Faculty of Computer Science

Honours

Additional resources for current students

Visit our section for current students for information on suggested courses, degree, checklists, and other resources that might help you along the way with your studies.

Get an accredited Bachelor of Computer Science degree

The purpose of the Honours programme is to provide a more challenging degree programme that prepares students for graduate school. The programme provides greater rigour and more analytic content than the Bachelor of Computer Science degree. The Honours programme may be combined with co-op education. To enter the honours programme a student must have the approval of the Faculty of Computer Science. Students who are interested in graduating under the Bachelor of Computer Science Honours programme should contact the Honours advisor.

Requirements

To complete the honours degree, a student must meet the following requirements at the time of graduation in addition to the normal requirements of the Bachelor of Computer Science degree:

  • Obtain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher
  • Each computer science course at or above the 3000 level must be passed with a grade of at least 2.7 (B-)
  • Choose Computer Science classes and electives to include
    • Five 4000 level courses in Computer Science. The Faculty strongly recommends that CSCI 4192 Directed Studies be one of these courses.
    • CSCI 8873 Honours Thesis, which satisfies three credit hours.

Students who meet these requirements and who obtain a GPA of 3.7 (A-) or higher in all computer science courses will receive the degree Bachelor of Computer Science with First Class Honours.

Academic advisors are available to discuss if this is a right fit for you. 

How to apply

If you are planning to enter the honours program, you need to complete an honours application form. Once approved by your honours advisor, the form is submitted to the Registrar's Office in order to update your record.

The deadline to submit the honours application form is the same as the course add/drop deadline in September of your final year, or January if finishing in the summer (see Important Dates), although some departments may accept them as early as third year.

 

Get a Jump-Start on your Master of Computer Science degree

Thinking about doing the Master of Computer Science (MCS) after you finish your Bachelor of Computer Science?  Get started early and finish faster! Start your research and coursework in your fourth year and hit the ground running when you begin the MCS program.

How do I get ahead?

  1. Take a graduate course. You are allowed to take one 6000-level course that you can count towards your MCS degree.  Many of our 4000-level courses are co-located with a 6000-level grad course.  Taking one 6000-level course as an elective means you need to take fewer courses when you enter the MCS.
  2. Start your research early by doing the Research Project courses.  There are two courses CSCI 8874.03: Research Project 1 and CSCI 8875.03: Research Project 2 that you can take as free electives to start on your research project.  These courses are typically taken in combination with CSCI 4192.03: Directed Studies; and can be taken either sequentially or concurrently.  They can also be taken in combination with CSCI 8873.03: Honours Thesis. 

What do I need to do next?

  1. Speak to the Honours advisor to determine if this would be a good fit for you, discuss your options, and make a plan for your MCS jumpstart.
  2. Find a supervisor for your the Directed Studies and Research Project courses.  It is assumed that your supervisor for these courses would continue to be your supervisor once you enter the MCS program.  Once you have found a supervisor, you need to put together a Research Project Proposal that needs to be approved by both the Undergraduate and Graduate chairs.  Learn about the Research Project courses and guidelines for what a proposal should contain.
  3. Start the application process for the MCS.  

    Note    : Taking the Directed Studies and Research Project courses does NOT guarantee that you will be accepted into the MCS program.

Requirements

  • Completed 3rd year core courses: CSCI 3101.03, CSCI 3110.03, CSCI 3120.03, CSCI 3130.03, CSCI 3136.03, CSCI 3171.03
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B)
  • A faculty member willing to supervise you in the Directed Studies and Research Project courses.
  • A research project proposal, created in consultation with your supervisor that will need to be approved by both the Undergraduate and Graduate chairs.