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Science and Engineering – Computer Science

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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 foundational science.

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).

The Program Core

The computer science core is defined as (32 computer science credits): SC/CSE 1001 1.00, 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

All BA, Honours BA and Honours iBA degree candidates must comply with the BA 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.

All BA, Honours BA and Honours iBA degree candidates, in accordance with their declared programs, must comply with general regulations specified in 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 above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering BA general education requirements, as specified 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 41 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 above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering BA general education requirements, as specified 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 59 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 BA general education requirements, as specified  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 above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering BA general education requirements, as specified  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 50 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)

Honours Major BA Program (Intelligent Systems Stream)

Honours Major BA Program (Interactive Systems Stream)

Honours Minor BA Program

Notes:

  • 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.
  • 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 regulations specified in 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 above;
  • 30 required credits outside the major, consisting of:
    • at least 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 above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering BA general education requirements, as specified 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 50 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.

Note: SC/MATH 1025 3.00 is recommended.

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 International Bachelor of Science in the Programs of Study section.

BSc Programs

Bachelor Program (BSc)

A. General education:

B. Major requirements:

  • the program core, as specified above (32 computer science credits);
  • 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 41 credits from computer science courses.

C. Science breadth:  24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above. 15 of these 24 credits are satisfied by the general education requirement.

D. Upper level requirement:  a minimum of 18 credits at the 3000 level or higher.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of 90 credits.

F. Standing requirements:  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). 

Honours Programs (Honours BSc)

Specialized Honours BSc Program

A. General education:

B. Major requirements:

  • the program core, as specified above (32 computer science credits);
  • 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 59 credits from computer science courses;
  • at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics. 18 of these 30 credits are satisfied by the general education requirement.

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)

C.  Science breadth:  24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above.  21 of these 24 credits, including 3 credits at the 2000 level, are satisfied by the above requirements.

D.  Upper level requirement: a minimum of 42 credits at the 3000 level or higher.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of 120 credits.

F.  Standing requirements:  To graduate 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.

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. Students should consult the departmental undergraduate handbook or a departmental advisor to plan their studies in order to meet the requirements for both majors, or for the minor.

  • The Faculty of Science and Engineering general education requirements, as specified below 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;

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

A. General education:

B.  Major requirements:

  • the program core, as specified above (32 computer science credits);
  • 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 50 credits from computer science courses;
  • at least 30 credits which are neither computer science nor mathematics.  18 of these 30 credits are satisfied by the general education requirement;
  • the course requirements for the second major or the minor, if such a program is chosen.

Honours Major BSc Program (Communication Networks Stream)

Honours Major BSc Program (Intelligent Systems Stream)

Honours Major BSc Program (Interactive Systems Stream)

C.  Science breadth:  24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above.  18 of these 24 credits, including 3 credits at the 2000 level, are satisfied by the above requirements. Not required if the other major or minor is another science discipline.

D.  Upper level requirement: a minimum of 42 credits at the 3000 level or higher.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of 120 credits.

F.  Standing requirements:  To graduate 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.  In addition, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all biology courses completed is required to graduate in the Honours Double Major program where biology is the other major.

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)

All iBSc degree candidates must complete the following:

A. General education:

B. Major requirements:

In addition, the following must be completed for the international component:

  • a minimum of 12 credits of language study in one of the languages offered at York University;
  • a minimum of 12 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 non-science requirement of the BSc general education component;
  • an additional six credits of language study or non-science international component courses for a total of 30 credits;
  • one to two exchange terms abroad as a full-time student at an institution with which York has a formal exchange agreement.

C.  Science breadth:  24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above. 21 credits, including 3 at the 2000 level, are satisfied by the above requirements.

D. Upper level requirement:  a minimum of 42 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits, as required, for an overall total of 120 credits.

