New Entry Model for Computing Science Programs

Robert D. Cameron

August 19, 1999

Admission of students into Computing Science programs presently occurs through a 5-track system with many substantive issues of equity and appropriateness. A simplified and unified approach is proposed.

I. Introduction

I.1 The Present System

Students are admitted to Computing Science programs in the following ways.

Grade 12 Direct Entry

Based on an average over 4 Grade 12 subjects (Math 12, English 12, and two others from the following AP Calculus AB, Biology 12, Chemistry 12, Comparative Civilizations 12, English Literature 12, French 12, Geography 12, Geology 12, German 12, History 12, IB Russian, Japanese 12, Latin 12, Mandarin 12, Principles of Math 12, Physics 12, Punjabi 12, Spanish 12, Survey Math 12, IB Western Civilization, Writing 12).

College/Post-secondary Direct Entry

Based on CGPA over a 10 course minimum with no subject constraints.

Internal Transfer

Three Categories:

Internal transfer from SFU at 30-44 total credits including CMPT 101, 150 and MACM 101, based on Computing-Related GPA (CRGPA) and CGPA.
Internal transfer from SFU at 45-56 total credits including CMPT 101, 150, 201 and MACM 101, based on CRGPA and CGPA.
Internal transfer from SFU at 57 credits including all required lower division courses, based on CRGPA and CGPA.

These total credit numbers may include transfer credits, but GPAs are calculated over SFU credits only, with at least 12 credits taken at SFU.

I.2 Problems with the Present System

Grade 12 Direct Entry

The two elective courses used for admission average have a strong influence on the admission average yet vary widely in their relevance to computing science.
The grades in foreign language 12 courses may select more for exposure to that language from early childhood than for computing aptitude.
The set of courses specified for admission does not help direct students to identify an appropriate mix of courses relevant to preparation for computing science.
On the current mix of courses, a preposterously high admission average of 94% is projected to be necessary to keep direct admissions within enrolment targets.

College/Post-secondary Direct Entry.

There are no specific subject requirements, creating a significant imbalance in comparison to high school admission and internal transfer.
The admission standards provide no guidance to appropriate versus inappropriate preparation for computing science and no selection pressure in favor of students who do prepare appropriately.

Internal Transfer

The three-track system is complex and involves a number of arbitrary cutoffs.
The strong structure of the requirements in comparison to weakly structured high school and college requirements creates severe equity anomalies.
Very good high school students who don't quite meet the direct entry GPA will typically require at least three semesters to amass the 30 credits necessary for "early" internal transfer. On the other hand, college students who do not qualify for direct entry may be evaluated for internal transfer on as little as a single semester (12 credits).
Students pursuing the "normal" entry based on 57 credit hours may find it difficult to choose an alternative academic path if they fail to meet CMPT admission standard.
The requirements provide too many opportunities for students to prolong the effort to reach the appropriate admission GPA. These opportunities include taking as many courses as necessary to raise CGPA, taking as many CMPT courses are as available to raise CRGPA and duplicating up to five courses to raise both.
Raising GPA by course duplication can be dramatically more effective than by taking new courses, creating equity anomalies.

II. Proposed New Model

A unified approach to Computing Science admissions is proposed based on an average over a small set of courses (5 to 7) that satisfy particular breadth constraints. High School admissions are based on a 5-course model in line with recent recommendations of the Director of Admissions. A comparable 5-course model could be used for college direct entry and internal transfer, but a 7-course model has a number of advantages.

The breadth models are described by proposed new calendar text as outlined in the following subsections.

II.1 Admission Requirements Calendar Section

A new Admission Requirements calendar section replaces the Enrolment Limitations section of the Computing Science calendar entry. This section refers to the Admission and Readmission section, described subsequently.

