For those who couldn't make it, we recorded our fall orientation session for incoming Bachelor of Applied Computer Science and Bachelor of Computer Science students.
As you know, our fall term will take place predominantly online. As education everywhere moves online, rest assured that we are offering a full course schedule, and this will not affect the quality of your experience with us.
Prior to current circumstances, we had already adapted our first-year experience and course-delivery to be online. Therefore, when you begin your studies in September, you will benefit from a Computer Science specific learning platform that supports skills development and provides you with immediate feedback on your work. Regardless of your program of choice, you will develop programming skills, explore the foundations of computer sciecne and design, and embark on an exploration of the social and philisophical impacts of computing.
We hope it won't be long before we all can meet in person!
For more information relating to COVID-19 and the Faculty of Computer Science, visit our resource page.
Registering for your first year courses
Registering for courses for the first time can feel overwhelming. Dalhousiue has put together some checklists, videos, and tutorials to help you out.
How to register for courses
Step 1: Before you begin
If you haven't paid your $200 admissions deposit, you will be unable to register for courses. Pay your deposit at least 24 hours before registration.
Returning or transfer students will need to check their registration status in DalOnline to see the time that they can register. This is also where you will see if there are any holds, special registration permissions or overrides on your account.
Bookmark our Important Dates page for registration dates, tuition payment deadlines, and more.
Step 2: Find your courses
In your first year, you can find the courses you need to take using our course planning worksheets. If you do not see a course planning worksheet for your faculty or program, check the academic calendar, your degree audit, or with your faculty.
If you are transferring from another institution or have already begun your studies at Dalhousie, start with your degree audit to see how your previous or current courses count toward your requirements and what you need to take next.
The academic timetable lists courses offered in a particular term. You will use it to find courses, create your schedule, and determine where your courses are being held and who is teaching them.
We're here to help you determine what courses make the most sense for you. To make it even easier, we've created some pre-packaged schedules that capture all of the first year required courses and lead to excellent non-overlapping schedules. This means you register for one block of courses and your schedule will automatically include all the necessary classes, labs, and tutorials without a risk over overlapping!
To help you get started in choosing your courses, there are a few things you should consider.
Find your program below and let's get started!
Bachelor of Applied Computer Science (BACS)
Do you have prior programming experience?
How do you know if you have enough "prior programming experience"?
You received a mark of 80% or greater in CP-12 (Nova Scotia)
You received a mark of 80% or greater in a senior high-school computing course that taught a programming language such as ActionScript, C, C++, C# , Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Visual Basic, etc.
You have written programs on your own in a programming language such as: ActionScript, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Visual Basic, etc.
If any of the above apply to you, we recommend that you either:
Create your own schedule following theprior programming experience course selection listed below; or
Choose a course block that includes CSCI 1110 instead of CSCI 1105
Register for a block of classes
We've created some pre-packaged schedules - meaning that you register in a block of courses - that includes all your courses, labs, and tutorials with no risk of overlapping.
To register
1. From the Registration screen on DalOnline, choose Block Registration.
2. Select the Term you wish to register for.
2020/2021 Fall
2020/2021 Winter
3. Select the radio button for your program then click on Register at the bottom
of the page. You can also select Add to worksheet, which will add the CRN's for the
courses to your Add/Drop page.
Please remember to register for both terms! We've set the blocks up in pairs for the Fall and Winter term. As an example, if you pick option BACS - Year 1A in the Fall, then the best match in the Winter term will also be option BACS - Year 1A.
The blocks listed below are only some of the ones available. You'll be able to access all BACS options through DalOnline.
Please note:
Most of the blocks have four courses to allow you to either add an elective of your choice or to take one less course each term during your first year.
If you want to make a change later, you can drop or change an individual class.
If one of the courses in your chosen course block is full, the course block will no longer work. If this happens, you can use the block as a guide and individually register for each course. As always, please connect with an advisor at undergrad@cs.dal.ca if you need any help.
Design your own schedule using our suggestions
Based on our experience, we've created suggestions to help you create a schedule that makes sense for you and your interests. Simply choose the commonly-used schedule that best suits you below.
