Computer Science (BSc) on UBC's Okanagan campus | UBC Undergraduate Programs and Admissions

Learn how to use and improve computers while you explore topics such as databases and operating systems, software engineering, security, web development, and numerical methodology. You’ll also learn about specialty areas such as computational intelligence, bioinformatics, and computer graphics and animation.

This program is also offered at UBC's Vancouver Campus

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Program information

Campus: Okanagan
Faculty: Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
Degree: Bachelor of Science

Length 4 yrs
Co-op Yes
You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
Honours Yes
You can study intense specialization in a single field.

In the Bachelor of Science Computer Science program on UBC’s Okanagan campus, you’ll learn how to use and improve computers. Explore everything from the basics of computing, including data structures, databases, operating systems, software engineering, and numerical methods, to specialized areas such as computational intelligence, bioinformatics, computer graphics, and computer animation.

Experiential learning and research

Develop software for an actual client as part of a student team on the Capstone Software Engineering Project.
Help maintain a large software system, conduct supervised readings, and complete independent research projects with directed studies.
Engage in self-directed, collaborative studies in a group learning environment as part of a student-directed seminar.
Dive into an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member with an honours thesis.
Pursue innovative and original research with an Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science Undergraduate Research Award.
Take part in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science’s annual Undergraduate Research Conference, which showcases student research projects.

COSC 111 - Computer Programming I
Introduction to the design, implementation, and understanding of computer programs. Topics include problem solving, algorithm design, and data and procedural abstraction, with emphasis on the development of working programs. This course should be followed by COSC 121.
COSC 122 - Computer Fluency
Introduction to computer skills (electronic communication, websites, Internet, document editing, programming, data analysis using spreadsheets/databases) and concepts (information representation, abstraction, algorithmic thinking). Course objectives are life-long productivity and understanding of technology in society.
COSC 123 - Computer Creativity
A hands-on introduction to programming and computer-based problem solving and creativity. Experience with application development including storytelling, graphics, games, and networking.
COSC 150 - Physical Computing
Physical computing is the design and building of hardware and software systems for sensing, processing, and affecting the analog world. Principles of physical computing, including basic electricity, digital logic, and analogue and digital electronics. Systems design for interfacing with microprocessors, sensors, and actuators using analogue and digital elements and signals. Programming for embedded systems.

COSC 211 - Machine Architecture
Organization and design of computer systems and their impact on the practice of software development. Instruction set architecture and assembly programming languages, design of central processing units (CPU), memory hierarchy and cache organization, input and output programming.
COSC 222 - Data Structures
Introduction to the design, implementation and analysis of data structures. Topics will include lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs.Credit will only be granted for one of COSC 210 or COSC 222.
COSC 223 - Principle of Computing: Logic, Discrete Structure, and Data Structure
Propositional logic and logic inference, problem-solving techniques (recursion, induction, and mathematical proof), models of computation (theory of finite automata), graph theory, data structures (linear data structures, dictionaries, and graphs), basic algorithmic techniques.
COSC 247 - Networks and Social Media
Online social networks and digital social media. Social media platforms, channels, and software tools. Graph-theoretic and game-theoretic foundation of network analysis and network science. Network metrics and evaluation. Computational, economic, and social aspects of social media.

COSC 301 - Introduction to Data Analytics
Techniques for computation, analysis, and visualization of data using software. Manipulation of small and large data sets. Automation using scripting. Real-world applications from life sciences, physical sciences, economics, engineering, or psychology. No prior computing background is required.
COSC 322 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
AI and intelligent agents; state space search; game playing agents; logic and knowledge-based agents; constraint programming; planning; reasoning and decision making under uncertainty; machine learning; natural language understanding.
COSC 360 - Web Programming
Design and implementation of web-based information systems and app development. Rich user interfaces, asynchronous updates, client-side and server-side scripting using standard technologies such as HTML, CSS, SVG, JavaScript, PHP. Data manipulation with SQL, JSON, XML. Modern scripting frameworks and libraries.

COSC 407 - Introduction to Parallel Computing
Design and implementation of parallel programs including theoretical computer models, parallel architectures (distributed, multicore, GPU), and standard parallel libraries.
COSC 421 - Network Science
Graphs and complex networks in scientific research. Probabilistic and statistical models. Structures, patterns, and behaviors in networks. Algorithmic and statistical methods (online/mobile), social networks, and social media platforms. Social influence, information diffusion, and viral marketing. Sentiment analysis and opinion mining. Data privacy. Search engines and recommendation systems.
COSC 442 - Mobile Educational Game Development
Game design and development on a mobile platform with special attention to educational games. Topics may include: educational frameworks, storytelling techniques, game design, iterative prototyping, evaluation methodology, learner modeling, and learning analytics.
COSC 499 - Capstone Software Engineering Project
A capstone project requiring team software development for an actual client. Students must produce a comprehensive report and deliver a formal presentation.

Your future

As a Computer Science graduate, you can go on to a career in software engineering, systems analysis, technical writing, web development, research, programming, or software testing.

Program requirements

Canadian high schools
International high schools
International baccalaureate

English-language requirements

English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.

General admission requirements

IB Diploma Programme

Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.

IB Certificate Courses

IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.

IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.

Degree-specific requirements: Science

IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL or HL, or IB Math Applications and Interpretations HL (IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, are not acceptable)
One of IB Biology, IB Chemistry, or IB Physics
Grade 11 or equivalent Chemistry
Grade 11 or equivalent Physics is strongly recommended

Note: Grade 11 Chemistry and Physics requirements listed are only relevant to students who are not completing the equivalent IB Diploma Chemistry and/or Physics courses.

For students studying outside of Canada, some examples of courses that may be accepted as Grade 11 equivalents are junior-level courses for American students, and IGCSE and O Level for those following British-patterned curricula.

Related courses

The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.

Language Arts
Mathematics and Computation
Sciences