¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Computing Science Honours Program

School of Computing Science | Faculty of Applied Sciences
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2012 Fall

The school offers an honours program leading to a bachelor of science (BSc) or a bachelor of arts (BA) degree. This undergraduate degree is appropriate for many interdisciplinary areas.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

Entry into computing science programs is possible via

  • direct admission from high school
  • direct transfer from a recognized post-secondary institution, or combined transfer units from more than one post-secondary institution
  • internal transfer from within ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV is competitive. A separate admission average for each entry route is established each term, depending on spaces available and subject to the approval of the dean of applied sciences. ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV averages are calculated over a set of courses satisfying particular breadth constraints.

Internal Transfer

Internal transfer allows students to transfer, within ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV, from one faculty to another. Once you have completed our 3 qualifying courses (see below) you can apply for internal transfer into the School of Computing Science. ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV students applying for School of Computing Science admission are selected on the basis of an admission computing-related grade point average (CRGPA). The CRGPA is calculated over the best three courses chosen as follows.

  • one mathematics course chosen from MACM 101, 201, MATH 150 (or 151), 152 and 240 (or 232)
  • one computing course chosen from CMPT 125 (or 126 or 128), 150, (or ENSC 150), 225, 250 and 275
  • one additional mathematics or computing science course chosen from the above lists

No course may be included in the average if it is a duplicate of any previous course completed at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV or elsewhere. All three courses must be completed prior to application. For complete information, contact an Applied Sciences Advisor.

Continuation Requirements

Students should maintain a CGPA and a UDGPA of 3.00 in order to continue in the computing science honours program.

Program Requirements

Students complete the following, with at least 50 within the minimum of 60 upper division units, as specified below with a minimum graduation GPA of 3.00. For specific program information, course plans, schedules, etc, consult an Applied Sciences Advisor.

Lower Division Requirements

Students must complete the following curriculum. It is suggested that students complete a recommended schedule of courses within the first two years.

Students complete either

  • CMPT 126 Introduction to Computing Science and Programming * (3)

or both of

  • CMPT 120 Introduction to Computing Science and Programming I * (3)
  • CMPT 125 Introduction to Computing Science and Programming II * (3)

and all of

  • CMPT 150 Introduction to Computer Design (3)
  • CMPT 225 Data Structures and Programming (3)
  • CMPT 250 Introduction to Computer Architecture (3)
  • CMPT 275 Software Engineering I (4)
  • MACM 101 Discrete Mathematics I (3)
  • MACM 201 Discrete Mathematics II (3)

and one of

  • MATH 150 Calculus I with Review (4)
  • MATH 151 Calculus I (3)
  • MATH 154 Calculus I for the Biological Sciences ** (3)
  • MATH 157 Calculus I for the Social Sciences ** (3)

and one of

  • MATH 152 Calculus II (3)
  • MATH 155 Calculus II for the Biological Sciences ** (3)
  • MATH 158 Calculus II for the Social Sciences ** (3)

and one of

  • MATH 232 Applied Linear Algebra (3)
  • MATH 240 Algebra I: Linear Algebra (3)

and one of

  • STAT 270 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
  • BUEC 232 Data and Decisions I (4)

*to aid your choice, prior to enrolment, consult an Applied Sciences Advisor.
**with a grade of at least B+, and with school permission

Upper Division Requirements

Consult an Applied Sciences Advisor before commencing upper division requirements.

Students are required to bring the total upper division units in CMPT/MACM courses to at least 50 within the minimum of 60 upper division units, and an overall total of 132 units are required for the degree, together with a graduation grade point average of at least 3.00.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed below, students should consult an Applied Sciences Advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

Breadth Requirement

One course in each of the six areas of Table I is required. These courses must include

  • CMPT 300 Operating Systems I (3)
  • CMPT 307 Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
  • CMPT 354 Database Systems I (3)

Depth Requirement

Eighteen units of additional CMPT courses numbered CMPT 400 or above must be completed (excluding CMPT 415, 416 and 498, which may be included by special permission).

These courses must include CMPT 405 and at least one other course in the theoretical computing science concentration. At least four of the courses must be numbered 400 or above.

In addition, six units of research courses are required including both of

  • CMPT 415 Special Research Projects (3)
  • CMPT 416 Special Research Projects (3)
    or
  • CMPT 498 honours Research Project (6)

BSc Credential

For a BSc computing science degree, the following additional requirements must be met.

  • two additional courses chosen from Table I, II or III
  • MACM 316 Numerical Analysis I (3)

and one of

  • CMPT 320 Social Implications - Computerized Society (3)
  • CMNS 353 Topics in Technology and Society (4)

Other courses may be approved on submission of a detailed course outline to the school.


The primary upper division requirements are structured according to breadth, depth and credential requirements as listed below.

As part of a major program, students may complete one or more concentrations from these six areas: artificial intelligence, computer graphics and multimedia, computing systems, information systems, programming languages and software engineering, and theoretical computing science.

