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Computer Science - Science and Engineering


The Computer Science and Engineering Department offers courses leading to a bachelor of arts (BA), a bachelor of science (BSc) and an international bachelor of arts and bachelor of science (iBA and iBSc). For the BSc and iBSc, students must take courses in laboratory sciences.

General Prerequisites

All 2000-level computer science courses require the following general prerequisite, in addition to or including other course specific prerequisites: SC/CSE 1030 3.00 with a grade of at least C+.

Most 3000- and 4000-level computer science courses require the following general prerequisites, in addition to or including other course specific prerequisites: SC/CSE 2011 3.00; a cumulative grade point average of 4.50 or better over all completed major computer science courses including SC/CSE 1019 3.00 (cross-listed to: SC/MATH 1019 3.00).

i) All degree candidates in computer science (except those taking a minor) must complete the program core: SC/CSE 1019 3.00; SC/CSE 1020 3.00; SC/CSE 1030 3.00; SC/CSE 2001 3.00; SC/CSE 2011 3.00; SC/CSE 2021 4.00; SC/CSE 2031 3.00; SC/CSE 3101 3.00; SC/CSE 3221 3.00; SC/CSE 3311 3.00; SC/MATH 1090 3.00; SC/MATH 1300 3.00; SC/MATH 1310 3.00.

Note: to satisfy computer science degree requirements, SC/MATH 1013 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1300 3.00; SC/MATH 1014 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1310 3.00; SC/MATH 1021 3.00 or SC/MATH 2221 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1025 3.00.

BA Programs

ii) All BA, Honours BA and Honours iBA degree candidates must comply with the general education requirement: 24 credits from humanities, modes of reasoning, natural science and social science (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section). In addition, all computer science Honours BA degree programs, except the Honours Minor BA program, require the successful completion of at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics courses.

iii) All BA, Honours BA and Honours iBA degree candidates, in accordance with their declared programs, must comply with general regulation 5, 6 or 7 (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section) and, in so doing, must also satisfy the course, credit and standing requirements specified below.

Bachelor Program (BA)

To graduate in a bachelor program. A minimum overall grade point average of 4.00 (C) is required in order to be eligible to graduate with a BA degree (bachelor program).

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • at least nine additional credits from computer science courses at the 3000 level, including at least three credits from courses with second digit 4 (i.e. applications area), for an overall total of at least 40 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 90 credits, of which at least 18 credits are at the 3000 level or higher, including at least 12 credits in the major.

Honours Programs (Honours BA)

To graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

Specialized Honours BA Program

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • SC/MATH 1025 3.00; SC/MATH 2030 3.00;
  • SC/CSE 3000 3.00, SC/CSE 3401 3.00; at least three additional credits from computer science courses at the 3000 level;
  • at least 12 credits from computer science courses at the 4000 level, including SC/CSE 4101 3.00 or SC/CSE 4111 3.00 or SC/CSE 4115 3.00;
  • at least six additional credits from computer science courses at the 3000 or 4000 level, for an overall total of at least 58 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, at least 36 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 18 credits must be at the 4000 level and at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

Specialized Honours BA Program (Communication Networks Stream)

Specialized Honours BA Program (Intelligent Systems Stream)

Note: SC/CSE 3215 3.00 and SC/CSE 3451 4.00 are also recommended as complementing the stream.

Specialized Honours BA Program (Interactive Systems Stream)

Specialized Honours BA Program (Software Development Stream)

Honours Major, Honours Double Major and Honours Major/Minor Programs

An Honours Major in computer science may be taken standalone in an Honours Major BA degree program or combined with an Honours Major in another subject area in a Honours Double Major BA degree program, or with an Honours Minor in another subject area in a Honours Major/Minor BA degree program. The Honours Double Major BA programs described below, including any one of the three streams, may be pursued jointly with any other Honours bachelor degree program in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies or in the following programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering: applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics for education, statistics. Possible subject combinations are listed under Undergraduate Degree Programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Undergraduate Degree and Certificate Programs section.

The Honours BA programs described below, including any one of the three streams, may be pursued jointly with any Honours Minor bachelor degree program in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies or Science and Engineering.

The following are the minimum requirements:

  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • the computer science Honours Major requirements below;
  • the course requirements for the possible second major or the minor;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, at least 36 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 18 credits must be at the 4000 level and at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

It is recommended that students in the Honours Major, Honours Double Major or Honours Major/Minor programs, where computer science is the major, take a linear algebra course such as SC/MATH 1025 3.00 among their electives.

