Computing Science: International Year One (Cornerstone Entry)

Picture yourself writing your first working program while still settling into life in Canada. Fraser International College (FIC) makes that possible through the Computing Science stream of International Year One (UTP Stage II), entered through Cornerstone, taught on Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus. Because a support semester comes first, this route runs across four terms, roughly sixteen months in total.

The opening term is the Cornerstone semester: CNST101 Cornerstone Academic Program, CNQS101 Cornerstone Quantitative Survey and CNSU101 Cornerstone University Life build study habits, number confidence and a feel for campus routines. Completing CNST101 also removes the need for the ILSA101 learning skills course. After that you move into the computing core, starting with CMPT115 Exploring Computer Science and CMPT120 Introduction to Computing Science and Programming I, then MACM101 Discrete Mathematics I and MATH151 Calculus I.

SFU designs the course content and approves every instructor, and smaller class sizes mean more contact time than a large lecture hall. You can use university libraries, computer labs and recreation facilities. A GPA of 2.67 across 10 courses, with at least C- in each, guarantees a place in the School of Computing Science, where you begin year two of the BSc in Computer Science and can apply for SFU co-op work terms.

Graduates in computer science move into roles such as software developer, data analyst, systems analyst, database administrator and cybersecurity analyst. Cornerstone Entry is meant for students with strong maths and a real interest in programming whose English level is currently the lowest accepted for UTP Stage II, and who would value an extra term to adjust before tackling code and calculus.