To complete a concentration, students complete the major requirements, including four courses in the corresponding section below - Computing Science Concentrations, at least two of which must be at the 400 division. Courses used to meet the requirements of a concentration may also be used to meet other program requirements.

Table I –

Artificial Intelligence

  • CMPT 310 Artificial Intelligence Survey (3)
  • CMPT 340 Biomedical Computing (3)
  • CMPT 411 Knowledge Representation (3)
  • CMPT 412 Computational Vision (3)
  • CMPT 413 Computational Linguistics (3)
  • CMPT 414 Model-Based Computer Vision (3)
  • CMPT 417 Intelligent Systems (3)
  • CMPT 418 Computational Cognitive Architecture (3)
  • CMPT 419 Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence (3)

Computer Graphics and Multimedia

  • CMPT 361 Introduction to Computer Graphics (3)
  • CMPT 363 User Interface Design (3)
  • CMPT 365 Multimedia Systems (3)
  • CMPT 461 Image Synthesis (3)
  • CMPT 464 Geometric Modeling in Computer Graphics (3)
  • CMPT 466 Animation (3)
  • CMPT 467 Visualization (3)
  • CMPT 468 Introduction to Computer Music and Sound Synthesis (3)
  • CMPT 469 Special Topics in Computer Graphics (3)

Computing Systems

  • CMPT 300 Operating Systems I (3)
  • CMPT 305 Computer Simulation and Modeling (3)
  • CMPT 371 Data Communications and Networking (3)
  • CMPT 379 Principles of Compiler Design (3)
  • CMPT 401 Operating Systems II (3)
  • CMPT 431 Distributed Systems (3)
  • CMPT 432 Real-time Systems (3)
  • CMPT 433 Embedded Systems (3)
  • CMPT 471 Networking II (3)
  • CMPT 479 Special Topics in Computing Systems (3)
  • CMPT 499 Special Topics in Computer Hardware (3)

Information Systems

  • CMPT 301 Information Systems Management (3)
  • CMPT 354 Database Systems I (3)
  • CMPT 370 Information System Design (3)
  • CMPT 441 Computational Biology (3)
  • CMPT 454 Database Systems II (3)
  • CMPT 456 Information Retrieval and Web Search (3)
  • CMPT 459 Special Topics in Database Systems (3)
  • CMPT 470 Web-based Information Systems (3)
  • CMPT 474 Web Systems Architecture (3)

Programming Languages and Software

  • CMPT 373 Software Development Methods (3)
  • CMPT 375 Mathematical Foundations of Software Technology (3)
  • CMPT 383 Comparative Programming Languages (3)
  • CMPT 384 Symbolic Computing (3)
  • CMPT 473 Software Quality Assurance (3)
  • CMPT 475 Software Engineering II (3)
  • CMPT 477 Introduction to Formal Verification (3)
  • CMPT 480 Foundations of Programming Languages (3)
  • CMPT 481 Functional Programming (3)
  • CMPT 489 Special Topics in Programming Language (3)

Theoretical Computing Science

  • CMPT 307 Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
  • CMPT 308 Computability and Complexity (3)
  • CMPT 404 Cryptography and Cryptographic Protocols (3)
  • CMPT 405 Design and Analysis of Computing Algorithms (3)
  • CMPT 406 Computational Geometry (3)
  • CMPT 407 Computational Complexity (3)
  • CMPT 408 Theory of Computing Networks/Communications (3)
  • CMPT 409 Special Topics in Theoretical Computing Science (3)
  • MACM 300 Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata with Applications (3)

Table II – Application Courses

Currently no courses.

Table III - Computing Mathematics Courses

  • MACM 316 Numerical Analysis I (3)
  • MACM 401 Introduction to Computer Algebra (3)
  • MACM 442 Cryptography (3)
  • MATH 308 Linear Optimization (3)
  • MATH 340 Algebra II: Rings and Fields (3)
  • MATH 343 Applied Discrete Mathematics (3)

The following courses may be counted in one of the above tables with permission of the school.

  • CMPT 318 Special Topics in Computing Science (3)
  • CMPT 415 Special Research Projects (3)
  • CMPT 416 Special Research Projects (3)
  • CMPT 496 Directed Studies (3)
  • CMPT 497 Dual Degree Program Capstone Project (6)
  • CMPT 498 honours Research Project (6)

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit.
Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV within the student’s major subject
Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division
6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc
6 units Humanities: B-Hum
6 units Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements)
Additional breadth units must be from outside the student's major and may be B-designated (B-Hum, B-Soc, B-Sci courses). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.

  • At least half of the program’s total units must be earned through ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV study
  • At least two thirds of the program’s total upper division units must be earned through ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV study
  • At least two thirds of the upper division units in the courses of a school offering (or joint offering) a program must be earned through that school at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

For information regarding transfer, consult an Applied Sciences Advisor.

Co-operative Education and Work Experience

All computing science students are strongly encouraged to explore the opportunities that Work Integrated Learning (WIL) can offer them. Please contact a computing Science co-op advisor during your first year of studies to ensure that you have all of the necessary courses and information to help plan for a successful co-op experience.

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