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

International Dual Degree in Computer Science (BSc and Honours BSc)

In collaboration with the Departments of Computer Science in the Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (BRSU) and the University of Crete (UOC), the Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers an International Dual Degree program in Computer Science (BSc and Specialized Honours BSc only). This program is demanding and will be of interest to students with high academic standing, measured by a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 6.00 (B) or higher over all computer science (CSE) courses completed (major GPA) by the time where approximately 60 total credits are completed (end of the second year of study at York). Students in the program, after two years of study at York, but before the completion of the York degree requirements, will be eligible, subject to the aforementioned GPA requirement, to continue their studies as York international exchange students in the EU for a full year of study, divided between BRSU in the fall term and UOC in the winter term. UOC will provide specialized computer science courses and will be the location where a research internship and an undergraduate thesis will be completed. The thesis and internship activities will be conducted in English. Study at two universities in distinct geographic and linguistic/cultural settings adds value to the exchange and broadens the learning experience. The program of study is precisely regulated as dictated by the need to meet both the degree requirements of York University and BRSU. At the end of Year 3, the exchange year, students who have progressed normally will have met both the BRSU bachelor of science in Informatik (equivalent to York’s BSc 90-credit degree) requirements as well as those of the BSc in computer science (York) and may graduate with both of these degrees from the respective institutions. York students will return and complete a fourth year of study at York University to fulfill their BSc Specialized Honours degree requirements and graduate with the Honours degree. York International administers all exchanges under this program in collaboration with the International Offices in BRSU and UOC.

Reciprocally, BRSU students will spend a full year of study at York to conclude their third year BRSU requirements taking York University degree-specific substitute courses. Upon successful completion of Year 3, these students will have met both the BRSU and York degree requirements and will be eligible to earn the York BSc degree in computer science (as well as the bachelor of science in Informatik from their home university). All BRSU students in this Dual Degree program must satisfy a modified non-science requirement in lieu of the non-science requirements of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, as follows: they must complete at BRSU, normally prior to arrival at York, 18 ECTS (the equivalent of nine York credits) of courses in English, microeconomics, intercultural communications, and law.

Reciprocally, all York students in this Dual Degree program must satisfy a modified non-science requirement in lieu of the current non-science requirements of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, as follows: they must complete at York University six further non-science credits in addition to the earned 12 credits in language and culture courses.

Bachelor Program (BSc) [Not available to Canadian students; applies to BRSU students in the Dual program.]

A. General education:

B.  Major requirements: 

  • the program core, as specified above must be met. BRSU students will meet the core partly by transferring the credits of their first three terms at BRSU and partly by completing SC/CSE 2031 3.00, SC/CSE 2011 3.00, SC/CSE 3101 3.00, SC/CSE 3221 3.00 and SC/MATH 1090 3.00 at York;
  • the requirement that “At least nine additional credits from computer science courses at the 3000 level, including at least three credits from courses with second digit 4” will be met by completing the following courses at York University: SC/CSE 4312 3.00, one 3000-level CSE course, one 4000-level CSE course and a full year research project course (e.g. SC/CSE 4081 6.00) to fulfill the BRSU undergraduate thesis requirement. The part of the requirement that reads “including at least three credits from courses with second digit 4” is met by transfer credit (SC/CSE 3421 3.00).

C. Science breadth:  24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above.

D.  Upper level requirement:  a minimum of 18 credits at the 3000 level or above.

E.  Additional elective credits as required, for an overall total of 90 credits.

F.  Standing requirement:  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).

Specialized Honours BSc Program [applies to York students in the Dual program.]

A.  General education:

B. Major requirements:

C.  Science breadth:  24 credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000 level or above; 21 of these 24 credits, including three at the 3000 level, are satisfied by the above requirements.

D.  Upper level requirement: at least 42 credits at the 3000 or higher level.

E.  additional elective credits, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits,

F. Standing requirement: A minimum overall grade point average of 5.00 (C+) is required in order to be eligible to graduate with a BSc Honours.

Note: for an up-to-date list of York-substitute courses offered at BRSU and UOC; for advice on the degree requirements and on possible study progression plans within the Dual program; and for an outline of funding opportunities, please contact the undergraduate office of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Pre-departure academic advising is mandatory.

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