Undergraduate

Computing and Mathematics

Students interested in combining Computing and Mathematics can register for a combined Major in Computing (COMP-M-BCH) and Science Minor in Mathematics (MATH-Z). It is relatively easy for a Computing Major to satisfy the requirements of a Minor in Mathematics because Arts and Science regulations allow 12.0 units of Calculus (e.g., MATH-121/6.0) and Linear Algebra (e.g., MATH-111/6.0) credits to be counted in both plans.

The following courses are recommended for satisfying the 15.0 unit option requirements of a MATH minor:

  MATH 211/6.0  Algebraic Methods
  MATH 221/3.0  Vector Calculus
  MATH 231/3.0  Differential Equations
  MATH 272/3.0  Applications of Numerical Methods 
  STAT 268/3.0  Statistics and Probability I
  STAT 269/3.0  Statistics and Probability II

The following courses in MATH may be used in lieu of CISC options in most Computing plans:

  MATH 272/3.0  Applications of Numerical Methods
  MATH 337/3.0  Introduction to Operations Research Models
  MATH 401/3.0  Graph Theory
  MATH 402/3.0  Combinatorics: Enumeration and Designs
  MATH 434/3.0  Linear and Nonlinear Optimizations
  MATH 474/3.0  Information Theory

Here are some additional courses offered by Mathematics and Statistics which may be of interest to Computing students:

  MATH 339/3.0  Evolutionary Game Theory
  MATH 406/3.0  Introduction to Coding Theory
  MATH 418/3.0  Number Theory and Cryptology
  MATH 477/3.0  Source Coding and Quantization
  STAT 361/3.0  Applied Methods in Statistics I
  STAT 462/3.0  Computational Data Analysis
  STAT 463/3.0  Fundamentals of Statistical Inference
  STAT 464/3.0  Discrete Time Series Analysis
  STAT 471/3.0  Design and Analysis of Experiments
  STAT 486/3.0  Survival Analysis
  BIOM 300/3.0  Modeling Techniques in Biology

The Undergraduate Chair in the School of Computing will normally allow any of these courses to be used in lieu of CISC options, or, in some cases, core requirements.

This year, the School of Computing and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics submitted a proposal for a Computing and Mathematics Specialization plan. The proposed plan is primarily intended for students aiming at graduate work in the theory of Computing or in an applied area of Computing requiring significant mathematical expertise, such as communications, optimization, security, or biomedical computing. The plan would give such students enough Computing to satisfy graduate-admission requirements (in Computer Science) and a good foundation in Mathematics relevant to research in Computing.

Unfortunately, the Dean of Arts and Science has recommended to the Provost that this proposal should be rejected. If this recommendation is accepted, students who want a comparable degree program will have to consider transferring to another institution; the University of Waterloo, the University of Toronto, McGill University, McMaster University, Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and Trent University all offer double-major or double-honours programs in Computer Science and Mathematics. Comments on this matter may be addressed to Dr. Alan Harrison, the Queen's Provost.