Current	Proposed
Enrolment Limitations Registration in the upper division courses for major, minor, honors and related joint programs is limited. Space in upper division computing science courses is primarily reserved for students who have been formally accepted into such a program; only such students will be generally able to obtain the upper division courses necessary to complete the program. Normally, students apply for acceptance upon completion of 57 credit hours including the lower division requirements for the program. Early acceptance is available for Simon Fraser University students and transfer students with high CGPAs and computer related GPAs (CRGPA). Direct acceptance is also possible for secondary schools students with strong university admission GPAs. Approval into a computing science program is based both on overall academic performance as measured by the CGPA and on specific academic performance in computing related material as measured by the CRGPA. The CRGPA for a given program is the GPA calculated on all courses used for the lower division requirements for that program and any other Simon Fraser University CMPT courses taken. For early acceptance into a program, students are required to fulfil the following requirements depending on the number of credit hours completed at Simon Fraser University (or equivalent): 30-44 credit hours completed: students are required to have completed CMPT 101, 150 (or 105) and MACM 101 (or equivalent courses taken elsewhere) 45 or more credit hours completed: students must have completed CMPT 201, in addition to the courses listed for 30 credit hours A student can be formally approved into any of the programs involving computing science if their CGPA and CRGPA are both greater than or equal to the computing science acceptance GPA. The acceptance GPA is higher for early approval and decreases as students near completion of lower division requirements. The actual values may vary from semester to semester depending on the number of available spaces and the number of qualified applications, and are subject to the dean's approval. In previous semesters, the acceptance GPA of 57 credit hours was 2.60. Applications for formal approval must be received by the fifth day of classes for consideration in that semester. For direct acceptance on the basis of BC secondary school achievement, students are required to fulfil the general university admission requirements and to include mathematics 12 in the courses they use for the admission GPA calculation. Students with strong admission GPAs are encouraged to apply for direct acceptance into the computing science program. To remain in a program in computing science, a student will be expected to maintain at least the minimum CGPA of 2.25.	Admission Requirements Entry into computing science programs is possible via direct admission from high school, direct transfer from a recognized post-secondary institution, or internal transfer from within Simon Fraser University. Admission is competitive. A separate admission average for each of the three entry routes is established each semester, depending on the number of spaces available and subject to the approval of the Dean of Applied Sciences. Admission averages are calculated over a set of five to seven courses satisfying particular breadth constraints. For the provisions governing direct entry from high school or direct transfer from another post-secondary institution, see the appropriate Computing Science entry in the Admissions and Readmissions section of this calendar. Internal Transfer SFU students applying for admission to the School of Computing Science are selected on the basis of an admission GPA calculated over seven courses chosen to satisfy the following breadth constraints. One writing course: PHIL 001-3 or any 100-level ENGL course. Two mathematics courses chosen from: MACM 101-3, MACM 201-3, MATH 151-3, MATH 152-3, and MATH 232-3. Two computing courses chosen from: CMPT 101-4, CMPT 150-3, CMPT 201-4, CMPT 250-3, and CMPT 275-4. One physical sciences course: BISC 101-4, BISC 102-4, CHEM 120-3, CHEM 121-4, KIN 142-3, PHYS 101-3, PHYS 102-3, PHYS 120-3, or PHYS 121-3. One social sciences course: ARCH 105-3, CMNS 110-3, CMNS 130-3, CNS 160-3, CRIM 101-3, ECON 100-3, HIST 106-3, POL 100-3, PSYC 100-3, SA 101-4, SA 150-4, or WS 101-3. All seven courses used for this calculation must have been taken at Simon Fraser University. At least five of the seven courses must have been taken in the one-year period preceding the admission application. No course may be included in the average if it is considered a duplicate of any previous course taken at Simon Fraser University or elsewhere. However, students are free to take additional courses in each breadth area; the admission GPA is calculated over the best seven courses that satisfy the constraints. Continuation Requirements Students in computing science programs are expected to maintain a CGPA of 2.4 or better. Students whose CGPA falls below 2.4 will be placed on probationary standing with the School. The number of courses available to probationary students may be limited. Each semester, probationary students are required to consult an advisor prior to course registration and must achieve either a semester GPA of at least 2.4 or an improvement in CGPA to at least 2.4. Reinstatement from probationary standing occurs when CGPA improves to 2.4 or better.

Current

Proposed

Enrolment Limitations

Registration in the upper division courses for major, minor, honors and related joint programs is limited. Space in upper division computing science courses is primarily reserved for students who have been formally accepted into such a program; only such students will be generally able to obtain the upper division courses necessary to complete the program.

