Computer Science
Graduate Co-ordinator: Lisa Fan, PhD
Department Description
The Department of Computer Science offers programs of study involving interdepartmental, multi-institutional and inter-institutional collaboration that has attracted faculty members and graduate students from all over the world. Students may pursue full-time or part-time graduate study leading towards MSc and PhD degrees.
The MSc and PhD degrees in Computer Science focus on six main areas of research: artificial intelligence and deep learning; data science and data analytics, human-centred computing and computational media, software engineering; systems, communication, and sybersecurity; and theoretical computer science. Active research topics conducted by faculty members, their research labs and the research of graduate students can be found on the Computer Science research webpage.
Program Requirements and Procedures
The Department offers both an MSc and a PhD program in Computer Science.
For fully qualified students, the MSc program provides three options for completing the degree requirements: thesis route, project route or course route.
For the MSc thesis or project routes, one course, at most, at the 400-level is allowed. No more than two directed reading or special topics classes may be used in a program. The courses taken may include at most two courses outside of Computer Science. Program requirements are slightly different depending on which option is chosen. For the MSc course reoute, two courses, at most, at the 400-level are allowed. No more than five directed readings or special topics classes may be used in a program. The courses taken may include at most two courses outside of Computer Science.
MSc thesis or project and PhD students are required to do two seminar presentations that are not associated with program credit hours. The MSc course route requires only one seminar presentation that is not associated with program credit hours.
A co-op designation can be added to the MSc programs, with the following requirements:
- Be registered full-time in the Computer Science (MSc) program
- Complete at least two University of Regina grad-level Computer Science (CS 800 level) courses before applying for the co-op program
- Obtain a minimum GPA of 80%
Note: Acceptance to a co-op work term is subject to the approval of the Co-op Graduate Co-orindator. Attaining a co-op work term is a competitive process through the career centre. Co-op work term(s) are extra to the program.
The following presents the MSc program requirements for each program option. Students must choose the MSc program option they will be following at the time of application, but may request a transfer after startign the program.
Courses
After an MSc in Computer Science, the PhD program consists of at least 9 credit hours of course work and 51 credit hours of research resulting in the presentation of a substantial thesis. In addition, the student is required to give two non-credit CS seminar presentations. Successful completion of the PhD course requires a minimum of three (3) full years.
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 900 | 0 credit hours |
| CS 900 | 0 credit hours |
| CS 901 | 51 credit hours |
| TOTAL | 60 credit hours |
Note: A minimum of 9 credit hours of course work are required, and course selection must adhere to the following conditions:
1) Courses must be chosen in consultation with the supervisor or co-supervisors
2) Only one course may be taught by the supervisor or co-supervisor
3) Only one course may be a directed reading
The Master's thesis route requires students to pursue research supported by the Department of Computer Science. A fully qualified student may complete a Master's thesis route by undertaking 15 credits of coursework as well as 15 credits of thesis research together with the thesis defense. Two non-credit CS seminar presentations are also required.
| Course | Credit Hours |
| CS 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| CS** | 3 credit hours |
| CS/non-CS** | 3 credit hours |
| CS/non-CS** | 3 credit hours |
| CS 901 | 15 credit hours |
| CS 900 | 0 credit hours |
| CS 900 | 0 credit hours |
| TOTAL | 30 credit hours |
*May not be a directed study or selected topics reading class.
**Maximum of two 700-level courses may be taken (others must be 800-level).
Pre-Approved Non-Computer Science Courses
The following courses have been pre-approved and will satisfy the non-CS course requirement in the CS graduate program listed above. Please note that this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the non-CS courses that may be taken. It's only purpose is to itemize those courses that have already been examined and approved. Students are encouraged to consider courses not on the list that are relevant to their programs, whild being reminded that all non-CS courses not on the list must be approved. Please see the relative programs areas on the FGSR website for course descriptions.
Courses in Electronic Systems Engineering:
ENEL 489, 492, 495, 811, 812, 813, 850, 857
Courses in Software Systems Engineering:
ENSE 483, 882, 885AJ
Courses in Mathematics and Statistics:
MATH 809, 827, 869, STAT 852, 871
Courses in Busness Administration:
GBUS 866
A fully-qualified student may complete a Master's project route by undertaking 21 credits of coursework, 9 credits of professionally oriented project research, and project defense. In addition, the student is required to give two non-credit CS seminar presentations.
In the project route students must successfully complete a minimum of seven courses and a research project undertaken in the field together with a project report, presentation and defense, coupled with two non-credit seminar presentations.
| Course | Credit Hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS* | 3 credit hours |
| CS/non-CS* | 3 credit hours |
| CS/non-CS* | 3 credit hours |
| CS 902 or CS 901** | 9 credit hours |
| CS 900 | 0 credit hours |
| CS 900 | 0 credit hours |
| TOTAL | 30 credit hours |
*Maximum of two 700-level courses may be taken (others must be 800-level).
**It is recommended that students register in CS 902; however, CS 901 will be accepted for those students who have transferred to the MSc project route from another MSc route (such as thesis) in Computer Science.
Pre-Approved Non-Computer Science Courses
The following courses have been pre-approved and will satisfy the non-CS course requirement in the CS graduate program listed above. Please note that this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the non-CS courses that may be taken. It's only purpose is to itemize those courses that have already been examined and approved. Students are encouraged to consider courses not on the list that are relevant to their programs, whild being reminded that all non-CS courses not on the list must be approved. Please see the relative programs areas on the FGSR website for course descriptions.
Courses in Electronic Systems Engineering:
ENEL 489, 492, 495, 811, 812, 813, 850, 857
Courses in Software Systems Engineering:
ENSE 483, 882, 885AJ
Courses in Mathematics and Statistics:
MATH 809, 827, 869, STAT 852, 871
Courses in Busness Administration:
GBUS 866
A fully-qualified student may complete a Master's in Data Science by undertaking 30 credits of coursework. Students in this route who are interested in pursuing the Co-op Designation must complete CS 700, 710, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715 and 716 before they can undertake any co-op work terms.
| Course | Credit Hours |
| CS 700 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 710 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 711 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 712 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 713 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 714 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 715 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 716 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 718 | 0 credit hours |
| CS 719 | 6 credit hours |
| TOTAL | 30 credit hours |
A fully-qualified student may complete a Master's in Human-Centred Computing by undertaking 30 credits of coursework. Students in this route who are interested in pursuing the Co-op Designation must complete CS 700, 730, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, and 736 before they can undertake any co-op work terms.
| CS 700 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 730 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 731 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 732 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 733 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 734 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 735 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 736 | 3 credit hours |
| CS 738 | 0 credit hours |
| CS 739 | 6 credit hours |
| TOTAL | 30 credit hours |
Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science (course)
Admission to this program has been suspended effective 202130
A fully-qualified student may complete a Master's course-based route by undertaking 30 credits for coursework. In addition, the student is required to give one non-credit seminar presentations.
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS 4xx/7xx/8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| CS 4xx/7xx/8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| CS/non-CS 8xx | 3 credit hours |
| CS/non CS 4xx//7xx/8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| CS 900 | 0 credit hours |
| TOTAL | 30 credit hours |
*Maximum of two 400-level or 700-level courses may be taken (others must be 800-level).