UC Irvine Overhauls Requirements for Computer Science, Business Information Management and Psychological Science Majors

Students at UC Irvine pursuing degrees in computer science (CS), business information management (BIM) or psychological science (PSCI) will encounter revised curricula in the 2026-2027 academic year. The university has not publicly explained the reasons for the changes, which cut across several departments and will affect both students and staff.

In informatics, INF 101 will no longer be offered. Students will take CS 141 in its place, and the course will no longer serve as an essential prerequisite. Other classes keep their content but change their labels: most courses previously listed as INF will now carry a SWE designation, short for software engineering. Some will move to different departments entirely. INF 141, for example, will be replaced by either SWE 141 or CS 121.

One of the most significant shifts in computer science is the elimination of degree specialization requirements. In their place, students will complete a flexible core requirement. The new structure also adds four more upper-division courses, which students will need to factor into their plans.

The business information management major is being reworked more extensively. MGMT 1 joins the list of lower-division requirements, while ICS 6D is dropped from it. Further adjustments touch the economics sequence requirement, the upper-division core course offerings and the number of upper-division electives students must complete. Those electives will now draw from both the School of Business and the School of Information and Computer Sciences.

Psychological science students will see the PSCI 11A, 11B and 11C fundamentals series removed. Two introductory courses, PSY 21 and PSY 22, will replace it. Students who have already finished the 11A-11C sequence can still apply those credits toward their degree, though they are advised to confirm with a counselor how their completed courses count toward the new introductory requirements. Because the introductory sequence drops from three classes to two, it might seem the workload shrinks, but new psychology majors will have to take an additional upper-division course.

International students on F-1 visas also have a development to note. Those graduating in Fall 2026 or later can apply for STEM OPT, which provides an additional 24 months of work authorization. The opportunity is open to students in science, technology, engineering, math and business information management. Applicants can submit a Degreeworks form beginning in November of this year. The International Center holds biweekly information sessions, and a presentation outlining the application requirements is available online.

The changes described here do not make up a complete list of curriculum updates. Students are encouraged to check their school's website for their specific major and to review their Degreeworks records to make sure they remain on track to graduate.