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...Mem b ers 

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Subject

.....Computer.Science 

The attached paper represents a recommendation from the Academic Planning 

Committee for the establishment of a program in Computer Science. The 

paper has been circulated to departmental chairmen and through them to their 

respective faculty members for info ation and comment. 

Brian Wilson 

:ii

att. 

RECOMMENDATION: 

That a program in Computer Science be established and incorporated into 

the Division of General Studies; that the program be implemented in 

phases, the first of which is identified in the body of this proposal; 

that the question of a major in Computing Science should be deferred until 

such time as there is an opportunity to assess the orientation of Phase 

I of the Computing Science Program and the extent of demand for such a 

program. 

BACKGROUND DATA: 

Computers and computer techniques are having profound impact on modern 

society. They have revolutionized the approach to a wide variety of 

disciplines. They have a profound sociological, economic and scientific 

implication. No branch of science and technology can be predicted to 

have a quicker growth rate or greater impact or greater potential for 

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the next decade. This potential is recognized by students. There is a 

great demand in universities across the country for courses and 

programs in Computing Science. The graduates of such programs are 

eminently successful in obtaining new positions. The growth rate, in 

terms of computers and computer technology, is exponential with no 

immediate end in sight. 

There is a correspondingly rapid development in the sophistication of 

computer techniques and in the development of Computing Science as an 

established discipline with many broad ramifications. These include 

such diverse topics as "artifical intelligence" and "integrated 

information systems". 

OBJECTIVES OF PROGRAM: 

To develop a series of courses relating to Computer Science which 

would service the needs of students and faculty throughout the 

Universitycommunity; dependent both upon student demand and societal 

needs, to eventually move to the provision of a sound undergraduate 

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program leading to a degree with a major in Computing Science as part of 

the course offerings of the University. 

ORGANIZATION: 

The administrative organization will consist of a coordinator/director 

and a coordinating committee composed of representatives from each 

faculty within the University whose students require access to such 

program together with the teaching staff identified with the program. 

The coordinator/director will report directly to the Dean of the Division 

of General Studies. The Coordinating Committee through its coordinator/ 

director will advise the Dean of the Division on admission of students to 

the program, *curriculum, budget requirements and candidates for degree.* 

The arguments for retention of the Computing Science Program in the 

Mathematics Department included the following: 

0a) With its existing core of applied mathematicians and Computing Science 

specialists, the Math Department offers an environment in which the 

proposed program could be fostered. 

b) Within the Math Department, the program can be oriented to meet the 

needs of the entire University community, and 

c) Putting the program in the Division of General Studies would add an 

unnecessary administrative burden by introducing yet another committee 

structure. 

However, in the opinion of the Academic Planning Committee, these 

arguments were not as persuasive as those for placing it in the Division 

of General Studies: 

*It is recognized that some of these responsibilities will come only 

if a major in Computing Science is eventually approved. 

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a)

Since the Computing Science program is inter-disciplinary in terms of 

demand, why not recognize this reality at the outset by incorporating the 

program in the Division of General Studies? 

b)

Location of the program in the Mathematics Department raises a possibility 

that it will develop an applied mathematics and/or scientific orientation 

and thus not be responsive to the non-scientific needs of other university 

departments, and 

c)

The program is intended to be experimental and probationary and, under 

these conditions, it ought to be incorporated in the General Studies 

Division where the nature of the program and the resources committed 

to it can be clearly identified. 

d)

Already, several departments, among them the Department of Economics 

and Commerce, offer courses relating to a Computer Science program; 

given this evidence of the inter-departmental support to he provided 

to this programme, the inclusion of the programme in the Division of 

General Studies is warranted. 

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IMPLEMENTATION: 

The first phase of the program will consist of service courses and 

of core courses at the upper division which will constitute at least 

a minor in Computing Science. The suggested program of upper division 

courses will include the following additional courses: 

401-4 - Data Structures 

402-4 - Programming Languages 

403-4 - Computer Organization 

404-4 - Systems Programming 

408-3 - Operations Research 

Pt present the Department of Mathematics already mounts 405-4 - Theory 

of Computability and 406-3 - Numerical Analysis. These, as well as 

lower division courses, 106-3 - Introduction to Computing and 205-3 - 

Computers and Programming would be retained. Reflecting the 

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recommendation of the Academic Planning Committee, consideration of the 

second and all subsequent phases are being deferred until such time 

as the core program proves to be successful in attracting students. 

The core of the Computing Science Program which we have proposed is 

based on a recommended program at the undergraduate level in leading 

universities in North America. There is no doubt that a senior 

academic appointment in Computing Science will be necessary to provide 

the leadership and professional competence to implement a first rate 

undergraduate program. The computing groups will then be in a position 

to polish the program and to refine the actual core structure. 

It is anticipated that the senior academic appointment in Computing 

Science will be finalized through discussions with the Department of 

Mathematics. However, it is intended that in addition to representatives 

of the Mathematics Department, the selection committee will include 

the Dean of the Division of General Studies and representatives of 

faculties whose students will require access to the program; the 

recommendation of the selection committee will be forwarded i.n the 

normal way to the vice-president academic for his approval. 