Common misconceptions clarified during Fall 2026 registration planning.
Q: Does CS 7001 count toward 30cr PhD minimum? No. OSCAR states "Credit not allowed in a program of study for a graduate degree." Counts only toward full-time enrollment (12cr) and graded minimum (9cr).
Q: Does CS 8997/8998 count toward 9cr graded minimum? No. Audit credits count toward 12cr total only. Excluded from 9cr grade/sat-unsat minimum.
Q: Should first-semester students register CS 8903 or CS 8999? CS 8903 is for pre-advisor students. CS 8999 is for students with formal advisor. Advisor sending registration instructions = you have formal advisor, use CS 8999.
Q: Why CS 8997 = 3cr? Advisor explicitly stated: "CS 8997 (GTA) or CS 8998 (GRA): Variable credit - defers to 1. Please change to 3." Fixed, not a choice.
Q: How to set CS 8999 credit hours? Advisor formula: CS 8999 = 12 - (sum of all other registered credits). CS 8997 is fixed at 3 first, then CS 8999 fills the gap to reach full-time 12cr minimum.
Example without CS 7496: 5 (7001) + 2 (8802) + 3 (8997) = 10, so CS 8999 = 2cr. Example with CS 7496: 5 + 2 + 3 + 3 (7496) = 13, so CS 8999 = 1cr (minimum).
Q: Do variable-credit courses default correctly? No. CS 8999 and CS 8997 both defer to 1cr. Must manually change in OSCAR after registering. Chapter 2: "Register for the course and then set the hours."
Q: Which CETL 8802 section to pick? Avoid section A (Fri 11:00-12:55) if taking CS 7496 A (MWF 11:00-11:50) - direct conflict Friday. Use section COC (MW 14:00-14:50, Klaus 2456, CRN 95110).
Q: Does CS 8999 count toward 30cr PhD minimum? Yes. Research credits (CS 8903/8999/9000) count toward the 30cr program requirement.
Q: What counts toward 30cr PhD minimum? Breadth courses (12cr min), minor courses (6cr min), research credits (CS 8903/8999/9000). CS 7001 and CS 8997/8998 excluded.
Table of Content