Concentrations
As part of a computing science major program, students have the option to complete one or more concentrations in Artificial Intelligence, Visual and Interactive Computing, Computing Systems, Information Systems, Programming Languages and Software, and Theoretical Computing Science. To complete a concentration students must complete the major requirements, including four courses in the corresponding area of concentration, two of which must be at the 400-level.
Students who have already completed the concentration requirements or who are in their final term before graduation and have the remaining concentration requirement course(s) in progress, must submit a concentration declaration form. Students are not required to complete a concentration to graduate with a Computing Science Major.
Speak to a FAS advisor or refer to the SFU calendar for more details.
CMPT 310 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3)
Artificial intelligence is an area with vast application scenarios. This course is intended as a prerequisite for advanced-level AI courses and covers the fundamental concepts and foundational mathematical formulations in machine learning and AI. Topics include supervised learning, linear regression, gradient descent, search algorithms, Markov decision processes, and Bayes nets. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 410 - Machine Learning (3)
Machine Learning (ML) is the study of computer algorithms that improve automatically through experience. This course introduces students to the theory and practice of machine learning, and covers mathematical foundations, models such as (generalized) linear models, kernel methods and neural networks, loss functions for classification and regression, and optimization methods. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 413 - Computational Linguistics (3)
This course examines the theoretical and applied problems of constructing and modelling systems, which aim to extract and represent the meaning of natural language sentences or of whole discourses, but drawing on contributions from the fields of linguistics, cognitive psychology, artificial intelligence and computing science. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 419 - Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence (3)
Current topics in artificial intelligence depending on faculty and student interest. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 340 - Biomedical Computing (3)
The principles involved in using computers for data acquisition, real-time processing, pattern recognition and experimental control in biology and medicine will be developed. The use of large data bases and simulation will be explored. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 411 - Knowledge Representation (3)
Formal and foundational issues dealing with the representation of knowledge in artificial intelligence systems are covered. Questions of semantics, incompleteness, non-monotonicity and others will be examined. As well, particular approaches, such as procedural or semantic network, may be discussed. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 417 - Intelligent Systems (3)
Intelligent Systems using modern constraint programming and heuristic search methods. A survey of this rapidly advancing technology as applied to scheduling, planning, design and configuration. An introduction to constraint programming, heuristic search, constructive (backtrack) search, iterative improvement (local) search, mixed-initiative systems and combinatorial optimization. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 420 - Deep Learning (3)
In machine learning, many recent successes have been achieved using neural networks with several layers, so-called deep neural networks. Convolutional neural nets, autoencoders, recurrent neural nets, long-short term memory networks, and generative adversarial networks will be presented. Students will look at techniques for training them from data, and applications. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 361 - Introduction to Visual Computing (3)
Provides a unified introduction to the fundamentals of computer graphics and computer vision (visual computing). Topics include graphics pipelines, sampling and aliasing, geometric transformations, projection and camera models, meshing, texturing, color theory, image filtering and registration, shading and illumination, raytracing, rasterization, animation, optical flow, and game engines. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 363 - User Interface Design (3)
This course provides a comprehensive study of user interface design. Topics include: goals and principles of UI design (systems engineering and human factors), historical perspective, current paradigms (widget-based, mental model, graphic design, ergonomics, metaphor, constructivist/iterative approach, and visual languages) and their evaluation, existing tools and packages (dialogue models, event-based systems, prototyping), future paradigms, and the social impact of UI. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 461 - Computational Photography and Image Manipulation (3)
Computational photography is concerned with overcoming the limitations of traditional photography with computation: in optics, sensors, and geometry; and even in composition, style, and human interfaces. The course covers computational techniques to improve the way we process, manipulate, and interact with visual media. The covered topics include intrinsic decomposition, monocular depth estimation, edit propagation, camera geometry and optics, computational apertures, advanced image filtering operations, high-dynamic range, image blending, texture synthesis and inpainting. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 464 - Geometric Modelling in Computer Graphics (3)
Covers advanced topics in geometric modelling and processing for computer graphics, such as Bezier and B-spline techniques, subdivision curves and surfaces, solid modelling, implicit representation, surface reconstruction, multi-resolution modelling, digital geometry processing (e.g. mesh smoothing, compression, and parameterization), point-based representation, and procedural modelling. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 469 - Special Topics in Computer Graphics (3)
Current topics in computer graphics depending on faculty and student interest. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 365 - Multimedia Systems (3)
Multimedia systems design, multimedia hardware and software, issues in effectively representing, processing, and retrieving multimedia data such as text, graphics, sound and music, image and video. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 412 - Computer Vision (3)
Computational approaches to image and video understanding in relation to theories, the operation of the human visual system, and practical application areas such as robotics. Topics include image classification, object detection, image segmentation based mostly on deep neural network and to some extent classical techniques, and 3D reconstruction. Also covers state-of-the-art deep neural architectures for computer vision applications, such as metric learning, generative adversarial networks, and recurrent neural networks. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 466 - Animation (3)
Topics and techniques in animation, including: The history of animation, computers in animation, traditional animation approaches, and computer animation techniques such as geometric modelling, interpolation, camera controls, kinematics, dynamics, constraint-based animation, realistic motion, temporal aliasing, digital effects and post production. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 467 - Visualization (3)
Presents advanced topics in the field of scientific and information visualization. Topics include an introduction to visualization (importance, basic approaches, and existing tools), abstract visualization concepts, human perception, visualization methodology, data representation, 2D and 3D display, interactive visualization, and their use in medical, scientific, and business applications. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
Computing Systems
Systems specializations manage how complex components interact with each other and how they use resources. They are at the foundation of every computing environment and help computers perform efficiently and securely. Skills in systems are in demand across the industry in order to help companies get the most out of their hardware and software.