(See above to determine which might be the right option for you)
No prior programming experience
Fall
Winter
CSCI 1105: Introduction to Programming
CSCI 1110: Introduction to Computer Science
CSCI 1800: Society and Technology before the Age of Automation
CSCI 1801: Society and Technology in the Age of Automation
CSCI 1120: Introduction to Computer Systems
CSCI 1170: Introduction to Web Design and Development
MGMT 1301: Multidisciplinary Management l
MGMT 1302: Multidisciplinary Management ll
Free elective
Free elective
Prior programming experience
Fall
Winter
CSCI 1110: Introduction to Computer Science
CSCI 1120: Introduction to Computer Systems
CSCI 1800: Society and Technology before the Age of Automation
CSCI 1801: Society and Technology in the Age of Automation
CSCI 1170: Introduction to Web Design and Development
Free elective
MGMT 1301: Multidisciplinary Management l
MGMT 1302: Multidisciplinary Management ll
Free elective
Free elective
Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS)
Do you have prior programming experience?
How do you know if you have enough "prior programming experience"?
You received a mark of 80% or greater in CP-12 (Nova Scotia)
You received a mark of 80% or greater in a senior high-school computing course that taught a programming language such as ActionScript, C, C++, C# , Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Visual Basic, etc.
You have written programs on your own in a programming language such as: ActionScript, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Visual Basic, etc.
If any of the above apply to you, we recommend that you either:
Create your own schedule following theprior programming experience course selection listed below; or
Choose a course block that includes CSCI 1110 instead of CSCI 1105
Are you interested in advancing in math or math-related fields?
We recommend that our Bachelor of Computer Science students take CSCI 1300 for their calculus requirement.
If, however, you think you are interested in math foundations, are considering taking a math, stats, actuarial science minor, doing a double major with another science discipline, or even considering a minor in a math-rich discipline such as physics, re recommend you select MATH 1000 in place of CSCI 1300 in your first year schedule.
Register for a block of classes
We've created some pre-packaged schedules - meaning that you register in a block of courses - that includes all your courses, labs, and tutorials with no risk of overlapping.
To register
1. From the Registration screen on DalOnline, choose Block Registration.
2. Select the Term you wish to register for.
2020/2021 Fall
2020/2021 Winter
3. Select the radio button for your program then click on Register at the bottom
of the page. You can also select Add to worksheet, which will add the CRN's for the
courses to your Add/Drop page.
Please remember to register for both terms! We've set the blocks up in pairs for the Fall and Winter term. As an example, if you pick option BCS - Year 1A in the Fall, then the best match in the Winter term will also be option BCS - Year 1A.
The blocks listed below are only some of the ones available. You'll be able to access all BCS options together through DalOnline.
Please note:
Most of the blocks have four courses to allow you to either add an elective of your choice or to take one less course each term during your first year.
If you want to make a change later, you can drop or change an individual class.
If one of the courses in your chosen course block is full, the course block will no longer work. If this happens, you can use the block as a guide and individually register for each course. As always, please connect with an advisor at undergrad@cs.dal.ca if you need any help.
Design your own schedule using our suggestions
Based on our experience, we've created suggestions to help you create a schedule that makes sense for you and your interests.
Simply choose the commonly-used schedule that best suits you below.
(See above to determine which might be the right option for you)
No prior programming experience
Fall
Winter
CSCI 1105: Introduction to Programming
CSCI 1110: Introduction to Computer Science
CSCI 1800: Society and Technology before the Age of Automation
CSCI 1801: Society and Technology in the Age of Automation
CSCI 1120: Introduction to Computer Systems
CSCI 1170: Introduction to Web Design and Development
CSCI 1300 Calculus in Computer Science **
CSCI 1315: Discrete Math for CS
One of the following can be used to fulfill a science with a lab requirement:
If you hope to take MATH 1010, please take MATH 1000 in lieu of CSCI 1300
The mandatory tutorial for CSCI 1107 overlaps with the lecture for CSCI 1120 in the Fall 2020 term. If you'd like to take 1107, please take it in the following term.
Prior programming experience
Fall
Winter
CSCI 1110: Introduction to Computer Science
CSCI 1120: Introduction to Computer Systems
CSCI 1800: Society and Technology before the Age of Automation
CSCI 1801: Society and Technology in the Age of Automation
CSCI 1170: Introduction to Web Design and Development
Free elective
CSCI 1300 Calculus in Computer Science **
CSCI 1315: Discrete Math for CS
One of the following can be used to fulfill a science with a lab requirement:
In most cases, the base specifications of laptops will suffice for your time as an undergraduate student. To help you in your decision-making, we've put together some laptop recommendations.