Honours Major Program (Honours BA)

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • SC/MATH 2030 3.00;
  • SC/CSE 3000 3.00, SC/CSE 3401 3.00;
  • at least 12 credits from computer science courses at the 4000 level, for an overall total of at least 49 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, at least 36 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 18 credits must be at the 4000 level and at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

Honours Major BA Program (Communication Networks Stream)

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • SC/MATH 2030 3.00;
  • SC/CSE 3000 3.00; SC/CSE 3213 3.00 or SC/CSE 3214 3.00; SC/CSE 3401 3.00; SC/CSE 3451 4.00;
  • at least 13 credits from computer science courses at the 4000 level, including SC/CSE 4084 6.00; SC/CSE 4214 4.00; SC/CSE 4215 3.00 for an overall total of at least 57 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, at least 36 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 18 credits must be at the 4000 level and at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

Honours Major BA Program (Intelligent Systems Stream)

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • SC/MATH 2030 3.00;
  • SC/CSE 3000 3.00; SC/CSE 3401 3.00; SC/CSE 3402 3.00;
  • at least 12 credits from computer science courses at the 4000 level, including SC/CSE 4081 6.00; SC/CSE 4401 3.00 or SC/CSE 4402 3.00; SC/CSE 4421 3.00 or SC/CSE 4422 3.00, for an overall total of at least 52 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, at least 36 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 18 credits must be at the 4000 level and at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

Honours Major BA Program (Interactive Systems Stream)

Honours Minor BA Program

Notes:

  1. SC/CSE 1020 3.00 can be substituted for the pair SC/CSE 1710 3.00 and SC/CSE 1720 3.00 toward satisfying the minor requirements, as long as the credit count for the minor remains 30 minimum.
  2. In order to obtain an Honours BA (120 credits) students must take a total of at least 18 credits at the 4000 level, including at least 12 credits at the 4000 level in each Honours Major or Specialized Honours major.

International Bachelor of Arts (Honours iBA)

Honours Major (Honours iBA)

Degree candidates must comply with general regulation 7 (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section) by completing the following (in addition to the computer science and mathematics courses from the program core):

  • a total of 120 credits;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering BA general education requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • 30 required credits outside the major, consisting of:
  • 18 credits of language study in one of the modern languages offered at York University, including the Advanced I university-level course in the chosen language;
  • at least 12 credits of internationally-oriented courses chosen outside the major;
  • at least one full term abroad as a full-time student at one of York University’s exchange partners.

To graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

  • the program core, as specified in i) above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • SC/MATH 1025 3.00; SC/MATH 2030 3.00;
  • SC/CSE 3000 3.00; SC/CSE 3401 3.00;
  • at least 12 credits from computer science courses at the 4000 level, for an overall total of 49 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, at least 36 credits at the 3000 or higher level, of which at least 18 credits must be at the 4000 level.

The Honours Major described above may also be pursued as the major in a Major/Minor program.

For further details on the international bachelor of arts, refer to the International Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in the Programs of Study section.

BSc Programs

i) All degree candidates in computer science (except those taking a minor) must complete the program core: SC/CSE 1019 3.00; SC/CSE 1020 3.00; SC/CSE 1030 3.00; SC/CSE 2001 3.00; SC/CSE 2011 3.00; SC/CSE 2021 4.00; SC/CSE 2031 3.00; SC/CSE 3101 3.00; SC/CSE 3221 3.00; SC/CSE 3311 3.00; SC/MATH 1090 3.00; SC/MATH 1300 3.00; SC/MATH 1310 3.00;

Note: to satisfy computer science degree requirements, SC/MATH 1013 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1300 3.00; SC/MATH 1014 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1310 3.00; SC/MATH 1021 3.00 or SC/MATH 2221 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1025 3.00.

ii) All BSc, Honours BSc and Honours iBSc degree candidates must comply with general regulation 4 (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section) by completing the following (in addition to the computer science and mathematics courses from the program core):

iii) All BSc, Honours BSc and Honours iBSc degree candidates, in accordance with their declared programs, must comply with general regulation 5, 6 or 7 (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section) and, in so doing, must also satisfy the course, credit and standing requirements specified below.

iv) All Honours BSc degree candidates with a major in computer science must complete at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

Bachelor Program (BSc)

To graduate in a bachelor program. A minimum overall grade point average of 4.00 (C) is required in order to be eligible to graduate with a BSc degree (bachelor program).

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education and 1000-level science requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • at least nine additional credits from computer science courses at the 3000 level, including at least three credits from courses with second digit 4 (i.e. applications area), for an overall total of at least 40 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 90 credits, including at least 66 credits from science courses.

Honours Programs (Honours BSc)

To graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed, subject to the exception in the note below.

Note: in addition, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 6.00 (B) over all biology courses completed is required to declare, proceed and graduate in (i) the Honours Double Major program where biology is the other major, and (ii) the Honours Major/Minor program where biology is the major. (The minimum 6.00 (B) biology grade point average is not required where biology is the minor.)

