Program FAQ

CSE Information Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
About Program Requirements

Last revised: 2005 November 9

Which program requirements do I follow?
- Use the program requirements in effect in the latest term in which you do one of the following.
  - you take your first major CSE course from the department -- usually CSE1020. This is normally your year of entry to the CSE major.
  - you are in a CSE program and transfer Faculties.
  - You transferred from another major into CSE.
  - You are reactivated as a York student. Students are deactivated after three consecutive terms without taking courses at York and they are not on internship.
  If the above takes place in the summer term, then you follow the program requirements for the previous fall and winter terms. For example if you begin in Summer 2001, then you follow the 2000-01 program requirements.
- Or, at your choice, the requirements in effect in the year of your graduation.
- But you cannot mix and match different requirements.
What do you mean by normal progress?
- See the www page on enrolment guidelines
Can 4000-level courses be taken by students in a 90 credits degree program?
- 4000-level courses are primarily for students enrolled in honours programs, thus the answer is a qualified "yes; if space permits".
Can 4000-level courses be substituted for 3000-level courses?
- No.
One often encounters the phrases "...courses taken..." or "...courses completed..." found in descriptions of prerequisites, gpa calculations, degree requirements. What does this mean? Is a course that I have finsished with an "E" or "F" "taken" (or "completed")? Is a course in which I registered but then dropped "taken"?
- "Taken" or "completed" are synonyms and mean "passed" or "failed". A "completed" course is one that appears on your transcript..
Can I take CSE courses at other universities?
- They are known as out of department courses. They may be taken with Letters of Permission (LOP) which are obtained from the Office of the Registrar. When you have filled out the form take it to the CSE undergraduate office which looks at the course descriptions you provide and either grants or denies permission.
Are there restrictions on the number of CSE courses taken out of the department?
- You are restricted to 12 credits, 6 in core area (grand totals). Advanced standing courses (or "transfer credits" as are now called, which were taken at other universities or colleges before coming to York) are a part of the out of department courses.
What are the core courses?
- They are those CSE and MATH courses which are required in all CSE major programs and for which we specify 2 or more digits in the program tables. For example, CSE/MATH1019, MATH1090, CSE 1020, and CSE 3101 (specify 4 digits), breadth requirement CSE 34xx (specify 2 digits).
Can I substitute MATH 2221 for MATH 1025 as a 3 credit 1000-level Science course in the Faculty requirements?
- No.
Can CSE 3341 be taken as an 31xx area course and/or CSE 3221 be taken as a 33xx area course?
- If you are following the 1999-00 degree program checklists (i.e., you have completed your first CSE course on or before Summer 2000), you may then use CSE3341 as a 31xx area course and/or you may use CSE 3221 as a 33xx area course.
What if I opt to graduate with a Bachelor ("Ordinary") degree but immediately continue with an Honours degree? Is this considered to be a break in my studies; i.e., do I use the new regulations at the time of "resuming" the honours program, or is this a continuation of studies and I can continue with my original program requirements?
- It is considered to be a continuation of studies so you would continue to use the program requirements for the same year as your Ordinary Degree. However, should you become deactivated as a student (you have not taken courses for three consecutive terms and were not on internship), then you follow the requirements in effect at the time of your reactivation as a York student.
- Please check at the Registrar's Office about the procedure to follow when graduating with an ordinary degree and continuing with an honours degree.
I am an ITEC student and want to transfer to CSE. ITEC requires MATH 1190 and MATH2320, while CSE requires CSE/MATH 1019 and MATH1090. Do I need to take MATH 1090 and CSE/MATH1019?
- Yes, definitely, you must take MATH 1090.
- Moreover, yes, you must take CSE/MATH1019 if you have not already completed MATH2320 (conditions apply; see also 32 below); otherwise MATH1019 (a credit exclusion of MATH2320) is waived.
I am applying with a non-English educational background. What TOEFL score do I need?
- Please see the York admission requirements.
What gpa do I need if I have 3 credits from a math for majors course (second digit is not 5) and 3 credits from a math service courses (second digit 5)?
- You need a B average grade -- 6.0 or better.
What is the difference between a BA, BSc and BASc?
- The BA and BSc degrees have the same computer science and mathematics courses. Their difference lies in general education and other Faculty specific requirements, and in the electives you take.
- If you are primarily interested in the arts and have a background in the arts, then a BA is an appropriate degree as you would take most of your courses from the Faculty of Arts.
- If you are primarily interested in science and have a background in science, then a BSc would be an appropriate degree.
- The BASc (CE) is a computer engineering degree. To take this degree you should have a strong background and interest in mathematics and the sciences --- especially physics. The emphasis is on the design of robust, economical and maintanable hardware and software structures.
What MATH courses are used to compute the prerequisite for CSE 1020?
- We use the latest mathematics courses you have taken (see also the latest supplemental Calendar). Once you have taken a college level math course we do not go back to your OACs or 12Us. Once you have taken a university mathematics course we only look at university level courses.
Which university MATH courses are used to compute the prerequisite grade for CSE 1020?
- We go back term by term until a total of 6 or more MATH credits are accumulated. For example, if last term you had 3 MATH credits and the previous term you had 6 MATH credits, then we count all 9 credits in your average.
- If you took a course more than once, then the Senate legislation on repeating passed or failed courses applies: Beginning with September 2004 only the second instance counts for credit and gpa calculation, unless otherwise directed by your home Faculty. See http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/repeating.htm
What is the graduation grade point average (gpa) requirement for BSc degrees?
- Honours degree -- gpa of 5.0 over all completed courses
- 90 credits degree (Bachelor)
  - For students admitted for 1999-2000 and later gpa of 4.0 over all completed courses.
  - Students admitted prior to 1999-2000, who were not reactivated in a later academic year, may use the gpa requirement as required in the year they were admitted.
What is the graduation grade point average (gpa) requirement for BA degrees?
- Bachelor degree -- gpa of 4.0 over all completed courses
- Honours degree -- gpa of 5.0 over all completed courses
Can I apply pass/fail option for CSE courses?
How do I change Faculties, majors, or degrees?
What is the relationship between MATH 1090, 1190, 2090, 1019 and 2320?
What is the relationship between MATH 1019, 1090, 2090, 2320 and AK/ MATH 2440, 2441, 2442?
How does one get into the engineering program?
What are the criteria for transferring majors into the engineering program?
I am a CSE major. Can I take ITEC 1010 and ITEC 1011 as electives?

Can I retake a CSE course to improve my gpa?

What if I have repeated a CSE course once prior to September 2004?

Can I retake a CSE course more than once?

The general prerequisites for any CSE3xxx and CSE4xxx course includes a requirement that the gpa over all completed CSE major courses is at least 4.5. How is this computed?

I notice that MATH (CSE) 1019 is a 2000 level general prerequisite as of 2004/05. Must all students who need to take CSE2xxx courses in 2004/05 take this course?
- Students who have met the old general prerequisites (CSE1030 with a C+ or better and MATH1090) on or before the summer 2004 session may proceed with 2000-level courses in F04 and W05.
- Students who have not completed the old general prerequisites prior to fall 2004, that is, either they have not passed CSE1030 with a C+ or they have not passed MATH1090, should take CSE/MATH1019 to fulfil the 2000 level general prerequisites -- unless they already have passed MATH2090. Presumably most students in this category will take CSE/MATH1019 in the F04 term.

I notice that MATH (CSE) 1019 and MATH2320 are exclusions. May I take MATH2320 to satisfy the MATH1019 requirement?

Can I take CSE4115 3.0 to satisfy the 4th year theory requirement in the specialised honours degree programs?