Speculation and misinformation has flooded campus concerning the catalog change that affects all the computer science courses.
The Education Programs Committee and faculty senate passed a proposal Tuesday to remove all computer science courses from the natural science perspective. They also voted in favor of changing the name of the science department from natural and computer sciences to just natural science.
This decision affects the popular course titled Computing for Non-Science Majors, or CS 151. While it will not be eliminated from the catalog, it will not be offered next year. The course also will no longer count toward a science general education credit.
Ruth Miller, director of records and registration, said this catalog change was brought before EPC during the spring semester.
“The science faculty felt strongly that (CS 151) didn’t fit the spirit and the law of the natural science area,” she said.
The decision is retroactive, meaning students who have already taken CS 151 will receive credit for the class, but it won’t count toward their general education requirements.
Miller said the requirements for the natural science discipline have shifted from nine hours in three different areas to six hours in two different areas. Students who have completed the previously required nine hours, including the CS 151 class, will still be done with their science coursework.
“(The decision) is not hurting a student,” Miller said. “We are not making them take any additional courses.”
Sophomore Ashleigh Armstrong took the CS 151 class last semester. She said she does not agree with the decision.
“I am one of those people who are absolutely terrified of science, so I was really excited when I found out I could take that course,” Armstrong said.
Junior Coop Cooper took CS 151 last year. He said he received the e-mail about the possible change but he was not quite sure what it would mean for him.
“I’m frustrated that I won’t get a (science) credit for the class,” Cooper said.
Freshman Stephanie Berg said she was planning on taking CS 151 next year until she found out the rumors about the catalog change were true.
“If I would have taken the class, I would have been a little upset about the change,” Berg said.
