Detailed Comparison

The major difference is the number and kind of courses you have to take in each of the programs. The table below compares the two programs in detail, listing the required courses and the complementary courses for each program.

In short, the major advantage of the B.Sc. in Software Engineering offered through the School of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science is its flexibility. It only prescribes 60-63 credits (out of the 90 required to graduate, which takes approximately 3 years), and therefore makes it possible to complement your software engineering studies with a minor in some other discipline, such as a minor in management, marketing, arts or other sciences. You may also choose to take further computer science courses to get more depth and breadth in your studies. The required courses focus mainly on software development related activities, such as programming techniques, programming languages, object-orientation, algorithms, complexity, software processes (requirements engineering and analysis, design), project planning, quality assurance. Many courses require extensive practical work, including, for example, participation in larger group projects, and use of state-of-the-art CASE tools, such as Integrated Development Environments, debuggers, profilers, modeling and project management tools.

These required courses are then complemented with several additional courses that the student chooses from a list of more specialized subjects, such as Artificial Intelligence, Distributed Systems, Computer Graphics, Robotics, and Games (for a complete list, see table below). Therefore, a student, once she/he is familiar with computer science and software engineering, can choose which areas she/he wants to specialize in.

The Software Engineering program offered through the Faculty of Engineering on the other hand is very rigid. It requires 112 credits after CEGEP, and the set of required courses is very large. In addition to requiring the same core courses as the B.Sc. in Software Engineering, the required courses contain several courses required by all engineers, such as more advanced math courses (advanced calculus, complex variables and transforms), as well as many mandatory courses on hardware (electrical engineering, circuit analysis, signals and systems, electronics), and general courses on the Engineering profession. Only 3 technical complementaries (9 credits) are available for students to explore topics of their own interest.

Course by Course Comparison