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Calendar and Timetable Changes in Computing

2011-12

Format

The calendar will be based on the new Queen's University Administrative Systems Replacement (QUASR) implemented by PeopleSoft. For example, in the new format, 6.0 units will correspond to what used to be 1.0 credit, and "degree plans" are what were formerly termed degree programs. Half-credit courses will be designated, for example, CISC 121/3.0.

Degree-plan codes are changing; check out Degree Plans page at the Undergraduate Students section of the School of Computing web site.

Course Additions

CISC 226/3.0         Game Design        3L

An introduction to techniques for designing elementary computer games. Topics will include game development tools and processes, principles of game design, game prototyping and game evaluation.

PREREQUISITE    CISC 124/3.0

CISC  326/3.0         Game Architecture        3L

An introduction to software architectural design through the application domain of game development. Topics will include notations for expressing static and dynamic aspects of software architecture, design patterns, interface design, and application of these techniques to 3D games, mobile games and web-based games.

PREREQUISITES    CISC 220/3.0 and CISC 235/3.0. CISC 226/3.0 is recommended.

EXCLUSION    CISC 322/3.0.

Course Deletions

CISC 470/3.0 (Computational Biology I) is being deleted. See the changes to the Biomedical Computing plan below.

Course Changes

CISC 081* and CISC 082* will be re-numbered as CISC P81/3.0 and CISC P82/3.0. There will be minor prerequisite changes for CISC P82/3.0, CISC 327/3.0, CISC 423/3.0, CISC 497/3.0, and COGS 201/3.0. Admission to Honours for project courses will be replaced by a requirement of level 4, a cumulative GPA of at least 1.90 (65%), and a GPA of at least 2.60 (70%) in 30.0 units of CISC. The title of CISC 471/3.0 (Computational Biology II) will change to just Computational Biology.

Changes to Degree Plans

The Computing-option requirement in the Computing and the Creative Arts (COCA-P-BAH) degree plan will be much more flexible: a student may choose 3.0 units (0.5 old credits) from CISC P82 or any CISC or SOFT course at the 200 level or above, and 3.0 units (0.5 old credits) from any CISC or SOFT courses at the 400 level.

The four Arts options will become "sub-plans" of the COCA plan. There will also be several changes to the Drama and Film sub-plans.

The Cognitive Science (COGS-P-BCH) degree plan will now require students to choose two of three 15.0 unit (2.5 old credits) streams in Linguistics, Philosophy, and/or Psychology. The following courses will now be usable as options in this degree plan:

  • LING 310/3.0 (Phonetics)
  • LING 320/3.0 (Phonology)
  • LING 330/3.0 (Morphology)
  • CISC 465/3.0 (Foundations of Programming Languages)

In the Computing Major (COMP-M-BCH), Computer Science (CSCI-P-BCH), Software Design (SODE-P-BCH) and Arts General (CISC-G-BA) degree plans, the new course CISC 326/3.0 (Game Architecture) will be allowed as an alternative to CISC 322/3.0 (Computer Architecture).

In the Software Design (SODE-P-BCP) degree plan, the new course CISC 226/3.0 (Game Design) will be added to the list of Application courses.

In the Biomedical Computing (BMCO-P-BCH) plan, CISC 470/3.0 (Computational Biology I) will no longer be required; the number of option units required will increase by 3.0.

Students already registered in a degree plan will be allowed to complete the plan as described in any calendar in effect while they were registered in that plan.

Timetable Changes

The following courses will likely not be offered in 2011-12:

CISC P82/3.0   Fundamentals of Web Applications  
CISC 326/3.0   Game Architecture  
CISC 423/3.0   Software Requirements  
CISC 425/3.0   Advanced User Interface Design  
CISC 437/3.0   Performance Analysis  
CISC 457/3.0   Image Processing and Computer Vision  
CISC 462/3.0   Computability and Complexity  
CISC 481/3.0   Syntax Systems for Natural Language  

CISC 223/3.0 will be offered only in the Winter term. CISC 333/3.0 and CISC 432/3.0 will be offered in the Fall.