Normally, students apply for acceptance upon completion of 57 credit hours including the lower division requirements for the program. Early acceptance is available for Simon Fraser University students and transfer students with high CGPAs and computer related GPAs (CRGPA). Direct acceptance is also possible for secondary schools students with strong university admission GPAs.

Approval into a computing science program is based both on overall academic performance as measured by the CGPA and on specific academic performance in computing related material as measured by the CRGPA. The CRGPA for a given program is the GPA calculated on all courses used for the lower division requirements for that program and any other Simon Fraser University CMPT courses taken.

For early acceptance into a program, students are required to fulfil the following requirements depending on the number of credit hours completed at Simon Fraser University (or equivalent):

30-44 credit hours completed: students are required to have completed CMPT 101, 150 (or 105) and MACM 101 (or equivalent courses taken elsewhere)
45 or more credit hours completed: students must have completed CMPT 201, in addition to the courses listed for 30 credit hours

A student can be formally approved into any of the programs involving computing science if their CGPA and CRGPA are both greater than or equal to the computing science acceptance GPA. The acceptance GPA is higher for early approval and decreases as students near completion of lower division requirements. The actual values may vary from semester to semester depending on the number of available spaces and the number of qualified applications, and are subject to the dean's approval. In previous semesters, the acceptance GPA of 57 credit hours was 2.60. Applications for formal approval must be received by the fifth day of classes for consideration in that semester.

For direct acceptance on the basis of BC secondary school achievement, students are required to fulfil the general university admission requirements and to include mathematics 12 in the courses they use for the admission GPA calculation. Students with strong admission GPAs are encouraged to apply for direct acceptance into the computing science program. To remain in a program in computing science, a student will be expected to maintain at least the minimum CGPA of 2.25.

Admission Requirements

Entry into computing science programs is possible via

direct admission from high school,
direct transfer from a recognized post-secondary institution, or
internal transfer from within Simon Fraser University.

Admission is competitive. A separate admission average for each of the three entry routes is established each semester, depending on the number of spaces available and subject to the approval of the Dean of Applied Sciences. Admission averages are calculated over a set of five to seven courses satisfying particular breadth constraints. For the provisions governing direct entry from high school or direct transfer from another post-secondary institution, see the appropriate Computing Science entry in the Admissions and Readmissions section of this calendar.

Internal Transfer

SFU students applying for admission to the School of Computing Science are selected on the basis of an admission GPA calculated over seven courses chosen to satisfy the following breadth constraints.

One writing course: PHIL 001-3 or any 100-level ENGL course.
Two mathematics courses chosen from: MACM 101-3, MACM 201-3, MATH 151-3, MATH 152-3, and MATH 232-3.
Two computing courses chosen from: CMPT 101-4, CMPT 150-3, CMPT 201-4, CMPT 250-3, and CMPT 275-4.
One physical sciences course: BISC 101-4, BISC 102-4, CHEM 120-3, CHEM 121-4, KIN 142-3, PHYS 101-3, PHYS 102-3, PHYS 120-3, or PHYS 121-3.
One social sciences course: ARCH 105-3, CMNS 110-3, CMNS 130-3, CNS 160-3, CRIM 101-3, ECON 100-3, HIST 106-3, POL 100-3, PSYC 100-3, SA 101-4, SA 150-4, or WS 101-3.

All seven courses used for this calculation must have been taken at Simon Fraser University. At least five of the seven courses must have been taken in the one-year period preceding the admission application. No course may be included in the average if it is considered a duplicate of any previous course taken at Simon Fraser University or elsewhere. However, students are free to take additional courses in each breadth area; the admission GPA is calculated over the best seven courses that satisfy the constraints.

Continuation Requirements

Students in computing science programs are expected to maintain a CGPA of 2.4 or better. Students whose CGPA falls below 2.4 will be placed on probationary standing with the School. The number of courses available to probationary students may be limited. Each semester, probationary students are required to consult an advisor prior to course registration and must achieve either a semester GPA of at least 2.4 or an improvement in CGPA to at least 2.4. Reinstatement from probationary standing occurs when CGPA improves to 2.4 or better.

