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Computer Science

• Overview
• Qualifications
• Papers
• Major Subject and Programme Requirements
• Minor Subject Requirements
• Further Information

Overview

Computer Science is the study of computers and the work they do. We need a science of computers because, unlike other machines, computers are general purpose; the same machine can perform many different tasks and the same tasks can be done equally well by different computers.

Because of this, the study of what a computer can do is more than the study of a particular machine. It is the study of what can be done by a device which processes information. Naturally Computer Science papers deal with the practical matter of making the computer do what we want it to (programming). But we also deal with many other questions about computing and computers. How do they work? How are they used? How do they fit into our society? What are their limitations?

Today computers are used not only as a tool in commerce and science, but also for research in many disciplines, such as Anthropology and Linguistics. Computer Science can be taken as a major for both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees and can also be included as a supporting subject in a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Some knowledge of computing is useful to many arts students even if they do not intend to major in Computer Science.

Also see the subject entries for Computer and Information Science and Information Science.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc)
  
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
• Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
  
• Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
  
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
  
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MSc)
  
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Papers

See the full list of Computer Science (COSC) papers.

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Programme Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Computer Science

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	BSNS 106 COMP 160 ENGL 127 or LING 121 18 100-level MATH points COMP 150 (recommended)	18 18 18 18 18
200-level	COSC 241 COSC 242 COSC 243 COSC 244	18 18 18 18
300-level	COSC 326 Three of TELE 301, COSC 341, COSC 342, COSC 343, COSC 344, COSC 345, COSC 346, COSC 348	18 54
Plus	126 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts	126
Total		360

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Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Computer Science

Stage	Papers	Points
1st stage	BSNS 106 COMP 160 MATH 160 COMP 150 (recommended) 54 further points	18 18 18 18 54
2nd stage	COSC 241 COSC 242 COSC 243 COSC 244 54 further 200-level points	18 18 18 18 54
3rd stage	COSC 326 COSC 341 Three of TELE 301, COSC 342, COSC 343, COSC 344, COSC 345, COSC 346, COSC 348 36 further 300-level points	18 18 54 36
4th stage	COSC 490 Four of COSC 451, COSC 453, COSC 454, COSC 455, COSC 459, COSC 460, COSC 461, COSC 462, COSC 463, COSC 470, COSC 471	48 96

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Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Computer Science

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	BSNS 106 COMP 160 ENGL 127 or LING 121 18 100-level MATH points COMP 150 (recommended)	18 18 18 18 18
200-level	COSC 241 COSC 242 COSC 243 COSC 244	18 18 18 18
300-level	COSC 326 Three of TELE 301, COSC 341, COSC 342, COSC 343, COSC 344, COSC 345, COSC 346, COSC 348	18 54
Plus	126 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science	126
Total		360

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Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Computer Science

Stage	Papers	Points
1st stage	BSNS 106 COMP 160 MATH 160 COMP 150 (recommended) 54 further points	18 18 18 18 54
2nd stage	COSC 241 COSC 242 COSC 243 COSC 244 54 further 200-level points	18 18 18 18 54
3rd stage	COSC 326 COSC 341 Three of TELE 301, COSC 342, COSC 343, COSC 344, COSC 345, COSC 346, COSC 348 36 further 300-level points	18 18 54 36
4th stage	COSC 490 Four of COSC 451, COSC 453, COSC 454, COSC 455, COSC 459, COSC 460, COSC 461, COSC 462, COSC 463, COSC 470, COSC 471	48 96

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Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Computer Science

Papers
COSC 480 Four of COSC 451, COSC 453, COSC 454, COSC 455, COSC 459, COSC 460, COSC 461, COSC 462, COSC 463, COSC 470, COSC 471

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Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science

Papers
COSC 480, and four of COSC 451, COSC 453, COSC 454, COSC 455, COSC 459, COSC 460, COSC 461, COSC 462, COSC 463, COSC 470, COSC 471. COSC 5 (thesis)

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Minor Subject Requirements

Computer Science as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), or Bachelor of Tourism (BTour) degree

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	COMP 160 One of BSNS 106, COMP 111, COMP 112, COMP 150	18 18
200-level	Two of COSC 241, COSC 242, COSC 243, COSC 244, COMP 212	36
300-level	One of COSC 326, COSC 341, COSC 342, COSC 343, COSC 344, COSC 345, COSC 346, COSC 348, COSC 360, TELE 301	18
Total		90

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Further Information

Email us at computer-science@otago.ac.nz or visit our website http://www.otago.ac.nz/computerscience