Computer security, commonly known as cybersecurity, is an area of computing aimed at protecting computers and the information they contain from major disruption or theft. With more devices than ever connected to the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), security is more important than ever before. Learn about cyber attacks and how to defend and prevent them, as well as the ethical implications of security.
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 June 21, 2025 at 04:50. 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.
Subject: Administered by the School of Computing. Plan: Consists of 42.00 core units and 18.00 units in one Sub-Plan, as described below. Plan Code: COMP-M [----]-O (where [----] is a Computing Sub-Plan) Plan Code (with Professional Internship): COMP-I [----]-O (where [----] is a Computing Sub-Plan) Program: The Plan, when combined with a Major or 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 2024-2025 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 | |
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| C. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
| Computational Probability and Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Statistics and Probability I | ||
| D. 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 |
| E. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
| Software Architecture | ||
| Game Architecture | ||
| F. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 360 | Programming Paradigms | 3.00 |
| CISC 365 | Algorithms I | 3.00 |
| G. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 497 | Social, Ethical and Legal Issues in Computing | 3.00 |
2. Sub-Plans | ||
| A. Complete one of the following Sub-Plans: | 18.00 | |
| Electives and/or Other Plan Requirements | 60.00 | |
| Total Units | 120.00 | |
Sub-Plans
i. Fundamental Computation (CSFU-O)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| a. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 324 | Operating Systems | 3.00 |
| b. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
| Formal Methods in Software Engineering | ||
| Evolutionary Optimization and Learning | ||
| Semantics of Programming Languages | ||
| c. Complete 3.00 units from the following: | 3.00 | |
CISC | ||
SOFT at the 400-level or above | ||
| d. Complete 6.00 units from the following: | 6.00 | |
CISC at the 300-level or above | ||
SOFT at the 300-level or above | ||
| e. 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 | 18.00 | |
ii. Artificial Intelligence (CSAI-O)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| a. Complete the following: | ||
| COGS 100 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 3.00 |
| CISC 271 | Linear Methods for Artificial Intelligence | 3.00 |
| CISC 352 | Artificial Intelligence | 3.00 |
| CISC 371 | Numerical Optimization for Artificial Intelligence | 3.00 |
| b. Complete 6.00 units from the following course list: | 6.00 | |
| Total Units | 18.00 | |
iii. Security (CSEC-O)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| a. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 220 | System-Level Programming | 3.00 |
| CISC 324 | Operating Systems | 3.00 |
| CISC 327 | Software Quality Assurance | 3.00 |
| CISC 335 | Computer Networks | 3.00 |
| CISC 447 | Introduction to Cybersecurity | 3.00 |
| b. Complete the following: | ||
| CISC 468 | Cryptography | 3.00 |
| Total Units | 18.00 | |
3. 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. In exceptional circumstances (such as a student who has transferred from another Faculty or institution), the distribution requirements in the complementary courses may be relaxed, at the discretion of the Chair of Undergraduate Studies. Alternative complementary courses may be selected in consultation with the School of Computing.
C. 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.
D. Students completing the internship (COMP-I) will be required to complete 117.00 units towards their Bachelor of Computing degree and 9.00 units in COMP internship courses for a total of 126.00 units.
E. 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 Lists
The following lists may contain 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_Artificial_Intelligence
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CISC 453 | Topics in Artificial Intelligence | 3.00 |
| CISC 455 | Evolutionary Optimization and Learning | 3.00 |
| CISC 473 | Deep Learning | 3.00 |
| CISC 474 | Reinforcement Learning | 3.00 |
CISC_Subs
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ELEC 470 | Computer System Architecture 1 | 3.50 |
| ELEC 474 | Machine Vision 1 | 3.50 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 243 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| CHEE 209 | Analysis of Process Data 1 | 3.50 |
| CISC 171 | Computational Probability and Statistics | 3.00 |
| 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 161 | Introduction to Data Science | 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.