CS Department Placement Examination Process & Details

This information pertains to incoming MS students who received the following condition on their admissions notification: 

“As part of the program, students are required to complete the following three courses with a grade of B or better: CSCI 6201, CSCI 6202, and CSCI 6203. At the start of the first semester, students may take placement exams which may allow qualified students to waive one or more of the previously mentioned courses."

If you have a strong foundational background in computing or coding, you may be eligible to waive certain introductory requirements through our Placement Examination process, outlined below. If you do not have a strong foundational background in computing or coding, then you do not need to take the placement exam.

Step-by-Step Guide to Registering for Placement Examinations: 

Follow these three steps to secure your seat for a placement exam. Note: You must complete the steps in the following order.

1. Course Registration: First, you must officially register for the following three courses for the Fall 2026 semester. This ensures you have a seat in the class should you not pass the placement exam. For instructions on how to register, please follow these instructions and login to GWeb to complete your registration. 

   You must be registered for these courses in order to eventually register for the placement exam. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for course details. 

   1. CSCI 6201, CSCI 6202, and CSCI 6203
2. Submit the Declaration Form: Once registered for the courses, all admitted students should complete and submit the appropriate Placement Exam Declaration Form for your program (linked below). The form will be available starting May 1, 2026. Completing this form notifies the department of your intent to take a placement exam in order to attempt to waive the course requirement.
   1. Placement Exam Declaration Form for MS Computer Science program students
   2. Placement Exam Declaration Form for MS Cybersecurity in CS program students
3. Await Instructions to register for the placement exam: After your form is processed, please continue to monitor your GW student email for instructions on how to register for the placement exam. Registration for the placement exam opens on July 1, 2026 and will close on August 1, 2026. We will send out detailed instructions on how to finalize your registration for the specific exam sessions and where they will be held on campus.
4. Placement Examination: All placement exams will be administered the evening of Wednesday, August 19, 2026. The exams will be facilitated after the in-person new student orientation for all incoming graduate students at a location on the Foggy Bottom campus in downtown Washington, DC. 

Placement exam results: Students who take a placement exam and successfully place out of the intended CSCI course(s) will be notified of their results by Friday, August 21, 2026. Additional guidance regarding course registration for those who are able to waive a foundational course will be provided at that time.

Is it mandatory for students to take the placement exam?

No, it is not mandatory for incoming students to take a placement exam in order to waive any or all of the CSCI foundational course. Students who feel strongly about their skills and believe they have the necessary ability to waive these requirements are encouraged to register to take a placement exam.

What skills or abilities do I need to have a solid understanding of in order to consider taking a placement exam?

CSCI 6201: Programming in a high-level object oriented language with core data structures and objects.

CSCI 6202: Computer organization and computer systems with data representation, memory, IO, and CPU.

CSCI 6203:  Knowledge of discrete mathematics, basic algorithms and data structures, and foundational elements of linear algebra.

Are there any alternative ways to satisfy these course requirements, such as external certifications or standardized test scores?

No, there are no alternative ways for a student to satisfy these requirements. Passing the placement exam is the only way for a student to waive the course requirement. 

What if I cannot take the placement exam on Wednesday, August 19th, 2026?

Please contact the Computer Science (CS) Department directly at csgwu [dot] edu (cs[at]gwu[dot]edu) and they will provide further instruction.

How long will each placement exam take?

Students will have 45 minutes to complete each exam.

What is the format of the placement exams for each of these courses (e.g., written exam, project-based, multiple choice)?

CSCI 6201: The placement exam for this course will include both programming problems and written questions.

CSCI 6202: The placement exam for this course will include both programming problems and multiple choice questions.

CSCI 6203:  The placement exam for this course is primarily a written exam comprised mostly of multiple choice questions.

How many attempts am I allowed per subject?

Students will only have one attempt to take a placement exam for each course. 

Are there accommodations or disability support services provided for the placement exams?

 If you require any accommodations, please contact the Computer Science (CS) department directly at csgwu [dot] edu (cs[at]gwu[dot]edu).