Master's (MSc) Thesis-based

MSc Computer Science

Master of Science degree candidates must demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge and understanding in their field of study, capability of relating knowledge of particular topics to the broader field of study, and ability to present knowledge in a critical and scholarly way.

The thesis must be an original work comprising a satisfactory record of research undertaken by the candidate, or a satisfactory critical survey of knowledge in the approved field of study. It must show competence in the appropriate method of research, and/or an adequate knowledge of the field of study, exhibit independence of approach or presentation, be satisfactory in literary presentation, and include comprehensive reference to the literature.

Program Requirements:
Graduate programs must be chosen in consultation with your supervisor and approved by the Computer Science Graduate Affairs Committee. In addition to the requirements of your specific program (found here), the Department requires:

Course Requirements:
CPSC 699 plus four half-course equivalents that satisfy:

• At least two graduate-level computer science courses (courses labeled CPSC or SENG).
• At most one can be an undergraduate course, which must be numbered at the 500 level. This course must be recommended by your supervisor and approved by the Graduate Director.

We recommend that students who are considering continuing on to a PhD program or entering certain career paths, select courses that demonstrate some breadth across Computer Science.

Seminar Requirement:
Students are required to give a department seminar presentation on a topic related to their graduate research.

Thesis Requirement:
Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend it in an open oral defense.

Time Limit:
Expected Time: Two years full-time, three years part-time
Maximum Time: Four years, either part or full-time.

Supervisory Assignments:
Generally students are admitted to a specific research area and supervisor. Sometimes, students are assigned an interim advisor, and in this case, the student must find a permanent supervisor within six months of the program start. Students may seek a change in research area or supervisor after admission. Such a change must be satisfactory to the student, and to the proposed new supervisor. Provided this change meets any current supervisory load constraints, it will be supported and approved by the Graduate Director.

Required Examinations:
Final thesis oral examinations are open public examinations, as specified by the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations.

Research Proposal Requirements:
Research proposal requirements are determined by the supervisor.

MSc Software Engineering

The MSc degree with a specialization in Software Engineering is offered jointly through the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. It is offered in a thesis-based route in the Computer Science Department.

REGULATIONS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE ONLY:

Thesis Based Program:
Graduate programs must be chosen in consultation with your supervisor and approved by the Computer Science Graduate Affairs Committee. In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Department requires:

Course Requirements:
CPSC 699 plus 4 half-course equivalents that satisfy:

• At least three courses must be taken from the Approved SENG Course List (see list below)
• At most one can be an undergraduate course, which must be numbered at the 500 level. This course must be recommended by your supervisor and approved by the Graduate Director.

We recommend that students who are considering continuing on to a PhD program or entering certain career paths, select courses that demonstrate some breadth across Computer Science.

Seminar Requirement:
Students are required to give a department seminar presentation on a topic related to their graduate research.

Thesis Requirement:
Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend it in an open oral defense.

Approved SENG Course List:
[Note that this list is modified on a yearly basis.]
All non-decimalized courses labelled SENG are acceptable for all software engineering programs offered by the Department of Computer Science.

All decimalized courses labelled SENG are acceptable for all software engineering programs offered by the Department of Computer Science, with the following exceptions:

• Any SENG 605 Industrial Topics in Software Engineering is acceptable for the course-based program, but not for the thesis-based program;
• SENG 609.19 Theoretical Foundations of Software Engineering: approval has been withdrawn for any offerings after the Summer 2005 term;
• SENG 609.23 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design: approval has been withdrawn for any offerings after the Summer 2005 term;
• SENG 609.26 Cognitive Informatics for Software Engineering: approval has been withdrawn for any offerings after the Fall 2005 term.

The following non-SENG labelled courses are acceptable for all software engineering programs offered by the Department of Computer Science:

• CPSC 601.11 Enabling E-Business
• CPSC 601.23 Qualitative Research Methods in Software Engineering
• CPSC 601.33 Software Evolution
• CPSC 601.85 Distributed Software Engineering
• CPSC 601.93 Agile Software Engineering
• CPSC 701.01 Object Theory
• CPSC 701.02 Advanced Topics in Development Tool Design and Evaluation
• HROD 691 Project Team Building and Interpersonal Skills (formerly MOHR 691)
• HROD 723 Organizational Change and Development
• HROD 725 Organizational Analysis and Design
• MOHR 621 Organizational Management (no longer offered)
• ENCI 691 Fundamentals of Project Management (also listed as BSEN 691, formerly POEN 691)
• ENCI 697 Project Planning and Control

The following non-SENG labelled courses are unacceptable for software engineering programs offered by the Department of Computer Science as noted:

• This list is currently empty.

If a student wishes to have any course not mentioned here considered as fulfilling SENG Approved List requirements, they should discuss the matter with their supervisor first. If the supervisor agrees, the matter should be brought to the attention of the Software Engineering Director for consideration.

Time Limit:
Expected Time: Two years full-time, three years part-time
Maximum Time: Four years, either part or full-time

Supervisory Assignments:
Generally students are admitted to a specific research area and supervisor. Sometimes, students are assigned an interim advisor, and in this case, the student must find a permanent supervisor within six months of the program start. Students may seek a change in research area or supervisor after admission. Such a change must be satisfactory to the student, and to the proposed new supervisor. Provided this change meets any current supervisory load constraints, it will be supported and approved by the Graduate Director.

Required Examinations:
Final thesis oral examinations are open public examinations, as specified by the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations.

Research Proposal Requirements:
Research proposal requirements are determined by your supervisor.