Computer ScienceOn this page: Introduction | Programs | See also: Faculty Members | Course Descriptions | Course Winter Timetable | Introduction |
Despite the name, Computer Science is not really a science of computers at all. Computers are quite remarkable electronic devices, but even more remarkable is what they can be made to do: simulate the flow of air over a wing, manage communication over the Internet, control the actions of a robot, synthesize realistic images, play grandmaster-level chess, and on and on. Indeed the application of computers in activities like these has affected most areas of modern life. What these tasks have in common has little to do with the physics or electronics of computers; what matters is that they can be formulated as some sort of computation. This is the real subject matter of Computer Science: computation, and what can or cannot be done computationally. In trying to make sense of what we can get a computer to do, a wide variety of topics come up. there are, however, two recurring themes. the first is the issue of scale: how big a system can we specify without getting lost in the design, or how big a task can a computer handle within reasonable bounds of time, memory and accuracy. A large part of Computer Science deals with these questions in one form or another. In the area of programming languages and methodology, for example, we look for notations for describing computations, and programming methodologies that facilitate the production of manageable and efficient software. In the theory of computation area, we study resource requirements in time and memory of many basic computational tasks. the second theme concerns the scope of computation. Computers were originally conceived as purely numerical calculators, but today, we tend to view them much more broadly. Part of Computer Science is concerned with understanding just how far computational ideas can be applied. In the area of artificial intelligence, for example, we ask how much of the intelligent behaviour of people can be expressed in computational terms. In the area of human/computer interaction, we ask what sorts of normal day-to-day activities of people might be supported and augmented using computers. Many of our programs combine another field with computer science, such as Information Systems, Economics, Mathematics, Physics or Statistics. the programs in Software Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction focus on developing areas of computing. Some Computer Science courses are offered in the evening, to allow part-time students to pursue our programs. Introductory courses and some higher-level courses are offered in the summer. the Professional Experience Year Program (PEY) offers students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in industry, over a twelve to sixteen-month period. It, and the Co-Op Japan Program, are available to eligible, full time students pursuing their first degree. Please refer to Page 20 for more information. Associate Chair - Undergraduate Studies: Professor J.N. Clarke Computer Science ProgramsEnrolment is restricted in all CSC programs. You may request a CSC subject POSt in April-June or July-August depending on when you have completed the required 100-level courses listed below and completed your fourth full-course equivalent. Consult the 2009-2010 Registration Handbook & Timetable for details of how to apply. Admission to restricted programs depends on performance in the required 100-level courses (listed in program descriptions) and on cumulative GPA. Tuition fees for students enrolled in Computer Science Major or Specialist programs are higher than for other Arts and Science programs. Course Categories A number of Computer Science programs are described based on the following course categories: English Writing Requirement, Basic Courses, Core Courses, and Additional Courses. Also, all CSC courses and a few related ECE/MAT/STA courses are further grouped into subject areas and sub-areas. English Writing Requirement Students in any Specialist program sponsored by the Department of Computer Science (including Combined Specialist programs) must complete one full credit requiring substantial written work in English. the courses accepted for this purpose are listed below. Courses not on this list do not satisfy the requirement without departmental approval. Students in the Major program in Computer Science must take one-half credit from the same list. Departments offering these courses have agreed to accept our students, but will not give you special preference in enrolment. You must satisfy the prerequisite and other requirements listed in this Calendar. Make sure to check that the course you want to take is offered in the year you want it, and to follow the enrolment requirements stated in the Arts and Science Registration Handbook and Timetable. A Transfer credit, whether it is for a specific course on the list below (e.g., RLG100Y1) or is a generic credit (e.g., RLG 1**Y1), must be approved by the Department in order to count towards the writing requirement. Please contact the Department for approval. In order to accept such a course, we must assess the role of written work in the course, and determine that it was taught in English, at an English-speaking university.
