<p>I'm a cs student at UMCP (where Operating Systems isn't a required course). I just realized I'm taking more cs class than needed and was already planning on taking OS, but I recently begun thinking about taking it pass/fail. I've heard it's a really hard class, so I figured I might as well save my self some pain. I also (think) it allows me to take an extra course b/c it isn't as stressful. </p>
<p>Anyway, I'm asking this in case anyone can think of any reasons I SHOULDN'T do this. I think grad school is unlikely, but would this look poorly to them? Restating that OS is not a required course here. But I feel it would be important to take. Or, if I am going to take it pass/fail, should I not bother even taking it all?</p>
<p>Operating Systems is also one THE MOST important CS courses that you can take. Personally, I would not leave that campus as a CS major without that course. It is odd (and that has been discussed here before) that a highly-ranked CS program like U-Maryland-CP would omit Operating Systems as a required course. Let me say this if you enter the software engineering world:</p>
<p>YOU CANNOT AVOID OPERATING SYSTEMS…why?</p>
<p>1) You will always interact with OS’s in developing software. You have to account for the OS at all phases of software engineering.</p>
<p>2) It is a required prerequisite for almost every graduate CS program in the world…many times, a graduate-version of Operating Systems will also be required in the CS grad program.</p>
<p>3) Although UMCP is highly ranked in CS, almost every other CS major (not from UMCP) will have taken Operating Systems and you will compete against them.</p>
<p>4) (Not a big thing, but…) You don’t want to be bothering your OS admin with trivial questions about the OS that you are using. He or she will become annoyed.</p>
<p>If you have some time, get on Google, set that domain to “.edu” and check out the CS programs. Hell, you will even notice that UMBC, Towson, JHU and other schools in the area require Operating Systems for their CS programs.</p>
<p>Agree with GLOBALTRAVELER… you’d be doing yourself a disservice by missing a course on OS. It’s a little unfortunately that UMCP doesn’t require it… it would be interesting to look into their reasoning. Students without exposure to the material in such a course will be at a distinct disadvantage compared to students with that exposure.</p>