Advanced placement tests in computer science do not qualify students to place out of 1.00/1.001. However, students may apply for transfer credit based on previous course-work. To receive transfer credit for 1.00, a student must have received a grade B or better in a course that meets the following criteria:
- It is of comparable scale to 1.00 (4-5 credits in most places for courses that are a semester long).
- It is more than a how-to-program course. Qualifying courses should cover a range of algorithmic areas comparable to those covered in 1.00, including numerical methods, sorting, searching, graphical user interfaces, threads and data structures.
- The course makes extensive use of object-oriented programming.
- It is from a university with academic standards at least equivalent to MIT’s. Courses from community colleges or extension programs generally are not accepted.
- The course includes programming assignments that are significant in scope. 1.00 typically has 9-10 problem sets in a semester; a course qualifying for transfer credit must have similar requirements.
Note: It is NOT essential that the course use the same programming language as 1.00.
Generally, approval of transfer credit requires a meeting with one of the instructors in charge of 1.00. Anyone requesting transfer credit should make an appointment and bring supportive materials, such as the textbook, syllabus and typical assignments, to the meeting. Examples of courses that are accepted include Harvard University CSCI S-111 (Intensive Introduction to Computer Science Using Java) and Boston University CAS CS 112 (Introduction to Computer Science II) or CAS CS 113 (Introduction to Computer Science II plus Introduction to C++).
It is possible for a student to be granted transfer credit for a course without placing out of 1.00. The transfer credit in this case counts as an unrestricted elective. This is often a good compromise for students whose courses don’t meet the above criteria.
For more information on how to receive transfer credit, please visit the Registrar’s web page on Transfer Credit.
