COMPUTER SCIENCE CPSC
Contact Info
Location | Information and Communications Technology Building, Room 602 |
Faculty number | (403) 220-6015 |
Fax | (403) 284-4707 |
E-mail address | |
Web page URL |
1. Degrees and Specializations Offered
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based The Master of Science degree with a specialization in Software Engineering is offered jointly through the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. This specialization is offered in both a thesis-based route and a course-based route in the Computer Science Department. Software Engineering is a formal specialization. |
2. Admission Requirements
In addition to Faculty admission requirements, the department requires: (a)An undergraduate
background of either: 路Theory of Computation 路Software Engineering 路Systems (Operating Systems, Compilers, Distributed Systems, Networking) 路Application (Artificial Intelligence, Graphics, Databases, etc.) The cumulative GPA for these courses must be at least 3.3. Post-degree Computer Science courses may be considered in calculating the GPA. Exceptions to the GPA requirements may be considered for students with either: 路Demonstrated research excellence, or 路GRE General scores of at least 600 verbal and 750 quantitative and either 720 analytical (old test format) or 5.5 (new test format). (b)For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a TOEFL score of 600 (written test) or 250 (computer-based test). Students applying for entry to the Master of Science in Software Engineering will be assessed on qualification as in i. or ii. above, but with a GPA of 3.0 and at least three years relevant experience in the software industry following the bachelor's degree. | |
3. Application Deadline
Deadlines for the submission of complete applications: 1 February for September admission 15 June for January admission |
4. Advanced Credit
The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission. |
5. Program/Course Requirements
Graduate programs must be chosen in consultation with the supervisor and approved by the Computer Science Graduate Affairs Committee. In addition to the Faculty requirements, the Department requires: | |
Master of Science | (a)Course Requirements: CPSC 699, plus (b)4 additional
half-course equivalents that satisfy Students are expected to show breadth in their choice of Computer Science courses. (c)Seminar Requirement: Students are required to give a department seminar presentation on a topic related to their graduate research. |
Master of Science with Software Engineering Specialization (Thesis Route) | (a)Course Requirements: CPSC 699, plus (b) 4 half-course
equivalents that satisfy: (c)Seminar Requirement: Students are required to give a department seminar presentation on a topic related to their graduate research. |
Master of Science with Software Engineering Specialization (Course-Based Route) | (a)Ten half-course equivalents of which at least seven half -course equivalents must be graduate courses (b)At least 6 half-courses selected from the Approved SENG list (available from the Department) (c)A half-course or full-course may be taken as a project in the area of software development as part of the course requirement |
Doctor of Philosophy | Eight half courses beyond a Bachelor of Science degree, in at least three categories. Details available from the department. |
6. Additional Requirements
None |
7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses
For thesis-based programs only, at most one half course at the 500-level may be taken as part of the course work requirement. This must be recommended by the supervisor and approved by the Graduate Director. For the MSc with SENG specialization (course-based route), at most three half-course equivalents at the 500-level may be taken as part of the course work requirement. |
8. Time Limit
Expected completion time is two years for thesis-based Master of Science students and five years for course-based students. Expected completion time for doctoral students entering with a Master's degree is three years, and four years for a student transferring to the doctoral program without a Master's degree. |
9. Supervisory Assignments
Generally, students are admitted to a specific research area and supervisor. Sometimes students are admitted to a specific lab or research area only and are assigned an interim advisor. In the latter case, the student must find a permanent supervisor within six months of the start of the program. Students may seek a change in research area or supervisor after admission. Such a change must be satisfactory to the student, and to the proposed new supervisor. Provided this change meets any current supervisory load constraints, this change will be supported and approved by the Graduate Director. Doctoral students select their supervisory committee members in consultation with their permanent supervisors. |
10. Required Examinations
Final thesis oral examinations are open examinations. There is a written departmental examination and an oral candidacy examination in the doctoral program, before the final thesis oral defence. The departmental written examinations are taken by the student after course work is completed and before the Faculty oral candidacy examination. The written component consists of one or two question and answer examinations (normally with a total length of six hours) and a take-home examination (normally 3-5 days), which cover the breadth of the candidate's area of specialization. The scope of the exam is defined by a reading list, prepared by the student's supervisor in consultation with the supervisory committee, and given to the student at least two months before the written examinations. |
11. Research Proposal Requirements
Research proposal requirements are determined by the supervisor at the Master's level. A research proposal, approved by the student's supervisory committee before the oral candidacy examination, is required at the doctoral level. The proposal will contain an abstract, a literature survey, an analysis of the literature, an overview of the proposed research, and references. |
12. Special Registration Information
None |
13. Financial Assistance
Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar. Students applying for scholarships must submit their applications to the Department by the third week in January. |
14. Other Information
None |
15. Faculty Members/Research Interests
Information on faculty research interests may be found at: . |