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Overview of Computing Degree Plans

The School of Computing offers a wide range of degree plans. They are described in detail in the Arts and Science calendar. Here, we present an overview of these plans.

School of Computing degree plans can be divided into two main categories: computing specialist (uni-disciplinary) plans and multi-disciplinary plans. Also, each of the Bachelor of Computing Honours plans has a Professional Internship version.

Computing Specialist (Uni-Disciplinary) Plans

The flagship Computer Science plan (code CSCI-P-BCH) consists of 75 units in Computing and Math, 30 units in "complementary" (not Computing or Math) subjects, and 15 elective (freely chosen) units. This plan has been accredited by the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS).

The Software Design plan (code SODE-P-BCH) is a variant that focuses on software design and development; it has been accredited by CIPS according to their more stringent Software Engineering criteria as well as their Computer Science criteria.

The School of Computing also collaborates with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science in offering Software Engineering courses in the Computer Engineering degree; this is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. Our Software Design plan and the Software Engineering stream in ECE are compared here.

There is a major plan (code COMP-M-BCH) in Computing (72 units in Computing and Math), but this is mainly for use in Major-Minor multi-disciplinary combinations (see below). The Computer Science (CSCI-P-BCH) plan described above is very similar to the Major but has the significant advantage of being CIPS-accredited.

There are also two General (three-year) plans: a Science General plan (code COMP-G-BCP, 48 units in Computing and Math, and 42 elective units), and an Arts General plan (code COMP-G-BA, 36 units in Computing and Math, and 54 elective units). Either of these can be used as the "minor" part of a Major-Minor combination.

Summary:

Multi-Disciplinary Plans

Queen's University offers students an enormous range of degree plans combining a significant concentration in Computing with other subjects.

The Biomedical Computing plan (code BMCO-P-BCH) combines a strong Computing and Math component, foundational courses in the life sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology), and specialized courses in Computational Biology, Computer-Integrated Surgery, and Medical Informatics (105 core units plus 15 elective units).

Cognitive Science (code COGS-P-BCH) combines Computing and Math with Cognitive Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (96 core units plus 24 elective units).

Computing and the Creative Arts (code COCA-P-BAH) is a Specialization plan combining a core in Computing with a sub-plan in one of four Arts subjects: Art, Drama, Film, or Music.

Summary:

Major-Minor degree programs allow a student to combine a major plan (60 units) in one subject with a general plan in either a science subject (typically 48 units) or an arts subject (typically 36 units). For example, a student can combine a Major in Computing and a General in Economics, or a Major in Economics and a General in Computing.

Concurrent Education programs allow a student to combine a BCMP(H), BA(H), or BSC(H) degree with teacher training.

Interested in combining Computing and Commerce? Check out these suggestions.

Interested in combining Computing and Mathematics? Check out these suggestions.

Dual and Second Degrees

Queen's allows students to be simultaneously registered in degree plans in two faculties (a dual degree), or to obtain two degrees in the Faculty of Arts and Science, one after the other (a second degree).

As an example of a dual degree, a student can register in both a B.Sc. (Enginering) in the Faculty of Applied Science and a B.A. in Computing in the Faculty of Arts and Science; this combination is described in detail here. As an example of a second degree, a student can complete the requirements for a B.Sc. (General) in Physics taking core CISC courses as electives and then complete the requirements for a B.Cmp. (Honours) in Computing Science, using the Physics courses as electives.

The basic rule that governs whether a dual-degree or second-degree combination is acceptable is that there must be less than 50 percent overlap between the two programs. That is, there cannot be more than 50 percent of the courses which can possibly count in one plan that also have the potential to be counted in the second plan, but there are exceptions, such as allowing for an "upgrade" of a General degree to an Honours degree in the same subject. The complete regulations for dual and second degrees may be found in the Arts and Science calendar.

Internships

It is possible for a student in any of the BCH (Bachelor of Computing honours) degree plans (COMP-M, CSCI-P, SODE-P, BMCO-P, COGS-P) to register for a Professional Internship ("co-op") version of the degree, allowing them to spend a year or 16 months in a work environment between their 3rd and 4th years in lieu of taking an undergraduate project course.

Computing students not in a BCH program may be eligible for a conventional Queen's Undergraduate Internship.