Fundamental Computation explores the science and the principles that underlie all of computing. It provides broad training with the opportunity to focus on specific areas such as artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, computing theory, and programming languages. From software developer to systems analyst, information architect to database administrator, graduates are well-prepared for any number of careers in the technology industry and beyond.
The requirements on this page are currently in flux and do not accurately reflect the most recent calendar changes for the 2025-26 calendar year.
Please refer to the Computing Major Modular Degree Plan for the new requirements. Students already enrolled in previous plans can continue to follow the requirements laid out in those plans, but new students may no longer enroll in those plans.
Program Requirements
This information was directly extracted from the University's Academic Calendar on May 31, 2025 at 00:54. Any discrepancies are the result of errors with this website and can not be used to dispute this plan's requirements.
A half-year/one-term course is worth 3.0 units, while a full-year/two-term course is worth 6.0 units.
COMP-M-BCH (Computing) COMP-I-BCH (Computing with Professional Internship)
Subject: Administered by the School of Computing. Plan: Consists of 69.00 units as described below. Program: The Plan, alone, or in combination with a Minor in another subject, and with sufficient electives to total 120.00 units, will lead to a Bachelor of Computing (Honours) Degree.
Note: Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2023-2024 Calendar for the previous requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
1. Core | ||
| A. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 102 | Discrete Structures I | 3.00 |
| CISC 121 | Introduction to Computing Science I | 3.00 |
| CISC 124 | Introduction to Computing Science II | 3.00 |
| B. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Statistics and Probability I | ||
| C. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 203 | Discrete Structures II | 3.00 |
| CISC 204 | Logic for Computing Science | 3.00 |
| CISC 221 | Computer Architecture | 3.00 |
| CISC 223 | Software Specifications | 3.00 |
| CISC 235 | Data Structures | 3.00 |
| D. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
| Software Architecture | ||
| Game Architecture | ||
| E. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 324 | Operating Systems | 3.00 |
| CISC 360 | Programming Paradigms | 3.00 |
| CISC 365 | Algorithms I | 3.00 |
| F. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 497 | Social, Ethical and Legal Issues in Computing | 3.00 |
2. Option | ||
| A. Complete 15.00 units from one of the following options: | 15.00 | |
| B. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
CISC, COCA, COGS, or SOFT at the 200-level or above | ||
3. Supporting | ||
| A. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| B. Complete 6.00 units from the following: | 6.00 | |
| Differential and Integral Calculus | ||
| or | ||
| Differential and Integral Calculus | ||
| or | ||
| Differential and Integral Calculus Iand Differential and Integral Calculus II | ||
| Electives | ||
| Elective Courses | 51.00 | |
| Total Units | 120.00 | |
Option List
i. Fundamental Computation
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| a. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
| Formal Methods in Software Engineering | ||
| Evolutionary Optimization and Learning | ||
| Semantics of Programming Languages | ||
| Fuzzy Logic | ||
| b. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
CISC | ||
SOFT at the 400-level or above | ||
| c. Complete 6.00 units from the following: | 6.00 | |
CISC at the 300-level or above | ||
SOFT at the 300-level or above | ||
| d. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
CISC at the 200-level or above | ||
SOFT at the 200-level or above | ||
| Total Units | 15.00 | |
4. Notes
A. Students with no programming experience should review the Introductory Courses paragraph included on the School of Computing overview page in the Calendar.
B. ELEC courses are offered by Smith Engineering. Special permission may be required to register. All such courses will count as 3.00 units towards degree requirements in Arts and Science.
C. Students should consider the following courses to complement their option courses. Data Analytics: Students interested in machine learning or artificial intelligence can take CISC 473. Game Development: Students with interests the arts can take COCA 201. Students with interests in analytics or machine learning can take CISC 271. Students with interests in human-computer interaction can take CISC 325.
C. Students completing the internship (COMP-I-BCH) will be required to complete 117.0 units towards their Bachelor of Computing degree and 9.0 units in COMP internship courses for a total of 126.0 units.
D. A maximum of 6.00 units from courses offered by other Faculties and Schools may be counted toward the program and/or Plan requirements. This includes courses in BMED, COMM, GLPH, HSCI, LAW, NURS, and courses offered by Smith Engineering.
Computing Course List
The following list contains courses offered through other Departments. In accordance with Academic Regulation 2.6 (Access to Classes), students do not have enrolment priority in all of these courses. Access to these courses may only be made available during the Open Enrolment period, and then only if space permits.
CISC_Subs
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Courses in other departments usable as CISC Options | ||
| ELEC 470 | Computer System Architecture 1 | 3.50 |
| ELEC 474 | Machine Vision 1 | 3.50 |
| MATH 272 | Applications of Numerical Methods | 3.00 |
| MATH 337 | Stochastic Models in Operations Research | 3.00 |
| MATH 401 | Graph Theory | 3.00 |
| MATH 402 | Enumerative Combinatorics | 3.00 |
| MATH 434 | Optimization Theory with Applications to Machine Learning | 3.00 |
| MATH 474 | Information Theory | 3.00 |
- 1
Note that the unit weighting system in Smith Engineering differs from that in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Therefore, upon acceptance of any course from Smith Engineering, the unit weighting towards Arts and Science degree requirements shall be at the discretion of the Associate Dean (Academic). Usually, a one-term course shall count as 3.00 units and a two-term course as 6.00 units.
STAT_Options
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Statistic Course Options | ||
| BIOL 243 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| CHEE 209 | Analysis of Process Data 1 | 3.50 |
| COMM 162 | Managerial Statistics | 3.00 |
| ECON 250 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| GPHY 247 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| KNPE 251 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| NURS 323 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| POLS 285 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| PSYC 202 | Statistics in Psychology | 3.00 |
| SOCY 211 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| STAM 200 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| STAT 263 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
- 1
Note that the unit weighting system in Smith Engineering differs from that in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Therefore, upon acceptance of any course from Smith Engineering, the unit weighting towards Arts and Science degree requirements shall be at the discretion of the Associate Dean (Academic). Usually, a one-term course shall count as 3.00 units and a two-term course as 6.00 units.