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School of Computing Science
The School of Computing Science is a world-class destination for current and future computer scientists.
About Us
The School of Computing Science follows SFU's tradition of excellence in teaching and research. Our research is world-renowned, and our students graduate with advanced knowledge in areas such as networks, multimedia, healthcare and telecommunications. Many graduates apply their broad-based skills as entrepreneurs and business leaders in their field.
SCHOOL OF COMPUTING SCIENCE BY THE NUMBERS
- 72 faculty members
- 400 PhD and MSc Students
- 2200 undergraduate students
- Two SFU campuses: Burnaby and Surrey
Our Faculty
Our faculty have earned international recognition for their research excellence. The School of Computing Science is proud to have three Canada Research Chairs and a BC Leadership Chair.
Additionally, our research faculty have won many prestigious awards including three Royal Society of Canada Fellows, two IEEE Fellows, a SIAM Fellow, a Sloan Fellowship, an NSERC CREATE award and several NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplements (DAS) grants, to name just a few.
School members engage with the community, sitting on the editorial boards and program committees of top computing science journals and conferences. We also take the lead in promoting important issues in computing science, such as gender diversity.
We forge close partnerships with industry to advance research and knowledge, and to develop internships, co-op employment and education opportunities.
Why Choose Computing Science at SFU?
We are a leader in Computing Science, and for 50 years we have been pioneers of groundbreaking research and faculty excellence. Our programs provide a well-rounded education with strong academic training, practical work experience, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. The combination of a reputable program, supportive environment, and prime location makes us a compelling choice for all prospective students.
#1
COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITY IN CANADA
#1
IN CANADA FOR COMPUTER VISION AND GRAPHICS RESEARCH
96%
OF GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF CONVOCATION
More information
Message from the Director
Simon Fraser University offers one of the largest and highest quality computer science programs in Canada. Our vision is to be a leading centre of computing knowledge in British Columbia by teaching information technology, researching computer science, and collaborating with industry. In 2023 we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the School. From artificial intelligence and computer systems to graphics and biomedical image analysis, to networks and algorithms and complexity theory, we offer a breadth of knowledge covering the major areas in computer science. We have a group of world-class researchers, talented instructors, and motivated staff, all dedicated to the success of our students and advancing the scientific knowledge in computing.
Our faculty and students make fundamental contributions to knowledge across theoretical and applied areas of computer science. Their work is recognized with numerous awards and honours. Faculty members in our School have received 15 prestigious NSERC DAS (Discovery Accelerator Supplement) Awards in the past few years. Because of the quality of our research and teaching programs, our School has been consistently ranked in the top 5 in Canada (#1 in Computer Vision and Graphics) and among the top 50—100 worldwide, according to various ranking organizations. Furthermore, Simon Fraser University has been named the top comprehensive university in Canada in sixteen of the past seventeen years by Maclean’s magazine. To top it off, Simon Fraser University is in metropolitan Vancouver, one of the most livable cities in the world.
The demand for our programs and our students is enormous and growing at a remarkably high rate. Currently, the School has more than 2,500 undergraduate students—almost double the number of students we had several years ago. Our graduate student population has grown to more than 200 current doctoral and master’s students. Since 2014, we have launched three Professional Master’s Programs: Big Data, Visual Computing and Cybersecurity. Our Master of Visual Computing is the first program of its kind in Canada. The enrolment in our Professional Master’s programs has grown to over 100.
We have many things to be proud of at SFU’s School of Computing Science, and I invite you to learn more about our research and teaching programs through our website, or by contacting us directly.
Our mission
The School of Computing Science seeks to serve citizens of the provincial, national, and international communities through excellence in Computing Science research and education. Within this framework, the School affirms its commitment to the following principles:
- To advance the state of the art in both theoretical and applied Computing Science through a strong research program of international standing.
- To provide an outstanding and flexible program of undergraduate Computing Science education.
- To provide an internationally respected program of graduate education in Computing Science.
To achieve these priorities, we undertake in particular the following:
- Commitment to quality graduate and undergraduate education within a collegial academic community of faculty and students.
- Recognition of the experimental and interdisciplinary nature of Computing Science by actively encouraging flexible innovative programs of scholarship and research.
- Commitment to encourage and provide a hospitable environment for the underrepresented and for minorities.
- Public service by the School to the larger community of British Columbia via excellence in cooperative education and industry collaboration.
Our History
In 1973, the Computing Science program was established at SFU as an interdisciplinary area of study under the leadership of the late Ted Sterling, who co-authored one of the first computing science textbooks. The first program offered undergraduate courses leading to a major or honours degree in Computing Science.
Fifty years later, the School of Computing Science at SFU has grown into an internationally renowned and high-ranked program comprised of world-class researchers, talented instructors and an enthusiastic group of staff, all dedicated to the success of students and advancing knowledge dissemination and cutting-edge research in computer science.