CMPT 303 - Operating Systems (3)
A course teaching the internals of modern operating systems. Topics consist of kernel components of modern OSes, such as system calls, device drivers, virtual memory, scheduling, file systems, synchronization for multi-core, and memory ordering. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 371 - Data Communications and Networking (3)
Data communication fundamentals (data types, rates, and transmission media). Network architectures for local and wide areas. Communications protocols suitable for various architectures. ISO protocols and internetworking. Performance analysis under various loadings and channel error rates. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 433 - Embedded Systems (3)
The basics of embedded system organization, hardware-software co-design, and programmable chip technologies are studied. Formal models and specification languages for capturing and analyzing the behaviour of embedded systems. The design and use of tools for system partitioning and hardware/software co-design implementation, validation, and verification are also studied. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 403 - System Security and Privacy (3)
Starting from cybersecurity principles, students will learn to protect systems from attacks on data confidentiality, integrity, system availability, and user privacy. By modeling system security, students will learn to find weaknesses in software, hardware, networks, data storage systems, and the Internet, and identify current security practices to protect these systems. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 471 - Networking II (3)
This course covers the fundamentals of higher level network functionality such as remote procedure/object calls, name/address resolution, network file systems, network security and high speed connectivity/bridging/switching. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 499 - Special Topics in Computer Hardware (3)
Current topics in computer hardware depending on faculty and student interest. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 305 - Computer Simulation and Modelling (3)
An introduction to the modelling, analysis, and computer simulation of complex systems. Topics include analytic modelling, discrete event simulation, experimental design, random number generation, and statistical analysis. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 379 - Principles of Compiler Design (3)
This course covers the key components of a compiler for a high level programming language. Topics include lexical analysis, parsing, type checking, code generation and optimization. Students will work in teams to design and implement an actual compiler making use of tools such as lex and yacc. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 431 - Distributed Systems (3)
An introduction to distributed systems: systems consisting of multiple physical components connected over a network. Architectures of such systems, ranging from client-server to peer-to-peer. Distributed systems are analyzed via case studies of real network file systems, replicated systems, sensor networks and peer-to-peer systems. Hands-on experience designing and implementing a complex distributed system. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 450 - Computer Architecture (3)
Principles of the architecture of computing systems. Topics include: superscalar processor micro-architecture, speculative execution, cache and memory hierarchy, multiprocessors, cache coherence, memory consistency, implications of technology on architecture, parallel architectures (multi-threading, GPUs, vector processors). Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 479 - Special Topics in Computing Systems (3)
Current topics in computing systems depending on faculty and student interest. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 353 - Computational Data Science (3)
Basic concepts and programming tools for handling and processing data. Includes data acquisition, cleaning data sources, application of machine learning techniques and data analysis techniques, large-scale computation on a computing cluster. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 354 - Database Systems I (3)
Logical representations of data records. Data models. Studies of some popular file and database systems. Document retrieval. Other related issues such as database administration, data dictionary and security. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 362 - Mobile Applications Programming and Design (3)
Teaches students how to design and implement smartphone applications. Topics include development environment, phone emulator, key programming paradigms, UI design including views, fragments, and activities, data persistence, threads, services, embedded sensors, and location based services (e.g., Google Maps). Concepts are reinforced through programming assignments and group projects. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 459 - Special Topics in Database Systems (3)
Current topics in database and information systems depending on faculty and student interest. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 372 - Web II - Server-side Development (3)
Introduces students to the fundamentals of server-side web development. Students will gain experience working with backend web frameworks, designing and implementing web APIs, and deploying web systems. Students will be introduced to popular back-end frameworks. The course will focus on the design, creating, implementation, and deployment of backend systems, including APIs. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 441 - Computational Biology (3)
This course introduces students to the computing science principles underlying computational biology. The emphasis is on the design, analysis and implementation of computational techniques. Possible topics include algorithms for sequence alignment, database searching, gene finding, phylogeny and structure analysis. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 454 - Database Systems II (3)
An advanced course on database systems which covers crash recovery, concurrency control, transaction processing, distributed database systems as the core material and a set of selected topics based on the new developments and research interests, such as object-oriented data models and systems, extended relational systems, deductive database systems, and security and integrity. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 456 - Information Retrieval and Web Search (3)
Introduction to the essentials of information retrieval and the applications of information retrieval in web search and web information systems. Topics include the major models of information retrieval, similarity search, text content search, link structures and web graphics, web mining and applications, crawling, search engines, and some advanced topics such as spam detection, online advertisement, and fraud detection in online auctions. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 474 - Web Systems Architecture (3)
Web service based systems are fundamentally different from traditional software systems. The conceptual and methodological differences between a standard software development process and the development of a web service based information system. The technology involved during the construction of their own web service based application in an extensive project. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
Programming Languages and Software
New languages continue to be developed to provide more effective tools for the implementation of software products. The increased size and complexity of many solutions requires better languages and supporting software to make their realization practical as commercial products.