II.2 Admission and Readmission - Secondary Schools

Within the Admission and Readmission/Admission to Faculty/British Columbia - Secondary Schools section of the calendar the following changes are made under the heading Faculty of Applied Sciences - Computing Science .

Current	Proposed
The admission target for Fall semester 1999 is 20 new students. Students planning to enter the BSc degree program must satisfy the same requirements as for the faculty of arts except that principles of mathematics 12 (or IB mathematics) must be included among the grade 12 courses. Admission is highly competitive. Selection will be based on the average achieved in English 12 and principles of mathematics 12, in addition to the overall admission average.	Students applying for the Computing Science program may be admitted directly based on excellent high school grades or may be offered general University admission with the opportunity to apply for later admission based on SFU grades. Admission is highly competitive. The direct admission target for Fall semester 2000 is 30 new students. Direct admission requires secondary school graduation together with five courses at the Grade 12 level or beyond (that is, including AP or IB courses) satisfying the following breadth constraints. One writing course: English 12, Writing 12 or Technical and Professional Communication 12. One mathematics course: Mathematics 12, Principles of Mathematics 12, IB Algebra, IB Mathematics, or AP Calculus AB. Two science or applied sciences courses in different subjects, with at least one course chosen from biology, chemistry or physics. The following courses qualify: Biology 12, AP General Biology, IB Biology, Chemistry 12, AP General Chemistry, IB Chemistry, Physics 12, AP Physics B, IB Physics, Geology 12, Information Technology 12, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science AB, IB Computer Science, AP Environmental Science 12. One social sciences course: Comparative Civilizations 12, Geography 12, IB Geography History 12, AP European History, IB History IB Western Civilization, AP Psychology 12, Economics 12, AP Economics 12, Law 12, AP Comparative Government and Politics 12, or BC First Nations Studies 12. Admission will be based on an average computed over the best five courses satisfying these constraints. Only the first attempt at a course will be included in the average.

Current

Proposed

The admission target for Fall semester 1999 is 20 new students.

Students planning to enter the BSc degree program must satisfy the same requirements as for the faculty of arts except that principles of mathematics 12 (or IB mathematics) must be included among the grade 12 courses.

Admission is highly competitive. Selection will be based on the average achieved in English 12 and principles of mathematics 12, in addition to the overall admission average.

Students applying for the Computing Science program may be admitted directly based on excellent high school grades or may be offered general University admission with the opportunity to apply for later admission based on SFU grades. Admission is highly competitive.

The direct admission target for Fall semester 2000 is 30 new students.

Direct admission requires secondary school graduation together with five courses at the Grade 12 level or beyond (that is, including AP or IB courses) satisfying the following breadth constraints.

One writing course: English 12, Writing 12 or Technical and Professional Communication 12.
One mathematics course: Mathematics 12, Principles of Mathematics 12, IB Algebra, IB Mathematics, or AP Calculus AB.
Two science or applied sciences courses in different subjects, with at least one course chosen from biology, chemistry or physics. The following courses qualify: Biology 12, AP General Biology, IB Biology, Chemistry 12, AP General Chemistry, IB Chemistry, Physics 12, AP Physics B, IB Physics, Geology 12, Information Technology 12, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science AB, IB Computer Science, AP Environmental Science 12.
One social sciences course: Comparative Civilizations 12, Geography 12, IB Geography History 12, AP European History, IB History IB Western Civilization, AP Psychology 12, Economics 12, AP Economics 12, Law 12, AP Comparative Government and Politics 12, or BC First Nations Studies 12.

Admission will be based on an average computed over the best five courses satisfying these constraints. Only the first attempt at a course will be included in the average.

II.3 Admission and Readmission - Colleges

Within the Admission and Readmission/Admission to Faculty/British Columbia - Community and University Colleges section of the calendar the following changes are made under the heading Faculty of Applied Sciences - Computing Science .

