With the admission category of Computer Science, you have the first opportunity to enrol in Computer Science courses. Although you will not be applying for your program of study until the end of first year, it is a good idea to take courses for a few different programs so you have options.
Start looking ahead by reviewing the Arts & Science Academic Calendar. And visit Degree Explorer to learn how course choices could meet your degree requirements. Read below for everything you need to know to start planning your first year and beyond.
Visit the Department of Computer Science website for more detailed information.
What’s in a program?
All students admitted to the Computer Science admission category (CMP1) are guaranteed a place in the Computer Science specialist, major or minor program of choice after first-year, provided that conditions of their guarantee have been met.
During your first year, you will be able to explore a number of different areas of study before selecting your program. You can also combine programs outside of your own admission category, excluding programs in Rotman Commerce.
However, it is important to note that there are required first-year courses if you intend to take the Computer Science program of study.
If you enrol in an eligible Computer Science program at the end of your first year of study, you will have the option to apply for the Arts & Science Internship Program stream, which combines paid work experience with professional development training.
Visit the Department of Computer Science website for more detailed information.
See a full list of the programs available to you in the Program Toolkit. And for more information, view the Arts & Science Academic Calendar.
Program and Course Selection
Check out these resources to help you choose your courses:
- Arts & Science Calendar: This will help you identify which programs you wish to pursue, which will then inform you of the first-year courses you need to take. Please be aware that not all courses listed in the Calendar will be offered every year.
- Timetable Builder: Check Timetable Builder in July 2024 to find more detailed information about Fall/Winter 2024-25 courses, including course days and times, delivery modes and instructions and assigned instructors.
Keep in mind, the recommended course load for full-time, first-year students is five courses per term. Your first year will comprise a mixture of courses for your intended program(s), small classroom options and electives. Your schedule will consist of a combination of lectures, labs and tutorials, depending on the courses you take. You can always contact your College Registrar’s Office if you have questions about course selection.
As a student in the Computer Science admission category of the Faculty of Arts & Science, you have priority during enrolment in all your first-year computer science courses. You also have exclusive access to First-Year Learning Communities (FLC) dedicated to Computer Science students. To help you decide which first-year computer science courses to choose, and which courses are mandatory, visit the Department of Computer Science website and the Arts & Science Academic Calendar.
More information about prerequisites, enrolment indicators, course conflicts and taking courses in other Faculties or U of T campuses can be found on the Arts & Science website.
Plan Your Courses on Degree Explorer
U of T’s degree planning tool, Degree Explorer, is a great way to plan your education path. Log on and use the planner to determine how future course choices might meet your requirements. You can create up to five hypothetical degree scenarios, as well as map out prerequisites, electives and core courses. Keep in mind that Degree Explorer helps you plan out courses that you could potentially take for a particular program, but it doesn’t show you the courses offered in a specific term. It will also let you check your progress towards your degree, and review your academic history while you’re here.
Breadth Requirement
During your studies, you are required to meet a Breadth Requirement, which allows you to explore courses outside your program of study and introduces you to other ways of looking at topics and issues from a range of fields. The Arts & Science Academic Calendar explains the rules for completing your Breadth Requirement and every course description in the calendar indicates the breadth category it fulfills:
- CCR: Creative & Cultural Representations
- TBB: Thought, Belief & Behaviour
- SI: Society & Its Institutions
- LTE: Living Things & Their Environment
- PMU: Physical & Mathematical Universes
Some courses do not count towards the Breadth Requirement. These courses are listed in the Academic Calendar with "Breadth Requirement = None" in the course description.
Types of Courses
In 2024-2025, most Arts & Science courses will be offered in person or will have an in-person component which requires you to be on campus at a scheduled time.
There are four types of delivery modes for 2024-2025:
- In Person: This meeting section is in person. You will be required to attend this meeting section at a specific time and location. The course outline will provide details.
- Hybrid: This meeting section includes in-person and online activities. You will be required to attend some activities in person at a specific time and location and some activities online (synchronous or asynchronous). The course outline will provide specific details.
- Online Synchronous: This meeting section is online and requires attendance at a specific time for class activities. Online courses may require an in-person final assessment. For Y courses, both midterm tests and final assessments may be in person. The course outline will provide specific details.
- Online Asynchronous: This meeting section is online and does not require attendance at a specific time for class activities. Online courses may require an in-person final assessment. For Y courses, both midterm tests and final assessments may be in person. The course outline will provide specific details.
You can find the delivery modes for each course section in Timetable Builder and in your course syllabus. Make sure to check the delivery information in Timetable Builder for specific details about how that course will be offered. It is important to note that you cannot change sections after the final date to enrol in courses for that term.
First-Year Opportunities
There are many amazing opportunities specific to first-year students in Arts & Science.
Lectures offer a dynamic experience and can be supported with tutorials or labs. Small-group experiences, such as the First-Year Foundations (FYF) Seminars and Ones Programs, can help you build relationships with professors and your peers early on in your academic career.
First-Year Learning Communities (FLCs) are groups of students in the same courses who meet bi-weekly for academic, development and social activities. They are not for course credit. Applications are now open. The deadline to apply is July 2 at 12 p.m. ET.
Learn more to find the small-class experience that’s right for you.
Transfer Credits
The Transfer Credit Office in the Faculty of Arts & Science processes requests for transfer credit on admission and post admission.
Students who have enrolled in the following in high school may be eligible for transfer credit upon admission:
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- Cambridge Pre-University Diploma
- Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE)
- French Baccalaureate Program
- General Certificate of Education (GCE), Advanced Level
- International Baccalaureate (IB), Higher Level
- Singapore-Cambridge GCE, Advanced Level
No application for high school transfer credit is necessary, but you must arrange for your final results to be sent directly to Enrolment Services by the applicable deadline.
If you have completed courses at another university or college, you may be eligible to receive course credits – getting you one step closer to earning your U of T degree.
For more information on high school and post-secondary school transfer credits, including deadlines and how they count toward your degree and program(s) of study, visit the Transfer Credit for Newly-Admitted Students page on our website.
If you have previously taken courses or completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, visit the Transfer Credit for Internal U of T Transfers page.
