COMPUTING Major Map
BACHELOR OF COMPUTING (SPECIALIZATION) │ BACHELOR OF ARTS (SPECIALIZATION) │BACHELOR OF COMPUTING (MAJOR) │ BACHELOR
OF ARTS/SCIENCE (MINOR)
Get the
Courses
You Need
Get
Relevant
Experience
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
4th Year or Final
Year
Final Year
Little or no programming
experience? Take CISC
101 or 110 followed by
CISC 121. Significant
programming experience?
Take CISC 121 followed
by CISC 124.
Course requirements vary
by specialization.
Specializations and
options include Computer
Science,
Biomedical Computing,
Cognitive Science,
Software Design, Game
Development,
Computing and the
Creative Arts, and
Computing and Math.
Try to complete all major
requirements/core
courses.
12-16 MONTH QUIP
INTERNSHIP
BETWEEN 3RD AND
4TH YEAR
With the exception of
those in the internship
program, all students
complete a final year
project.
Talk to the School and
their faculty about
research opportunities
through Undergraduate
Summer Research
Assistantships
Stay during the summer
as an assistant to a faculty
member or apply for an
external research
opportunity.
Take CISC 102.
Additional course
requirements for
specialized computing
programs – see the
Specialist Maps for more
details.
Join teams or clubs on
campus such as Queen's
Game Developers Club,
and the Mostly
Autonomous Sailboat
Team (MAST).
Apply to graduate on
SOLUS.
Investigate full-time jobs
or other opportunities
related to careers of
interest. Assess what
experience you’re lacking
and fill in gaps with
1st Year
Look in the Co-Curricular
Opportunities Directory
or AMS Clubs Directory
for ideas.
Participate in Open
Source Development
projects. Join the Queen's
ACM Programming team.
Get
Connected
with Your
Community
Volunteer on or off
campus with different
community organizations,
such as Women in the
School of Computing
Group and Code the
Change: Queen's Chapter.
Offer your services to a
non-profit organization.
Organize after school
programming or robotics
clubs in the local
elementary or secondary
schools.
Get
Thinking
Globally
The Queen’s University
International Centre will
be your first stop to
internationalizing your
degree. Speak to a QUIC
advisor or get involved in
their many programs,
events and training
2nd Year
3rd Year
(NSERC/USRAs).
Consider applying to the
12-16 month Queen’s
Undergraduate Internship
Program through Career
Services.
Look into summer jobs by
talking to Career Services
about SWEP and other
employment
opportunities. Join the
COMPSA Site Services
team to develop web sites.
Be a COMPSA tutor.
Get involved with the
Computing Students
Association (COMPSA).
Consider volunteering
with initiatives such as
high school programming
competitions, Hour of
Code, Code for Kids, or
local FIRST Robotic
teams.
Final Year
volunteering, clubs, or
internships.
Talk to the Undergraduate
Chair about the UCOSP
program for a distributed
team experience in Open
Source Development.
Do targeted networking
with people working in
careers of interest
(through alumni,
LinkedIn, etc.)
Connect with professors
at events or workshops
hosted by the School,
COMPSA and Women in
the School of Computing
(WISC).
Consider entrepreneurial
opportunities at programs
like the Queen’s Summer
Innovation Initiative
(QSII).
Is an exchange in your
future? Start thinking
about where you would
like to study abroad.
Apply in January for a 3rd
year exchange through the
International Programs
Office.
4th Year or Final
Year
Build your intercultural
competence by getting
involved with other
cultures or by practicing
or improving your
language skills. Stop by
QUIC for ideas to go
abroad, volunteer at
Consider joining
professional associations
like Canadian Information
Processing Society, IEEE
Computer Society, and
the Association for
Computing Machinery
(ACM).
Attend conferences like
the Canadian Quantum
Information Students'
Conference (CQISC) and
the Canadian University
Software Engineering
Conference.
Prepare yourself to work
in a multi-cultural
environment by taking
QUIC’s Intercultural
Competency Certificate,
and start thinking about
work or further studies
abroad.
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015
1st Year
2nd Year
opportunities.
Get Ready
for Life
After
Graduation
Grappling with program
decisions? – go to
different Major Nights by
the departments or various
Career Fairs in the year.
Get some help deciding
by visiting Career
Services.
3rd Year
4th Year or Final
Year
Final Year
QUIC or attend one of
their events.
Explore careers of interest
by reading books in the
Career Services Career
Advising and Resource
Area, such as Careers in
High Tech, talking to
people whose careers
interest you, or finding
Computing alumni on
LinkedIn.