Current	Proposed
Students planning to enter the BSc degree program must satisfy the same requirements as for the faculty of arts and the following requirements depending on the number of credit hours completed: have completed at least 30 credit hours of transfer credit, including CMPT 101, 150 (or 105) and MACM 101 and have completed at least 45 credit hours of transfer credit including CMPT 101, 150 (or 105), MACM 101 and CMPT 201 or have completed at least 57 credit hours including the lower division requirements as discussed in the School of Computing Science section. Admission is highly competitive. Acceptance as an approved computing science student is based both on overall academic performance as measured by the CGPA and on specific academic performance in computing-related courses as measured by the computing-related GPA (CRGPA). The CRGPA for a program is the GPA calculated on all courses used for the lower division requirements for that program.	Students applying for the Computing Science program may be admitted directly based on excellent college grades or may be offered general University admission with the opportunity to apply for later admission based on SFU grades. Admission is highly competitive. For direct entry from college, students must complete at least seven courses that receive the following transfer credit assignments. One writing course awarded PHIL 001-3 or 3 credits in English. Mathematics course receiving credit for two of the following: MACM 101-3, MACM 201-3, MATH 151-3, MATH 152-3, and MATH 232-3. Computing courses receiving credit for two of the following: CMPT 101-4, CMPT 150-3, CMPT 201-4, CMPT 250-3, and CMPT 275-4. One physical sciences course awarded at least 3 credits in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Kinesiology or Physics. One social sciences course awarded at least 3 credits in Archaeology, Communications, Canadian Studies, Crimionology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology or Women's Studies. Admission will be based on a grade point average computed over the best seven courses satisfying these constraints. All seven courses must have been taken from a single institution within a two-year period. No course may be included in the average if it is considered a duplicate of any previous course taken.

Current

Proposed

Students planning to enter the BSc degree program must satisfy the same requirements as for the faculty of arts and the following requirements depending on the number of credit hours completed:

have completed at least 30 credit hours of transfer credit, including CMPT 101, 150 (or 105) and MACM 101 and
have completed at least 45 credit hours of transfer credit including CMPT 101, 150 (or 105), MACM 101 and CMPT 201 or
have completed at least 57 credit hours including the lower division requirements as discussed in the School of Computing Science section.

Admission is highly competitive. Acceptance as an approved computing science student is based both on overall academic performance as measured by the CGPA and on specific academic performance in computing-related courses as measured by the computing-related GPA (CRGPA). The CRGPA for a program is the GPA calculated on all courses used for the lower division requirements for that program.

Students applying for the Computing Science program may be admitted directly based on excellent college grades or may be offered general University admission with the opportunity to apply for later admission based on SFU grades. Admission is highly competitive.

For direct entry from college, students must complete at least seven courses that receive the following transfer credit assignments.

One writing course awarded PHIL 001-3 or 3 credits in English.
Mathematics course receiving credit for two of the following: MACM 101-3, MACM 201-3, MATH 151-3, MATH 152-3, and MATH 232-3.
Computing courses receiving credit for two of the following: CMPT 101-4, CMPT 150-3, CMPT 201-4, CMPT 250-3, and CMPT 275-4.
One physical sciences course awarded at least 3 credits in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Kinesiology or Physics.
One social sciences course awarded at least 3 credits in Archaeology, Communications, Canadian Studies, Crimionology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology or Women's Studies.

Admission will be based on a grade point average computed over the best seven courses satisfying these constraints. All seven courses must have been taken from a single institution within a two-year period. No course may be included in the average if it is considered a duplicate of any previous course taken.

II.4 Additional Deletions

The following text is to be deleted from the Lower Division Requirements section of the Computing Science/Major and Honors Programs calendar entry.

The GPA calculated over all Simon Fraser University courses used to fulfil the above requirements plus any other CMPT courses taken is called the computing-related GPA for declaration of a computing science major or honors and is used in determining admission to these programs.

The following text is to be deleted from the Lower Division Requirements section of the Computing Science/Minor Program calendar entry.

The GPA calculated over all the Simon Fraser University courses used to fulfill the above requirements plus any other CMPT courses taken is called the computing related GPA for declaration of a minor in computing science and is used in determining admissions to the computing science minor program.

