Non-Majors

Frequently Asked Questions for Non-Major Students

  • Can I take graduate ECS courses as an undergraduate student?
  • Yes. We recommend that you consult with your undergraduate advisor for course planning purposes if you plan to count the course towards your Bachelor’s degree. Please be mindful of any pass restrictions on CS graduate courses. Students may view any pass restrictions in ScheduleBuilder for each course by clicking "Show Important Details". 
  • Can I take your courses as a graduate student from another major?
  • Yes. We recommend that you consult with your Graduate Program Coordinator for course planning purposes if you plan to count the course towards your degree. Please be mindful of any pass restrictions on CS graduate courses. Students may view any pass restrictions in ScheduleBuilder for each course by clicking "Show Important Details". 
  • I'm having trouble registering for one of your grad courses, what should I do?
  • Most CS graduate courses have pass restrictions, so that our current major graduate students have registration priority. Students may view any pass restrictions in ScheduleBuilder for each course by clicking "Show Important Details".

    For courses that have Pass 1 and Pass 2 restrictions to grant CS graduate students priority registration, non-CS graduate students should please reference the Policies webpage for our PTA policy.
  • I’m interested in being a Teaching Assistant (TA) for ECS courses. What is the process, and who should I contact?

  • Teaching Assistant (TA) positions in our department are limited and competitive. ECS TA assignments are done based on priority: first, CS PhD students; next, CS MS students; and finally, graduate students from other majors. Please email csgradadvising@ucdavis.edu if you are interested in TAing for ECS courses, and we will add you to the mailing list for the TA application.

    TA selections are made on a quarterly basis. A month and a half prior to each quarter, an application is sent via email to all CS graduate students, and any non-CS majors who were added to the mailing list. If a student is selected for a TA position, they are notified via email before the quarter begins.

    As a TA in the Department of Computer Science, you must take ECS 390: The Teaching of Computer Science. If you are a new TA, you must also attend the Center for Educational Effectiveness’ TA Orientation. It is typically offered once a year in the Fall.

    It is a University policy that if a TA does not have a degree from an English speaking institution, to qualify to be a TA, he or she must have scored a 26 or higher on the Speaking section of the TOEFL exam, or an 8.0 on the Speaking section of the IELTS. If not, the TA must have a Pass score on the SPEAK or TOEP test. See International and Academic English’s website for more information.

    Students can contact the graduate student service advisors for additional questions regarding TAships.

  • I'm interested in double majoring in the MS in Computer Science. What is the process?
  • Graduate students from other majors may apply to double major in the MS in Computer Science. Please see the Policies webpage for the instructions to apply for the double major in the MS in Computer Science.
  • I'm interested in double majoring in the PhD in Computer Science. What is the process?
  • Graduate students from other majors may apply to double major in the PhD in Computer Science. These students must complete the instructions for the double major, in addition to the requirements for the PhD transfer requirements. Please see the Policies webpage for our instructions to apply for the double major, and the requirements to transfer to the PhD program.