Start focusing on areas of
interest. Learn about the
requirements for careers
of interest– do they need
additional schooling? If
so, prepare to take the
required tests (such as the
MCAT or GMAT).
Attend Grad School
workshops at Career
Services if interested.
Apply to jobs or future
education, or make plans
for other adventures.
Prepare reference letters if
you’re applying to
graduate school. Make an
appointment with Career
Services or go to drop-in
career advising for help
with future plans.
Caution: *This map is meant as a guide to provide suggestions throughout your university career. The activities, resources, and careers mentioned are possibilities – you are not
restricted to them and you don’t have to follow this exact timeline. Every person (including you!) will find their own unique path through their degree at Queen’s and beyond.
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015
Where could I go after graduation?
3D animator
Biomedical computing
Biotechnician
Communications
Computer programmer
Cryptographer
Data analyst
Data mining and processing
Database administrator
Educator
Fashion designer for wearable technology
Game development/design
Graphic artist
Human/Computer interface designer
Information architect
Lawyer
Linguist
Marketing
Medical applications technician
Medicine
Pharmaceutical researcher
Project manager
Research
Robotics
Security
Social and digital media specialist/advisor
Software architect
Software developer
Software tester
Sound designer
Systems analyst
Team lead
Web developer
*some careers may require additional training
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015
See more careers for computing programs @ [Career Services website with addendum]
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015
Computing at Queen’s
Why study Computing?
[waiting on a description from the School of Computing]
What program options are there?
•
•
•
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Specialization – Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Computing and the Creative Arts
Specialization – Bachelor of Computing (Honours) in Biomedial Computing, Cognitive Science, Computer Science,
Computing and Mathematics, or Software Design.
Major (Computing) – Bachelor of Computing (Honours)
General in Computing – Bachelor of Arts or Computing
Minor in Computing with Bachelor of Arts or Science
See the department website for course requirements: cs.queensu.ca
Getting what you need to succeed in the workplace
What do employers want?
In a recent survey from the Canadian Council of Chief Executives the top 6 skills sought by employers were:
1 People skills
2 Communication skills
3 Problem-solving skills
4 Analytical abilities
5 Leadership skills
6 Industry-specific Knowledge
How do I get the skills I need?
It is important to develop a balanced skill set – many of which you will develop during your studies. To stand out from the crowd,
gain experience outside the classroom through the multitude of clubs and activities in and around Queen’s. Check out ideas in the
Get Relevant Experience section of this map.
What can I learn studying Computing at Queen’s?
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015
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Ability to design, develop and maintain software systems
Familiarity with modern programming languages and software
Oral and written communication - summarize complex ideas and present data in visual formats
Ability to model and solve a diverse range of problems
Critical thinking and multiple problem solving approaches
Approach problems systematically
Proficiency in mathematics and logical, computational thinking
Resource and time management
Project management
What makes ME special?
You have a unique set of skills and experiences. Take the time to think about the skills you have personally developed at Queen’s.
Explaining your strengths with compelling examples will be important for applications to employers and further education. For
help, check out the Career Services skills workshop.
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015
Computing Major Map
How to use this map
• Got
questions about careers and classes?
• Feeling a little lost or overwhelmed by choices?
• Wondering what you are “supposed” to be doing?
Use this map to plan for success in five overlapping areas of career and academic life. Each map helps you explore possibilities, set
goals and track accomplishments. To make your own custom map, use the My Major Map tool.
Don’t stress if you haven’t done all of the suggested activities. The map is not a prescription – it’s a tool for finding your own way at
Queen’s.
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015
Support for Student Success
Aspect of Student Health
Personal and Physical Health
Socio-Cultural and Spiritual Health
Career and Professional Health
Academic and Intellectual Health
Emotional and Mental Health
Social and Interpersonal Health
Resources
Athletics and Recreation
Health Counselling and
Disability Services
Aboriginal Student Centre
International Centre
Chaplain
Outreach Counsellor
Cross-Cultural Counsellor
Town-Gown
Career Services
AMS
International Centre
Student Academic Success
Services: Learning
Strategies and the Writing Centre
Academic Advising
Adaptive Technologies
Learning Commons
Health Counselling and
Disability Services
Peer Support Centre
AMS
Rector
Residence Life
Student Experience Office
Queen’s Legal Aid
See queensu.ca/studentaffairs for details
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015
School of Computing
Faculty of Arts and Science
Goodwin Hall
25 Union St.
613.533.6050
cs.queensu.ca
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© Career Services, Queen’s University, 2014-2015