Computer Science (BA, iBA, BSc, iBSc)

At the heart of computer science is the interaction of hardware and software. The Faculty of Science & Engineering Computer Science program provides a fundamental understanding of the theoretical principles of software and digital systems within the context of modern technology. The curriculum goes beyond the core areas of systems, theory, programming and hardware to applied areas of study such as robotics, graphics and visualization, multimedia and computer music, database systems and artificial intelligence.

As a York Computer Science student, you'll have access to state-of-the-art facilities such as a Unix-based Sun workstation lab; Robotics Lab (where you can program either a robotic arm or a moveable robot to do a particular task); Digital Logic Lab (provides hands-on experience in computer design); Realtime and Operating Systems Lab (provides computers and software tools for the design and analysis of real time systems); Multimedia Lab; and Embedded Systems Lab (to conduct simulation and design experiments with microcontrollers and field programmable gate arrays).

What is the difference between Computer Science, Computer Security, Computer Engineering and Information Technology?

• Computer Science deals with the theory and practice of computer hardware and software. Students learn the theory that underlies computation and how to develop effective, efficient and correct software. The program is intensive in Mathematics and Computer Science courses.
• Computer Security focuses on the privacy of personal data, preventing unauthorized access to computer systems, ensuring back-up contingency plans in the event of data loss and protecting systems from malicious activity.
• Computer Engineering looks at how fundamental engineering design principles can be used to develop computer software and hardware while teaching you how to keep your knowledge and skills current as technology advances.
• Information Technology deals with the application of technology to the organization. The program deals with how technology can be applied, rather than the technology itself. 

What's the difference between the BA and BSc degrees in Computer Science?

You can take a BA or a BSc depending upon the mix of other courses you wish to take. In the BA program, you can combine computer science studies with your interests in human and social issues. Is it possible for a computer system to perform like a human? Can computer systems learn? How can meaningful information be extracted from huge amounts of data?

Our BSc program provides the opportunity to explore how computer science interacts with other science disciplines. How is computing used in remove sensing or geographic surveying, pharmaceutical drug design, mapping the human genome, discovering the role and function of proteins or calculating the structure of molecules.