Université de l'île de Vancouver

Topics in Computer Science

An introduction to applied and theoretical topics, designed to develop an understanding of key concepts in computer science. Topics include digital logic, programming language paradigms including logic and functional programming, computer organization and architecture, system software, software engineering principles, and theory of computation.

3 credits

Systems and Networks

An introduction to operating systems and computer networks. Topics include network architectures, communications protocols, client / server architecture and file systems. The lab component includes hardware and software installations, upgrades and backups.

3 credits

Data Structures

An examination of various methods of representing and manipulating data, including internal representation of data, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees and graphs. Analysis of algorithms will also be discussed extensively.

(4 credits)

Computer Architecture & Assembly Language

An introduction to computer organization, and machine and assembly languages. Topics include data representation, the instruction set and addressing modes of a chosen processor, procedures and parameter passing, and the use of operating system services.

(3 credits)

Software Engineering

An exploration of the methods and tools for developing high quality software. The course includes topics in program design, program style, algorithm selection, interface design, debugging and testing, system utilities, version control, regular expressions and an introduction to scripting languages. 

(3 credits)

Introduction to the Practice of Cyber-Security

An introduction to key cyber-security concepts as applied to information systems in a business environment. Topics include assessing risk in cyber-security, attack vectors, tenets of cyber-security, the human element, operation security, application security, mobile and IoT security, and incident response plans. 

(3 credits)

Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction

An introduction to understanding human behaviour as it applies to interface design, implementation, and evaluation. Topics include: design issues and goals, the limits of the human cognitive system, user-centered design, prototyping, establishing requirements, evaluation techniques, and design implications of emerging technologies.

(3 credits)

Web Programming

Exploration of languages, tools and techniques to write software for use within the World Wide Web (WWW). The course includes the WWW client/server model and related protocols, web server properties, web markup languages, client/server scripting tools, server side programming, and database access tools.

(4 credits)

Foundations of Computer Science

A survey of formal models and results that form the theoretical foundation of computer science. Typical topics include finite automata, Turing machines, simple undecidable problems, context-free languages, grammars and elementary computational complexity. 

(3cr)

Programming Languages

The fundamental concepts of imperative and applicative programming languages. Topics include the description of data types, variable assignment and sharing, sequencing, iteration and recursion, parameter passing mechanisms, and type checking. 

(3cr)

Object-Oriented Software Development

Topics include aspects of object-oriented analysis, design and development; definition and comparison of object-oriented metrics; verification methods for OO-software; maintenance and reuse issues. 

(3 cr)

Digital Logic and Computer Organization

The fundamentals of logic design, computer organization, and the structure of major hardware components of computers. Topics include the application of Boolean algebra to switching circuits; the use of MSI, LSI and field programmable devices in digital design; combinatorial and sequential circuits, flip flops, counters, memory organization, CAD tools. 

(4cr)

Intro to Operating Systems

An introduction to the major concepts of operating systems and study of the interrelationships between the operating system and the architecture of computer systems. Topics include operating system structures, concurrent programming techniques, cpu scheduling, deadlocks, memory management, file systems and protection. 

(3cr)

Database Systems

An introduction to the use and operating principles of database management systems. Topics include data entities and relationships, data modelling using Entity-Relationship Diagrams, hierarchical, network and relational models of databases, query language, physical representation of data in secondary storage, relational algebra and calculus as applied to the design of databases, security and integrity in the context of concurrent use, and basic ethical issues associated with database design and use. 

(3cr)

Intro to Systems Analysis

The methods and methodologies used in analyzing and designing various types of systems. Topics include project definition, CASE tools, data gathering, structured analysis and design, human-machine interface, database design, system controls, hardware selection and system testing, implementation and operation. Students are assigned to a project team involved in a system study as part of the course. 

(3cr)

Computers and Society

An introduction to the social, philosophical and ethical issues of technology with an emphasis on computing technology. Topics covered include privacy, social control, information, the changing nature of work and appropriate technology.

(3cr)

Computer Graphics

The fundamental algorithms and data structures used in generative computer graphics. Topics include structure of interactive graphics programs, raster algorithms, colour, two- and three-dimensional geometric transformations, animation, parallel and perspective projection, hidden line and hidden surface algorithms, cubic curves and surfaces, and shading models. Optional topics include fractals/L-systems, and GPU hardware programming. 

(3cr)

Advanced Algorithms

A survey of advanced topics in algorithm design and analysis. Typical topics include complexity analysis, strategies for intractable problems, approximation algorithms, random algorithms, advanced data structures for sorting and searching, graph and network algorithms, amortized analysis. 

(3 cr)

Advanced Topics in Algorithms and Complexity

This course examines selected emerging and advanced topics in Algorithms and Complexity Theory. Topics may include: advanced techniques for algorithm analysis; complexity classes; algorithmic techniques in graph theory, combinatorics, and optimization; approximation algorithms; distributed and parallel algorithms; probabilistic algorithms; online algorithms; quantum algorithms. May be taken more than once in different topics with permission of Department Chair.

(3 cr)

Advanced Topics in Programming

This course examines selected emerging and advanced topics in programming. Topics may include: a detailed analysis of language design, semantics, verification, resource utilization, language support for concurrency, meta-programming, and compilers. May be taken more than once in different topics with permission of Department Chair.

(3 cr)

Networks and Communications

An introduction to computer networks and communications. Topics include local and wide area networks, network architectures, security, communications protocols, routing, and an introduction to distributed computing.

(3 cr)

Embedded and Real-Time Software Systems

The theory and practice of developing embedded systems with time and resource constraints. Students design, develop and deploy embedded systems on hardware ranging from bare-metal micro-controllers to systems with a real-time OS to Embedded Linux systems. Time-oriented topics include bare-metal programming, cooperative multitasking and preemptive multitasking. 

(3 cr)

Advanced Topics in Software Engineering

This course examines selected emerging and advanced topics in software engineering. Topics may include: software verification and validation techniques, techniques to model and analyze software processes, software design for various architectures (service-oriented, component-oriented, message-oriented), automation of software delivery pipelines, case studies of large scale software successes and failures. 

(3 cr)

Advanced Topics in Systems

This course covers selected emerging and advanced topics in Systems. Topics may include: system programming, distributed systems, peer-to-peer systems, clustered systems, distributed file systems, replicated systems, content distribution systems, fault-tolerant systems, multimedia systems, real-time systems, virtualized systems etc. 

(3 cr)

Advanced Topics in Data Science

This course examines selected emerging and advanced topics in Data Science. Topics may include: big data, data visualization techniques, data mining, statistical modeling and prediction, emerging data analysis techniques. 

(3 cr)

Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence

This course examines selected emerging and advanced topics in Artificial Intelligence. Topics may include: searching strategies, constraint satisfaction, game playing, knowledge representation and reasoning, machine learning, applications to robotics. 

(3 cr)

Advanced General Topics in Computer Science

This course covers selected emerging and advanced topics in Computer Science. Topics may include: programming, systems, software engineering, human computer interaction, algorithms, artificial intelligence, data science, robotics. 

(3 cr)