continue further into a sequence when it is being used as one of its prerequisites (refer to Requisites).

Example: Final grade in DS121 is lower than a C
S. Squarepants earns a C- in DS121, but earns a B in DS210. They are unable to enroll in DS320, Algorithms, the following semester as they have not earned a successful grade in DS121. They will need to enroll in DS121 again to work toward earning a C or higher to enroll in DS320. However, they can enroll in another program requirement that does not use DS121 as one of its prerequisite, such a DS310, Data Mechanics.

Pass/Fail (P/F)

The Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences (CDS) adheres to the P/F policies established by Boston University.

If you have questions about this policy and if you wish to opt into P/F for a particular class, first email your DS advisor at cds-advising@bu.edu for guidance.

Maximum Attempt Policies

CDS adheres to the repeat policies established by Boston University. Students have two attempts to earn a C or higher for a program requirement for the DS Major or Minor.

However, a third and final attempt may be granted by CDS if a student withdraws from the requirement in either of the first two attempts.

Example One:
S. Squarepants is enrolled in DS110 for the first time. Their final letter grade is lower than C and enrolls in DS110 for a second time the following semester. For their second attempt, S. Squarepants earns a final grade lower than a C once again. They have now exceeded the maximum number of attempts for a requirement and is unable to move forward in the program.

Example Two:
S. Squarepants is enrolled in DS110 for the first time. Their final letter grade is lower than C and enrolls in DS110 for a second time the following semester. For their second attempt, S. Squarepants feels like they are not comfortable with the topics and is not on track to earn a C or higher again. They withdraw from the course after first discussing with their instructor and CDS academic advisor. They are able to enroll in a third and final attempt of this requirement the following semester.

Example Three:
S. Squarepants ends up withdrawing from their first and second attempt of DS110. They are able to enroll in a third and final attempt for the requirement the following semester.

Example Four:
S. Squarepants ends up attempting a specific program requirement three times by utilizing a withdrawal that may grant them a third and final attempt. However, they are not able to earn a successful grade in that third attempt and have now exceeded the CDS repeat policy. They decide to take a course from a different discipline to satisfy a program requirement over the summer.

As they have exceeded the maximum attempts for the program requirement itself, that course would not be accepted. S. Squarepants is unable to move forward in the program.

What is a Corequisite?

A corequisite is a course that MUST be taken at the same time or before the associated class.

Example: CDS DS121 has a corequisite of DS110
If you have not already earned a successful grade in DS110 (refer to Program Requirements and Grades) you must enroll in it concurrently - at the same time - if you wish to take DS121 that semester. This means the topics within DS121 will require the skills gained by successfully completing DS110 prior to enrolling, but, at minimum, should be learned alongside the course.

What is a Prerequisite?

A prerequisite is a course that MUST be completed before the associated class.

Example: CDS DS121 has a prerequisite of DS120
If you have not already earned a successful grade in DS120 (refer to Program Requirements and Grades), you are not able to enroll in DS121. This means the topics within DS121 will require the skills gained by successfully completing DS120 prior to enrolling in order to understand the material.

What is a Preferred Knowledge?

When preferential knowledge is mentioned while you are reviewing a course's description or requisites, it means that it would be beneficial for students to have prior experience in a certain skill and is encouraged, but not tied to the requirements to enroll.

Example: CDS DS120 prefers prior experience in MA123, Calculus I
While DS120 does not have MA123 as a co- or prerequisite, it is helpful to have experience in calculus before enrolling and is strongly encouraged. However, you are not required to first complete it to enroll in DS120 – but it may be more challenging going in without comfort in calculus.