Co-op begins
In 1975, 14 students were placed with eight employers in a five-credit practicum course as part of the computing science co-operative education program. SFU's official co-op Program was established in 1978.
New department, faculty and school
In 1978, the Computing Science Program became the Department of Computing Science, having grown to 8.5 full-time tenure track faculty. The following year, the department's graduate program started with the approval of MSc and PhD thesis programs.
In 1985 the Faculty of Applied Sciences was formed and was comprised of Computing Science, Engineering Science, Kinesiology, Communications, and Natural Resource Management (now called the Faculty of Environment).
A New Home
In 1989, after being in multiple locations around the campus, the School of Computing Science moved into its current space in the Applied Sciences Building. In 2005, the school expanded into the adjacent Technology and Science Complex (TASC 1).
New Programs
In 2008, the School launched the Software Systems Program, focusing on teaching students the skills to develop high quality software.
In 2014, the School launched the Professional Masters in Big Data Program, the first program of its kind in Canada. By 2020, the program expanded to the Professional Master’s Program in Computer Science and included three concentrations: big data, visual computing and cybersecurity.
Notable Landmarks In Computing Science At SFU
| 1969 | A brand new IBM card punch machine is set up in the library basement. |
| 1970 | Computer Science faculty Ted Sterling and Sy Pollack publish one of the first Computing Science textbooks. |
| 1973 | Computing Science program launches at SFU. |
| 1975 | Co-operative education is introduced. |
| 1981 | Computing Science graduates convince faculty to buy some of the first Unix servers, prompting a switch from a mainframe computer system to a network of Sun workstations running Unix. |
| 1983 | The first students were admitted to our Graduate Program. |
| 1985 | Lou Hafer and Nick Cercone set up the CSIL lab, one of the first distributed computing networks in Canada. |
| 1985 | The Department of Computing Science became the School of Computing Science. |
| 1989 | Rick Hobson develops SAM-I, a fast, high-level language interpreter using Canada’s first 16-bit micro-processing chip, which he designed at SFU in 1983. |
| 1989 | Slawomir Pilarski’s Circular Self Test for VLSI chips is recognized as a milestone in test technology. |
| 1990 | Tom Calvert creates Life Forms, the first shrink-wrapped software spin-off. |
| 2002 | The name “WICS – Women in Computing Science” is announced to the community. |
| 2003 | The School of Computing Science and the Department of Molecular Biology announce a new joint major—the first of its kind in Canada. |
| 2005 | SFU Computing Science becomes the first University in Canada to offer a Dual-Degree Cohort Program with Zhejiang University in China. |
| 2008 | Greg Mori and Jian Pei are the first SFU computing science professors to be awarded with an NSERC DAS, with 13 more to follow, one of the highest amounts in Canada. |
| 2008 | New Software Systems Program is launched at the Surrey campus. |
| 2012 | The SFU-Zhejiang University Dual Degree Program in Computing Science wins Outstanding Program in International Education from the BC Council for International Education. |
| 2012 | Alumni start-up company, Hire the World, is named to the prominent BC Innovation List. |
| 2014 | The SFU School of Computing Science is ranked among the top 50 computing science programs in the world in the Shanghai Ranking Academic Ranking of World Universities. |
| 2014 | The School launches the Professional Masters in Big Data Program - the first program of its kind in Canada. |
| 2018 | The school launches a new Professional Master’s Program in Computer Science specializing in visual computing – the first program of its kind in Canada. |
| 2018 | CS Research Day, a new annual event featuring graduate student, faculty and alumni research, is hosted for the first time. |
| 2018 | SFU computing science professor Angel Chang is named a CIFAR Artificial Intelligence Chair, followed by Mo Chen in 2020. |
| 2019 | Two computing science faculty members, Jian Pei and Martin Ester, elected to the Royal Society of Canada. |
| 2020 | SFU visual computing researchers win multiple awards at the Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), including the Best Student Paper Award and the PAMI Longuet-Higgins Prize. |
| 2020 | The School launches a new cybersecurity specialization in the Professional Master’s Program in Computer Science. |
| 2020 | Alumni start-up company, Mobify, is acquired by Salesforce. |
| 2023 | The School launches two new master's program in Cybersecurity and Visual Computing |
50 Years of Excellence
2023 marks 50 years since the School of Computing Science at SFU was established.
We were birthed by SFU’s tradition of excellence in teaching and research, and for five decades, we have followed and achieved excellence in research, learning and innovation. Today we are a world-class teaching and learning destination in Canada and beyond. Our research is world-renowned, and our students graduate with advanced knowledge in areas such as networks, multimedia, healthcare and telecommunications.
Join us as we celebrate and reflect on how the contributions from our award-winning teaching and research faculty, students and alumni have made the School of Computing Science a world-class destination for current and future computer scientists.