CSC Computer ScienceOn this page: Introduction | Programs | IntroductionWhat is Computer Science? 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 computatively. 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 language 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. The equipment and software available to students are up-to-date and accessible. On the St. George campus, microcomputers are used at the introductory level, and a network of workstations serves upper-level courses. In addition, some higher-level courses are based on laboratories. 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) and the Japan Internship Program are available to eligible, full time students. Please refer to Page 22 for more information. In Computer Science, students are to have completed the writing requirement before undertaking a Professional Experience Year. Enrolment is restricted in all CSC programs. Consult the Timetable and the Department 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 the cumulative GPA. The minimum mark in CSC 148H is 65%, and in first-year calculus is 60%. The minimum GPA is calculated annually. It is never lower than 2.00, and for 1999 will not be higher than 2.80. Undergraduate Coordinator: Dr. J.N. Clarke Undergraduate Office: Sandford Fleming Building, Room 2304D (978-6360) Student Counsellor: D. George, Sandford Fleming Building, Room 2304A COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAMSCOMPUTER SCIENCE (B.Sc.) Consult Student Counsellor, Department of Computer
Science. Enrolment in the Specialist Program is limited. Admission requires 65% in CSC 148H, 60% in MAT 137Y/157Y, and a minimum CGPA. Consult the Timetable and the
Department for details. Specialist program (Hon.B.Sc.):(13 full courses or their equivalent, including
at least one 400-series course) First Year: CSC 108H, 148H; MAT 137Y/157Y; STA 107H (See Note
1 to Specialist program) First or Second Year: CSC 238H/MAT 246Y, CSC 258H, 270H; MAT (223H, 224H)/240H; writing
requirement (See Note 2 to Specialist program) Second Year: CSC 209H, 228H; MAT 237Y/257Y Second or Third Year: STA 257H Third Year: CSC 324H, 364H, 378H; MAT 301H/302H/315H/334H/344H Third or Fourth Year: Group A: CSC 401H, 408H, 418H, 428H, 434H, 458H, 468H, 485H, 486H, 487H, 488H/ECE 489H Group B: CSC 340H, 354H, 372H, 384H, 446H, 454H, 456H, ECE 385H Major program (B.Sc.): (8 full courses or their equivalent) Enrolment in the Major Program is limited. Admission requires 65% in CSC 148H, 60% in MAT 137Y/157Y and a minimum CGPA. Consult the Timetable and the
Department for details. First Year: CSC 108H, 148H; MAT 137Y/157Y (See Note 1 to Specialist program) First or Second Year: CSC 209H/228H/260H, 258H, 270H; MAT (223H, 224H/STA 107H/257H)/MAT 240H; writing requirement (see Note 2 to Specialist
program). Higher Years: Six half-courses from the following groups, of which at least two
half-courses must be from Group C and at least two from Group D: Group C: CSC 324H, 340H, 354H, 372H, 384H, 401H, 408H, 418H, 428H, 434H, 454H, 458H, 468H, 485H, 486H, 487H, 488H/ECE 489H, ECE 385H Group D: CSC 238H/MAT 246Y*, CSC 336H, 350H, 351H, 364H, 378H, 438H, 446H, 448H, 456H, 465H, 478H (you may not
take both of CSC 336H and CSC
350H/351H) Group E: CSC 300H, 318H Minor program (B.Sc.): (4 full courses or their equivalent) Enrolment in the Minor Program is limited. Admission requires 60% in CSC 148H and a minimum CGPA of 2.00. First Year: CSC 108H, 148H (See Note 1 to Specialist program) First or Second Year: Higher Years: COMPUTER SCIENCE AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS (Hon.B.Sc.) COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS (Hon.B.Sc.) Consult the Undergraduate Secretary,
Department of Economics or Student Counsellor, Department of Computer Science. Specialist program: (17 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one
400-series course) First Year: CSC 108H, 148H; ECO 100Y; MAT 137Y/157Y (See Note 1
to Specialist program in Computer Science) Higher Years: Group B: ECO 310Y, 314H, 328Y, 333Y, 334Y, 336Y, 348H Group C: APM 361H/366H/371H; CSC 340H, 351H, 354H, 401H, 408H, 454H; ECE 385H; STA 302H, 322H, 347H, 401H, 437H, 457H COMPUTER SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS (Hon.B.Sc.) Consult Student Counsellor,
Department of Computer Science or Professor S.A. Cook, Department of Computer Science. Specialist program: (15 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one
400-series course) First Year: CSC 148H; MAT 157Y, 240H; STA 107H (See Note 1 to Specialist program in Computer
Science) First or Second Year: CSC 258H, 270H; writing requirement (See Note 2 to Specialist program
in Computer Science) Second Year: CSC 228H; MAT 247H, 257Y, 267H Third Year: CSC 324H, 364H, 378H COMPUTER SCIENCE AND PHYSICS (Hon.B.Sc.) Consult Student Counsellor, Department
of Computer Science, or Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies), Department of Physics. Specialist program: (17.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least
one 400-series course) First Year: CSC 108H, 148H; MAT 137Y/157Y, 223H/240H; PHY 140Y (See Note
1 to Specialist program in Computer Science) First or Second Year: CSC 238H/MAT 246Y, CSC 270H;
writing requirement (see Note 2 to Specialist program in Computer Science) Second Year: CSC228H; MAT 237Y/257Y, 244H/267H; PHY 225H, 251H, 252H, 255H, 256H Third Year: APM 346H; CSC 324H, 350H, 378H; MAT 334H; PHY 351H, 352H, 355H Third or Fourth Year: COMPUTER SCIENCE AND STATISTICS (Hon.B.Sc.) Consult Student Counsellor,
Department of Computer Science, or Undergraduate Secretary, Department of Statistics. Specialist program: (16.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least
one 400-series course) Third or Fourth Year: Specialist program: (15.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least
one 400-series course) First Year: First or Second Year: CSC 238H/MAT 246Y, CSC 270H, PSY 100Y Second Year: Third Year: Third or Fourth Year: INFORMATION SYSTEMS (Hon.B.Sc.) Consult Student Counsellor, Department of
Computer Science. Specialist program: (15 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one
400-series course) First Year: First or Second Year: Second Year or Third Year: Third or Fourth Year: Fourth Year: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (Hon.B.Sc.) Consult Student Counsellor, Department of
Computer Science. Specialist program: (13 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one
400-series course) First Year: CSC 108H, 148H; MAT 137Y/157Y; STA 107H (See Note
1 to Specialist program in Computer Science) First or Second Year: CSC 238H/MAT246Y, CSC 258H,270H; writing requirement (See Note 2 to Specialist program
in Computer Science.) Second Year or Third Year: CSC 209H, 228H, 318H/428H, 324H, 340H; MAT 223H/240H; STA 257H Third or Fourth Year: COGNITIVE SCIENCE & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - See University College
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