Computer Science: Applied Computing MScAC; Concentration: Data Science

MScAC Program (Data Science Concentration)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Computer Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university in a related area such as statistics, computer science, mathematics, or any discipline where there is a significant quantitative component.

  • A standing equivalent to at least B+ in the final year of undergraduate studies.

  • Applicants must satisfy the admissions committee of their ability to be successful in graduate courses in computer science, statistics, and an industrial internship in data science. Applicants may be asked to do a technical interview as part of the application process.

  • The program will consider admitting candidates without an undergraduate degree in computer science, statistics, or a related field, but who show a demonstrated aptitude to be an excellent data scientist. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a potential to conduct and communicate applied research at the intersection of computer science, statistics, and a domain area. Background academic preparation to be successful in graduate-level computer science and statistics courses typically, though not always, includes intermediate or advanced undergraduate courses in the following topics:

    • Algorithms and Complexity, Database Systems, or Operating Systems.

    • Statistical Theory/Mathematical Statistics, Probability Theory, or Regression Analysis.

  • Students who are otherwise qualified but lack the appropriate background may be granted conditional admission, pending successful completion of additional background material as judged by the admissions committee.

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who have graduated from a university where the primary language of instruction is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the following minimum scores:

    • Internet-based TOEFL: 93/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

    • IELTS: an overall score of 7.0, with at least 6.5 for each component.

  • If students complete a portion of their degree in English, or part of their degree at another university where English is the language of instruction, applicants must still provide proof of English-language proficiency.

  • Three letters of support from faculty and/or employers.

  • Applicants will be asked to respond to program-specific questions addressing their interest in the concentration and objectives for the program.

  • Applicants must indicate a preference for the concentration in Data Science in their application. Admission is competitive, and students who are admitted to the MScAC program are not automatically admitted to this concentration upon request.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • 1.0 FCE in required courses:

      • CSC2701H Communication for Computer Scientists and

      • CSC2702H Technical Entrepreneurship.

    • 1.0 FCE chosen from the STA2000-level courses or higher. This may include a maximum of 0.5 FCE chosen from the STA4500-level of six-week modular courses (0.25 FCE each).

    • 1.0 FCE chosen from the Computer Science (CSC course designator) graduate course listings in two different course groups.

    • Course selections should be made in consultation with the Program Director.

  • An eight-month industrial internship, CSC2703H. The internship is coordinated by the department and evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS-F)
Time Limit: 3 years full-time

 

Computer Science