II.5 Post Baccalaureate Diploma Admission

In the Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Computing Science subsection of the Computing Science calendar entry, the following changes to admission requirements are made.

Current	Proposed
Admission to a post baccalaureate diploma in computing science is available for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree. For information about the program's general regulations, refer to Continuing Studies.	Admission to the post baccalaureate diploma in computing science is available to students who have a bachelor's degree with outstanding academic achievement. An admission grade point average will be established each semester, depending on the number of spaces available and subject to the approval of the Dean of Applied Sciences. The School reserves the right to use either the CGPA of the previous bachelor's degree or an average computed over a set of courses chosen by the School to most closely match the breadth constraints for its general admission requirements. For information about the program's general regulations, refer to Continuing Studies.

Current

Proposed

Admission to a post baccalaureate diploma in computing science is available for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree. For information about the program's general regulations, refer to Continuing Studies.

Admission to the post baccalaureate diploma in computing science is available to students who have a bachelor's degree with outstanding academic achievement. An admission grade point average will be established each semester, depending on the number of spaces available and subject to the approval of the Dean of Applied Sciences. The School reserves the right to use either the CGPA of the previous bachelor's degree or an average computed over a set of courses chosen by the School to most closely match the breadth constraints for its general admission requirements. For information about the program's general regulations, refer to Continuing Studies.

III. Benefits of The Proposed Model

The proposed model addresses many problems with the current system. It has other specific benefits as well.

Grade 12 Direct Entry

The set of Grade 12 courses identified may help counter the impression that computing science is a narrow program for technonerds, suggesting instead that it is a science-based program in which strong communication skills and ability to deal with social consequences are considered important.
With more strongly structured high school admission requirements, the program may help high school teachers and counsellors motivate students by identifying the relevance of specific high school courses to computing technology.

College Direct Entry.

The 7-course breadth model fits nicely within the structure of a 10-course, one-year, college program. With the flexibility of courses that may be used to satisfy each breadth area, it ought to be reasonably easy for most colleges to offer well-structured programs that both provide good preparation for Computing at SFU and additionally prepare for other programs as well.
The 7-course breadth model should allow designers of college computing curricula the ability to demonstrate the relevance of their programs to their students from the perspective of further study in Computing.
The 7-course model should encourage students to complete a well-structured program of courses in college in hopes of obtaining direct admission to Computing Science.

Internal Transfer

The 7-course model should allow all students who wish to pursue Computing a reasonable chance to be evaluated for admission after two semesters at SFU.
The flexibility in the number of courses available to satisfy individual breadth requirements allows students to recover from poor performances by good performance on alternative material in the breadth area.
The restriction that 5 of the breadth courses must have been completed in the one-year period prior to the admission application:
- ensures that students are competing for admission on courses taken over reasonably comparable time frames,
- allows students who switch to CMPT from other disciplines to use 2 older breadth courses from the years prior to their first year of CMPT study, and
- discourages students from fruitlessly pursuing CMPT admission over prolonged time periods.
With a strong breadth orientation in the admission requirements, student efforts to raise their grades for computing admission are directed to courses that may also serve as good preparation for other programs.

Although a 5-course model could be considered for post-secondary transfer as well as high school courses, it may have the disadvantage of encouraging students to attempt what might otherwise be considered unwise: a 16-credit load in their initial semester of post-secondary work. In addition, dropping 2 courses from the 7-course model would either weaken breadth or weaken the evaluation of computing/math aptitude. If we accept the idea that the first evaluation for internal transfer should occur after two semesters, the 7-course model is quite reasonable.

The 7-course model outlined above should in fact provide good preparation for many fields of study. Thus the model can have the twin benefits of providing a reasonable basis for selecting students with good aptitude for computing as well as ensuring that unsuccessful students have not limited themselves unduly in the effort.

IV. Phase-In Provisions

Starting September 2000, these changes will be phased-in over a two-year period. The provisions for direct entry either from high school or from college will be effective for new admissions for September 2001. For internal transfer, both the current and proposed admission systems will operate for a two-year period commencing September 2000. During this period the internal transfer quotas will be split between the two admission systems in a structure that gradually shifts the admission basis from the current to the proposed system.