This post was written on Nov 11, 2024
This post is critical to read if you are planning to declare your concentration before March, 2025.
The new concentration requirements are now up on the department website, and there are infographics that point out the differences between the old and new requirements (follow the link). Today is the first Cookies and Concentration Undergraduate Town Hall, and I'm going to use this space to bring up questions and answers that were discussed there, in case you were not able to attend. I'll also answer any questions that I've been asked in the last few days to help ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
1) I'm in the Class of 2027 and I want to declare my concentration now. Can I?
Answer: Yes, but you will have to declare under the old requirements. ASK will not be updated with the new requirements until January, 2025. We strongly recommend that you wait until Spring 2025.
2) I'm in the Class of 2025 (this includes Class of 2024.5 and Class of 2025.5) and I want to redeclare my concentration with the new requirements. Can I?
Answer: No. This is not our decision, but the Registrar's and Dean of the College. If you need to redeclare to make sure that what classes you said you would take matches what you actually took, we will look at your declaration to make sure that you are satisfying the old requirements. If you redeclare in Spring, 2025, then count CLPS0010 as a Foundation, instead of a Gateway in ASK.
3) I'm in the Class of 2026 and have an approved concentration already, and I'm happy with my declaration. What do I do?
Answer: Nothing. Take the courses that you said that you would take. If you need to redeclare because there is a change in your plan, then talk with your concentration advisor when this is necessary.
4) When will classes for the 2025-2026 Academic Year be posted?
Answer: March of 2025. Classes for the next academic year are always posted in March.
5) Can I mix and match requirements if I'm in the class of 2026?
Answer: Kind of. We would prefer if you did not. We'd prefer that you either you satisfy the old requirements or the new ones. If you're an AB student, this doesn't matter. HOWEVER, if you have an approved Sc.B. concentration declaration now (well, technically, as of Nov 11, 2024) and you want to explore the new AB requirements, you'll be approved as long as you're using the same classes for the Sc.B part. But that's only if your concentration was already approved, not if you're a new concentrator now. If you are new (e.g., if you are deciding you want to double concentrate), then you have to use the new requirements. It is vitally important that you talk to your concentration advisor to plan out your final curriculum.
6) What's the difference among the four concentrations?
Answer: see this entry of the blog.
7a) I want to double concentrate in Computer Science and Cognitive Science? Can I use CSCI 112 towards my Cognitive Science degree?
Answer: No. You can use CSCI0111 (which you have to take to get into 112) or CSCI0200 (which you have to take if you're a CS major) to fulfill the relevant requirement in Cognitive Science (or Cognitive Neuroscience or BDS, I suppose), but it would count as one of the two courses you would use as overlap.
7b) I am a double concentrator and one of my concentrations is in CPSY. My other department is letting more than 2 classes count towards the overlap. Can CPSY do the same?
Answer: No. We recognize that some other departments allow this, but if we allowed students to do this, we believe there would be too many cases where students who double concentrate are not studying enough material in our department to equate with someone satisfying a single concentration in the department.
8) What happens if I have other questions?
Answer: Feel free to come by my office hours (listed in a number of different places) or the office hours of a concentration advisor.