Specialized Honours BSc Program

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education and 1000-level science requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • SC/MATH 1025 3.00; SC/MATH 2030 3.00;
  • SC/CSE 3000 3.00, SC/CSE 3401 3.00; at least three additional credits from computer science courses at the 3000 level;
  • at least 12 credits from computer science courses at the 4000 level, including SC/CSE 4101 3.00 or SC/CSE 4111 3.00 or SC/CSE 4115 3.00;
  • at least six additional credits from computer science courses at the 3000 or 4000 level, for an overall total of at least 58 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, including at least 90 credits from science courses, at least 42 credits at the 3000 or higher level, and at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

Specialized Honours BSc Program (Communication Networks Stream)

Specialized Honours BSc Program (Intelligent Systems Stream)

Note: SC/CSE 3215 3.00 and SC/CSE 3451 4.00 are also recommended as complementing the stream.

Specialized Honours BSc Program (Interactive Systems Stream)

Specialized Honours BSc Program (Software Development Stream)

Honours Major, Honours Double Major and Honours Major/Minor Programs

An Honours Major in computer science may be taken standalone in an Honours Major BSc degree program or combined with an Honours Major in another subject area in an Honours Double Major BSc degree program, or with an Honours Minor in another subject area in an Honours Major/Minor BSc degree program. Possible subject combinations are listed under Undergraduate Degree Programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Undergraduate Degree and Certificate Programs section.

  • The Faculty of Science and Engineering general education and 1000-level science requirements, as specified in ii) above and including choices appropriate for the possible second major or the minor;
  • the computer science Honours Major requirements below;
  • the course requirements for the possible second major or the minor;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, including at least 901 credits from science courses, at least 42 credits at the 3000 or higher level, and at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

It is recommended that students in the Honours Major, Honours Double Major or Honours Major/Minor programs, where computer science is the major, take a linear algebra course such as SC/MATH 1025 3.00 among their electives.

Honours Major BSc Program

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • SC/MATH 2030 3.00;
  • SC/CSE 3000 3.00, SC/CSE 3401 3.00;
  • at least 12 credits from computer science courses at the 4000 level, for an overall total of at least 49 credits from computer science courses;
  • additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, including at least 901 credits from science courses, at least 42 credits at the 3000 or higher level, and at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.

Honours Major BSc Program (Communication Networks Stream)

Honours Major BSc Program (Intelligent Systems Stream)

Honours Major BSc Program (Interactive Systems Stream)

Honours Minor

Note: SC/CSE 1020 3.00 can be substituted for the pair SC/CSE 1710 3.00 and SC/CSE 1720 3.00 toward satisfying the minor requirements as long as the credit count for the minor remains 30 minimum.

International Bachelor of Science Program (Honours iBSc)

Honours Major (Honours iBSc)

i) All iBSc degree candidates must complete the program core as specified in i) above;

ii) All iBSc degree candidates must comply with general regulation 4 (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Requirements Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section) by completing the following (in addition to the computer science and mathematics courses from the program core):

Note: in this context SC/CSE 1020 3.00 and SC/CSE 1030 3.00 satisfy the other half of the 1000-level science requirement for courses with laboratories.

  • 12 general education credits (refer to General Education Requirements in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section and item iii) below);

iii) International component:

  • 12 credits of language study in one of the languages offered at York University;
  • 18 credits of non-science courses with an international component (refer to sample list of courses in International Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in the Programs section); this may also serve to meet the general education requirement;
  • one to two exchange terms abroad as a full-time student at an institution with which York has a formal exchange agreement.
  • iv) All iBSc degree candidates must comply with general regulation 7 (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section) and, in so doing, must satisfy the course, credit and standing requirements specified below.

Note: to satisfy computer science degree requirements, SC/MATH 1013 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1300 3.00; SC/MATH 1014 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1310 3.00; SC/MATH 1021 3.00 or SC/MATH 2221 3.00 may be taken in lieu of SC/MATH 1025 3.00.

Honours iBSc Program

To graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed.

  • The program core, as specified in i) above;
  • SC/MATH 1025 3.00; SC/MATH 2030 3.00;
  • SC/CSE 3000 3.00; SC/CSE 3401 3.00;
  • at least 12 credits from computer science courses at the 4000 level, for an overall total of at least 49 credits from computer science courses;
  • international component (refer to item iii) above;
  • additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of at least 120 credits, including at least 90 credits from science (SC) courses, at least 42 credits at the 3000 or higher level, at least 18 credits in courses designated to have an international content.

For further details of the international bachelor of science, refer to the International Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in the Programs of Study section.


1. Or at least 66 credits from science courses if the minor is in a fine arts subject area.


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