About

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 networks, multimedia, healthcare and telecommunications. Graduates apply their broad-based skills as entrepreneurs and business leaders in their field.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING SCIENCE BY THE NUMBERS

faculty members

400

PhD and MSc Students

2500+

undergraduate students

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.

COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITY IN CANADA

IN CANADA FOR COMPUTER VISION AND GRAPHICS RESEARCH

96%

OF GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF CONVOCATION

More information

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.

School of Computing Science