Courses not accepted to satisfy the writing requirement include SCI199H1/Y1, SSC199H1/Y1, and the Research Opportunity Program courses numbered 299Y1 in any Department. INX199H1/Y1 is not automatically accepted towards the writing requirement. Students may, however, request Department approval for a particular INX199H1/Y1 course. In addition to completing their English Writing Requirement, Computer Science students do significant writing in a number of their CSC courses. the quality of their writing, as well as its content, is important and is normally part of the grading scheme. Basic Courses (5.5 full courses): Courses required in the Major and most Specialists First Year: CSC108H1/CSC150H1 [Software
Engineering sub-area] First or Second Year: CSC207H1 [Software
Engineering sub-area] Second Year: CSC263H1/CSC265H1 [Logic
and Complexity sub-area] Notes: Core Courses (3.5 full courses): Courses required in most Specialists CSC209H1 [Core
Systems sub-area] Notes Additional Courses Systems Area
Human Factors and Graphics Area Artificial Intelligence Area
Foundations Area
Computer Science (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science. Enrolment in the Specialist and Major programs is limited. Specialist Program admission requires (1) 65% in CSC148H1/CSC150H1, (2) either 60% in MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1 or 65% in CSC165H1/CSC240H1, and (3) a minimum CGPA of 2.0. Major Program admission requires (1) 50% in CSC148H1/CSC150H1, and (2) either 50% in MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1 or 50% in CSC165H1/CSC240H1. Students who not meet these requirements on the first attempt will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Specialist Program Flexible Option (Science Program) (14 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) 1. One full course
English Writing Requirement. Note: Major Program (8 full courses or their equivalent, including at least TWO 300+ series courses) 1. One half course English Writing Requirement. Notes: Computer Science Artificial Intelligence Option (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requirements are the same as for the Specialist Program in Computer Science. Specialist Program (13.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) 1. One full course English Writing
Requirement. Notes: Computer Science Foundations Option (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requirements are the same as for the Specialist Program in Computer Science. Specialist Program (14 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) 1. One full course English Writing
Requirement. Computer Science Information Systems Option (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requirements are the same as for the Specialist Program in Computer Science. Specialist Program (14 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) 1. One full course English Writing
Requirement. Computer Science Software Engineering Option (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requirements are the same as for the Specialist Program in Computer Science. Specialist Program (13.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) 1. One full course English
Writing Requirement. Notes: Computer Science & Economics (Science Program) Consult the Undergraduate Secretary, Department of Economics or Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requires: (1) 70% in ECO100Y1, (2) 65% in CSC148H1/CSC150H1, (3) either 60% in MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1 or 65% in CSC165H1/CSC240H1, and (4) a minimum CGPA of 2.0. the requirements of the two Departments, Computer Science and Economics, must both be met. Specialist Program (17 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) First Year: Group A: Group B: Group C: Note: Computer Science & Mathematics (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science or Professor S.A. Cook, Department of Computer Science. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requirements are the same as for the Specialist Program in Computer Science. Specialist Program (15.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) First Year: Note: Computer Science & Physics (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science, or Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies), Department of Physics. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requirements are the same as for the Specialist Program in Computer Science. NOTE: Students in this program should consult one or both Departments during the spring of each year, to ensure that they choose courses appropriate to their intended careers. Specialist Program (17.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) First Year: Computer Science & Statistics (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science, or Undergraduate Secretary, Department of Statistics. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requirements are the same as for the Specialist Program in Computer Science. Specialist Program (14.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) First Year: Human-Computer Interaction (Science Program) Consult Student Counsellors, Department of Computer Science. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission requires (1) 65% in CSC148H1/CSC150H1, (2) either 60% in MAT135Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1 or 65% in CSC165H1/CSC240H1, and (3) a minimum CGPA of 2.0. Students who do not meet these requirements on the first attempt will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Specialist Program (15 full courses or their equivalent, including at least ONE 400-series course) First Year: Notes: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology See Biochemistry Cognitive Science & Artificial Intelligence - See University College Linguistics and Computing- See Linguistics |