Computer Science – Digital Media specialization – Co-operative Education

Graduates of this program will obtain a solid foundation in the theory and application of the principles of computer science, as well as in the cognitive capabilities and skills relating to computer science. This program also provides the opportunity for the student to develop practical capabilities and skills, such as software design and implementation, information management, risk assessment, effective deployment of software tools and system evaluation. In addition, transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, self-management and professional development are emphasized in many courses.

The Computer Science program at UOIT was developed in collaboration with leading representative from both academia and industry and is designed to meet the increasing need for graduates with the knowledge and skills in this important field.

Specializations within this degree program include Digital Media, as well as the general Computer Science degree (Comprehensive).

The Faculty of Science offers an optional co-operative education program to students in Applied and Industrial Mathematics, Biological Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, and the Management options. Eligible students in the Forensic Science program have the opportunity for academically-related work experience in a fourth year Thesis Project under the supervision of a faculty member or with a forensic professional in an external forensic agency.

As defined by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE), co-operative education is a program that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with paid, career-related work experience with participating employers. Co-operative education provides many benefits to students including the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience, to earn competitive salaries that partially offset the cost of their education, to help clarify career objectives, and to develop valuable networking that will enhance opportunities for full-time employment upon graduation. Studies have shown that students in the same academic program who graduate from a co-operative education stream have lower debt loads and are employed faster and with higher starting salaries than those who graduate from the regular stream.

Interested students may apply to the Faculty of Science co-operative education program as early as the Fall of Year 2. Applicants are accepted based on their cumulative grade point average (minimum cGPA of 2.70 (B-) required), their academic standing, and having no record of misconduct. While the Faculty of Science cannot guarantee a co-op placement, assistance, advice and counselling is provided to all students in co-operative education.

Beginning after Year 2 of their academic program, eligible students have the opportunity to integrate their academic studies with up to 20 months of relevant experience.  Traditionally, the distribution of academic and co-op work terms have adhered to the pattern outlined below. However, alternative patterns of academic terms and co-op terms may be approved by an advisor, provided the pattern still meets the CAFCE criteria for co-operative education and is acceptable to the employer and the student.

The schedule of study terms and co-op work terms is as follows:

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Fall semester	Study Term 1	Study Term 3	Study Term 5	Work Term 4	Study Term 7
Winter semester	Study Term 2	Study Term 4	Work Term 2	Study Term 6	Study Term 8
Spring/Summer semester		Work Term 1	Work Term 3	Work Term 5

Students will be required to attend mandatory co-op pre-program workshops prior to attending their placement for the first time.  Each co-op work term is assessed by a faculty advisor on the basis of the student’s work term report and an employer valuation. Co-op work terms are graded on a pass/fail basis. Please note that four work terms are required in order to satisfy the co-op degree requirements.

Students will have opportunities to undertake research inside or outside the university. Please consult science.uoit.ca for details.

The requirements for the co-operative education Computer Science – Digital Media program are detailed in the following program map. In addition to the co-op program, a regular four-year program is also available. See Computer Science – Digital Media specialization for more information.

Although reasonable efforts will be made to adhere to the following program map, course requirements and term offerings may change.

No more than 42 credit hours may be taken at the first-year level.

*This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

**Electives and breadth requirements

Students must complete a total of 24 elective credit hours such that the following requirements are satisfied:

• 12 credit hours must be in courses offered by the Faculty of Science, of which 6 credit hours must be in Computer Science electives and 6 credit hours in Non-Computer Science electives.
• 12 credit hours must be in courses from outside the Faculty of Science, among which at least 3 credit hours must be in Business electives⁺⁺, and at least 3 credit hours in Communications electives.⁺⁺⁺

Computer Science electives for the Digital Media specialization:

• CSCI 3010U – Simulation and Modelling 
• CSCI 3050U – Computer Architecture II 
• CSCI 3220U – Digital Media Production 
• CSCI 3230U – Web Application Development 
• CSCI 4120U – Digital Evidence 
• CSCI 4130U – Forensic Informatics 
• CSCI 4610U – Artificial Intelligence 
• CSCI 4620U – Human-Computer Interaction 
• CSCI 4630U – High Performance Computing 
• CSCI 4640U – Distributed Computing 
• CSCI 4650U – Elements of Theory of Computation 
• MATH 4020U – Computational Science II 

⁺⁺Business electives:

• BUSI 1020U – Business Communications 
• ​BUSI 1600U – Management of the Enterprise 
• BUSI 1700U – Introduction to Entrepreneurship 
• BUSI 2000U – Collaborative Leadership  

⁺⁺⁺Communication electives:

• COMM 1050U – Technical Communications 
• COMM 1100U – Introduction to Communication Studies 
• COMM 1311U – Writing and Publishing in the Digital Age  
• COMM 1320U – Public Speaking 
• COMM 1610U – Interpersonal Communication  

***Thesis Project or Senior Computer Science electives

Students in clear academic standing who have completed 90 credit hours of their program and six third-year required courses may optionally apply to take a two course sequence consisting of CSCI 4410U – Computer Science Thesis Project I and CSCI 4420U – Computer Science Thesis Project II. Students not accepted to take the thesis courses must complete two additional Computer Science electives instead. A student meeting the above requirements who does not take CSCI 4410U and CSCI 4420U may optionally apply to take CSCI 4430U – Directed Studies in Computer Science as one of the required Computer Science electives. Opportunities for the Thesis Project and Directed Studies courses are limited; students must apply through Science Advising by March 30 following completion of the first three years of the program.