CMPT 373 - Software Development Methods (3)
Survey of modern software development methodology. Several software development process models will be examined, as will the general principles behind such models. Provides experience with different programming paradigms and their advantages and disadvantages during software development. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 383 - Comparative Programming Languages (3)
Various concepts and principles underlying the design and use of modern programming languages are considered in the context of procedural, object-oriented, functional and logic programming languages. Topics include data and control structuring constructs, facilities for modularity and data abstraction, polymorphism, syntax, and formal semantics. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 475 - Requirements Engineering (3)
Software succeeds when it is well-matched to its intended purpose. Requirements engineering is the process of discovering that purpose by making requirements explicit and documenting them in a form amenable to analysis, reasoning, and validation, establishing the key attributes of a system prior to its construction. Students will learn methodical approaches to requirements analysis and design specification in early systems development phases, along with best practices and common principles to cope with notoriously changing requirements. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 384 - Symbolic Computing (3)
This course considers modelling and programming techniques appropriate for symbolic data domains such as mathematical expressions, logical formulas, grammars and programming languages. Topics include recursive and functional programming style, grammar-based data abstraction, simplification and reduction transformations, conversions to canonical form, environment data structures and interpreters, metaprogramming, pattern matching and theorem proving. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 473 - Software Testing, Reliability and Security (3)
Methods for software quality assurance focusing on reliability and security. Test coverage and test data adequacy including combinatorial testing. MC/DC testing, and mutation testing. Security engineering techniques for vulnerability discovery and mitigation including fuzz testing. Testing techniques will be applied to the assessment of external open source software. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 477 - Introduction to Formal Verification (3)
Introduces, at an accessible level, a formal framework for symbolic model checking, one of the most important verification methods. The techniques are illustrated with examples of verification of reactive systems and communication protocols. Students learn to work with a model checking tool. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 489 - Special Topics in Programming Languages (3)
Current topics in programming languages depending on faculty and student interest. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
Theoretical computing science
Theoretical computer science focuses on mathematical tools and techniques for the formal analysis of computer algorithms. It provides the mathematical basis for classifying the difficulty of solving problems and for demonstrating the correctness of solutions. The applications of these theoretical techniques have a broad range of applications including quantum computing, cryptography and security.
CMPT 307 - Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
Design and analysis of efficient data structures and algorithms. General techniques for building and analyzing algorithms (greedy, divide & conquer, dynamic programming, network flows). Introduction to NP-completeness. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 308 - Computability and Complexity (3)
Formal models of computation such as automata and Turing machines. Decidability and undecidability. Recursion Theorem. Connections between computability and logic (Gödel’s Incompleteness). Time and space complexity classes. NP-completeness. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 404 - Cryptography and Cryptographic Protocols (3)
The main cryptographic tools and primitives, their use in cryptographic applications; security and weaknesses of the current protocols. The notion of security, standard encryption schemes, digital signatures, zero-knowledge, selected other topics. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 405 - Design and Analysis of Computing Algorithms (3)
Models of computation, methods of algorithm design; complexity of algorithms; algorithms on graphs, NP-completeness, approximation algorithms, selected topics. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
MACM 300 - Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata with Applications (3)
Languages, grammars, automata and their applications to natural and formal language processing. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 406 - Computational Geometry (3)
Mathematical preliminaries; convex hull algorithms; intersection problems; closest-point problems and their applications. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 407 - Computational Complexity (3)
Study of what is, and is not, efficiently computable with limited resources (time, space, randomness, parallelism, nondeterminism, interaction, and quantum). Complexity classes and connections among them. Interplay between complexity and algorithm design. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
CMPT 409 - Special Topics in Theoretical Computing Science (3)
Current topics in theoretical computing science depending on faculty and student interest. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
An introductory treatment of quantum computing with an emphasis on quantum algorithms. Topics include the gate model of quantum computation focusing on the design and implementation of quantum algorithms. Basic knowledge of algorithms and complexity will be an asset, but not required. No prior knowledge of physics or quantum mechanics is necessary, only a solid background in linear algebra. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.
or MACM 476 - Introduction to Quantum Algorithms (3)
An introductory treatment of quantum computing with an emphasis on quantum algorithms. Topics include the gate model of quantum computation focusing on the design and implementation of quantum algorithms. Basic knowledge of algorithms and complexity will be an asset, but not required. No prior knowledge of physics or quantum mechanics is necessary, only a solid background in linear algebra. Check the current calendar for prerequisite information.