Bachelor of Science

Admission to Computer Science Major

Students may apply for admission to the four-year B.Sc. with a Computer Science Major into years one, two, and three of the degree. Applicants must meet the general admission requirements for VIU's Bachelor of Science degree in order to be eligible to apply for the Computer Science Major.

First year entry

• General admission requirements apply for admission to first year.
• English 12 with minimum "C" or equivalent.
• A minimum "B" grade in either Pre-calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12.

Second year entry

To be eligible for admission to second year, students must have completed a minimum of 24 credits of university courses towards VIU’s Bachelor of Science Computer Science Major program, including MATH 123 and CSCI 161 with a minimum “C” in each. Competitive admission averages will be calculated based on all program-required MATH and CSCI courses.

Third year entry

To be eligible for admission to third year, students must have completed a minimum of 54 credits of university courses towards VIU’s Bachelor of Science Computer Science Major program, including CSCI 260 and CSCI 265 with a minimum “C” in each, or possess a recognized 2-year Computer Science diploma normally including completion of the Degree English Requirement. Competitive admission averages will be calculated based on all program-required MATH and CSCI courses.

Additional Requirements for Transfer Students

Transfer students into second or third year entry must have completed MATH 121, 122, 123, CSCI 160, and 161, with a minimum GPA of 2.33 (“C+”) in all program-required MATH and CSCI courses.

Notes on Admission – Computer Science Major

Enrolment in this program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program and students with higher grades will be considered first.

Applicants will be prioritized by overall Grade Point Average. A wait list will be created if required.

Indigenous students can apply for reserve seats by submitting the Access Initiative for Indigenous Students form.

Students who wish to take individual courses without being admitted to the program may do so where space is available and when prerequisites have been completed. Students who take courses in Computer Science without being formally admitted into the program are not guaranteed entry into the program.

Notes on Progression – Computer Science Major

Students must achieve a minimum “C” grade point average (GPA) in all program required CSCI and MATH courses to remain within the Major.

Students who fail to maintain this standard will be asked to withdraw from the program for a minimum of one-academic year. The student may apply for probationary re-instatement after the withdrawal period, subject to available space in the program.

Students with a minimum "B" grade point average (GPA) in all required first year CSCI and MATH courses may also apply to the Co-op Program after completion of first year. Enrolment in the Major (Coop) degree requires the completion of additional courses and three Co-operative Work Placements. If the Co-operative Work Placements are completed during the summer terms, this additional workload can be normally completed within the same timeframe as the BSc Major program.

Admission to Computer Science Minor

• General admission requirements apply for admission to first year.
• A minimum "B" grade in either Pre-calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12. 
• Admission to third year requires completion of all first and second year courses, with a minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”).

Notes on Admission

• Courses in first year have prerequisites. To satisfy all first year course prerequisites, students must complete the following B.C. Secondary School courses: Minimum “B” in either Pre-calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12, minimum “C” in English 12, or equivalents.
• Students who satisfy all first-year course prerequisites will be able to complete the full degree program in four years. Students who are lacking any or all of the first year course prerequisites should speak with a VIU Advisor about upgrading courses.

Requirements for a Major

Students must fulfill all Institutional B.Sc. Degree Requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Note: Students must have a minimum "C" average on all 300 and 400-level Computer Science courses completed or taken.

(*a) Students must complete at least 6 additional credits of Computer Science courses at the 400 level, and at least 3 additional credits of Computer Science number 300 or above, excluding CSCI 307, CSCI 308, CSCI 309, CSCI 408, and CSCI 409.

(*b) Students must complete at least 9 additional credits at the 300 or 400 level, excluding CSCI 307, CSCI 308, CSCI 309, CSCI 408, and CSCI 409.

(*c) Amongst all of the electives taken, students must obtain at least six credits from the Faculty of Science and Technology (but excluding MATH and CSCI) and/or the Faculty of Management, and at least six credits from non-Science Faculties, as approved by the Computer Science Department.

Requirements for a Minor

Students must fulfill all Institutional B.Sc. Degree Requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

** Students must complete at least 15 additional credits of Computer Science courses at the 300 or 400 level, excluding CSCI 307, CSCI 308, CSCI 309, CSCI 408, and CSCI 409. Students should check upper-level course prerequisites to guide second year course selection. Certain course selections will require completion of a greater number of second-year courses than is required by the Minor.

Requirements for a Major (Co-op)

Students must fulfill all Institutional B.Sc. Degree Requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Note: Students must have a minimum "C" average on all 300 and 400-level Computer Science courses completed or taken.

(*a) Students must complete at least six additional credits of Computer Science courses at the 400 level, and at least three additional credits of Computer Science number 300 or above, excluding CSCI 307, 308, 309, 408, and 409.

(*b) Students must complete at least nine additional credits at the 300 or 400 level, excluding CSCI 307, 308, 309, 408, and 409.

(*c) Amongst all of the electives taken, students must obtain at least six credits from the Faculty of Science and Technology (but excluding MATH and CSCI) and/or the Faculty of Management, and at least six credits from non-Science Faculties, as approved by the Computer Science Department.

Domestic (Canadian)

International