Concurrent Degree in Arts and Computer Science
Many career opportunities demand a combination of in-depth scientific training with the understanding of people and the sophisticated analytic and critical skills acquired in an Arts degree. The Faculties of Arts and Computer Science at UNB in Fredericton are cooperating to make it possible for a student to graduate with both a BA and a BCS in five years.
All Arts students concentrate on a Major or Honours program in their third, fourth, and fifth years chosen from any of the following subjects: Ancient World Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Comparative Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Earth Sciences, Economics, English, Film Production, French, History, Mathematics, Media Arts and Cultures, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Socio-Cultural Studies in Health, Sociology or Statistics. In addition, interdisciplinary programs in Gender and Women’s Studies, International Development Studies, and Law in Society are available as part of an Arts Double Major or Joint Honours; Drama is available as part of an Arts Double Major. However, students are advised that completing a Double Major or Joint Honours in Arts will require more credit hours than a Single Major or Honours.
This program is ideal for students with an interest in Computer Science and one of the Arts subjects. It is also a demanding program that requires a serious commitment from the student from the outset and throughout the degree.
The concurrent program is designed so that if a student decides to opt for either degree alone part-way through the program, they can transfer into either the BA or BCS.
Students in the concurrent program are able to count many of their courses toward the requirements of both degrees, so it is important to select courses carefully from the outset. Advice is available from both Faculties at every level from pre-entry enquiries through to graduation. To complete the concurrent degree, students must satisfy both the BA and BCS degree requirements. Completing these requirements will involve completing at least 151 credit hours of courses.
Application and Admission
Students wishing to pursue the concurrent program should specify this on their application and must meet the admission requirements for both programs. Further information on the program is available from the offices of the Dean of Arts and the Dean of Computer Science.
Faculty Affiliation
Students in the concurrent program will be registered as BA/BCS students. They will be assigned to academic advisors in the Faculty of Computer Science and in the Faculty of Arts.
Sample Program of Study
First Year
- Two of ARTS 1013, ARTS 1014, ARTS 1023, or ARTS 1024 (6 ch).
- MATH 1003 and MATH 1013 (or enriched MATH 1053 and MATH 1063)
- CS 1073, and CS 1083, and CS 1203
- One of CS 1103 or CS 1303
- 6 ch chosen from either Humanities, Languages, or Social Sciences. Students are encouraged to explore different subjects; within any distribution group they may take either 6 ch in the same subject or 3 ch in each of two subjects.
Second Year
- CS 2043, CS 2253, CS 2263, CS 2383
- CS 1103 or CS 1303 (whichever one was not taken in First Year)
- One required MATH or STAT course
- 12 ch chosen from the Arts distribution groups (Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages), including at least 6 ch from a different group than the one chosen in first year.
In the third, fourth, and fifth years of the Arts side of the program, students will complete the requirements for their single major in an Arts subject, including at least 24 ch at the upper level.
The third, fourth, and fifth years on the Computer Science side are distributed as follows:
Third Year
Fourth Year
Fifth Year
- Four CS/SWE technical electives at the 3000 level or above (with at least one of these at the 4000 level or above)
