Quantitative Electives Policy

Which courses count as Quantitative Electives?

Students who became Computer Science majors before September 2005 must pass two 3- or 4-credit Quantitative Elective courses. These courses deal with the application of mathematical methods to solving real problems. If a quantitative elective has a co-requisite laboratory, the laboratory must also be passed.

This page lists the courses that can be taken to satisfy the Computer Science Dept. Quantitative Electives requirement. Courses not specifically listed below can only be counted as Quantitative Electives with the written approval of the Computer Science Dept. Chair or Undergraduate Coordinator.

Some courses do not qualify as Quantitative Electives despite their quantitative content, specifically

  • Computer Science courses
  • courses not in the Undergraduate Catalog (this rule disqualifies many Continuing Education courses)
  • non-Computer Science courses whose focus is software, for example, 16.217, 16.563, and 92.263
  • courses whose content substantially overlaps courses you take in satisfaction of your Computer Science major, for example, 14.286 (which overlaps with 92.386, Probability and Statistics I)
  • courses that the offering department does not allow you to take, for example, any course listed as “for majors only” in the Undergraduate Catalog
  • graduate courses, unless specifically approved by the Undergraduate Coordinator

Some courses that are no longer offered can be used as Quantitative Electives. Most of these courses are listed at the bottom of this page. Consult the Undergraduate Coordinator if you believe you have taken a course that used to be a Quantitative Elective but that is not listed below or at the bottom of this page.

The following courses can be taken as Quantitative Electives unless disqualified by the rules listed above.

ARTS AND SCIENCES

Biology: 81.111 and higher, 83.101 and higher

Chemistry: 84.121 and higher, except 84.260 and 84.360

Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences: 85.306, 87.201, 87.202, 89.201, 89.314, 89.452

Economics: 49.312, 49.317, 49.407

Mathematics (only applied courses are allowed): 92.301, 92.302, 92.362, 92.363 (if taken before the Fall 2003), 92.381, 92.382, 92.403, 92.409, 92.416, 92.450, 92.457, 92.458, 92.481, 92.482, 92.483, 92.593

Physics: 95.210 and higher

ENGINEERING

Chemical Engineering: 10.203 and higher

Nuclear Engineering: 24.331 and higher

Civil Engineering: 14.203 and higher

Electrical Engineering: 16.201, 16.202, 16.211, 16.333, 16.355 and higher, EXCEPT 16.420, 16.422, 16.425, 16.442, and other courses with a significant computer component

Mechanical Engineering: 22.211 and higher

Plastics Engineering: 26.201 and higher

Work Environment: 19.525, 19.530, 19.540

The following additional courses, which are no longer offered at UMass Lowell, can also be counted as Quantitative Electives.

Economics: 49.316 and 49.436

Mathematics (only applied courses are allowed): 92.404 and 92.418

Physics: 80.336 and higher; 95.209 and higher; 24.331; 98.306 and higher