Computing

M.Sc, Ph.D

The Queen’s School of Computing offers a graduate program that is unique in its quality, diversity, innovation and reach. Our faculty and students are engaged in research projects that span traditional and innovative computer science. For example, one team is designing wireless networks of tiny sensors located deep below the surface of the ocean to study that largely unknown world. Another group is developing techniques to increase the accuracy and reduce the discomfort of medical processes. Some students are discovering properties of certain computers that are radically different from the ones we have today. Others are building organic interfaces for humans to communicate with computers. We are finding methods to make databases more secure, software more reliable and computers more intelligent.

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"One of the best decisions I've made was to return to graduate school at Queen's University in order to pursue a doctoral degree. My time in industry was tremendously valuable, and I gained a lot of real-world knowledge, but there are few things that can compete with the intellectual and personal freedom that comes with the pursuit of a graduate degree. The research being done in the School of Computing is cutting edge, and everyone in the department really loves what they do. I can't imagine myself anywhere else."

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Degrees Offered / Length of Program

• M.Sc. (by research): 2 years, full time (part time also available)
• M.Sc. (by project): 2-3 terms, full time (not available to international students)
• M.Sc. (by coursework): 2 terms, full time
• Ph.D.: 4 years, full time (part time also available)

Method of Completion

• M.Sc. (research): course work and thesis
• M.Sc. (project): course work and project
• M.Sc. (coursework): course work
• Ph.D.: courses, work experience, thesis & defence

Degree Level Expectations & Learning Outcomes

Cross Disciplinary Aspects

Our students are involved in cross-collaborations with Johns Hopkins University.

Supervisors and Fields of Study

We encourage all M.Sc. and Ph.D. candidates to obtain a supervisor before beginning your studies. A candidate may be jointly supervised by more than one person. In cases of co-supervision, one supervisor may be from outside the School.

• Applied Formal Methods Group: Juergen Dingel

• Biomedical Computing Lab: Janice Glasgow

• The Biomotion Lab: Nikolaus Troje

• Computational Geometry Lab: David Rappaport

• Computational Linguistics Laboratory: Greg Lessard, Michael Levison

• Diagram Recognition Laboratory: Dorothea Blostein

• Database Systems Laboratory: Patrick Martin, Wendy Powley

• Discrete-Event Control Systems Group: Karen Rudie

• EQUIS Software Engineering Lab: Nick Graham

• Formal Languages and Automata Group: Kai T. Salomaa

• High-Performance Computing Group: David Skillikorn

• Human Media Lab: Roel VertegaalLaboratory for Percutaneous Surgery (Perk Lab): Gabor Fichtinger, Randy Ellis, Parvin Mousavi, James Stewart

• Medical Computing Laboratory: Randy Ellis, Michael Greenspan, James Stewart

• Medical Informatics Laboratory: Parvin Mousavi, Gabor Fichtinger

• Parallel and Unconventional Computation Group: Selim G. Akl

• Queen's Reliable Software Technology (QRST) Group: Mohammad Zulkernine

• Software Analysis and Intelligence Lab (SAIL): Ahmed Hassan

• Software Reengineering Research Group: Ying Zou

• Software Technology Laboratory: Dorothea Blostein, James Cordy

• Telecommunications Research Laboratory: Hossam Hassanein, Selim G. Akl

Employment Opportunities

Our graduates have been able to secure postdoctoral fellowships, as well as positions in industry, academia and government, including: academic positions at universities around the world; management positions in public, private and non-profit organizations; systems software developer; telecommunications/networks engineer; biomedical engineer/bioinformatics specialist ; special effects/graphics specialist; computer systems/database manager; operations research specialist; systems analyst/operating systems programmer; and electronic data processing auditor.

Funding Information

International students receive the same package with an additional $5,000 toward tuition.

You may also qualify for departmental awards or external awards such as NSERC, OGS and the Microsoft award (for women). Entering graduate students who win federal government tri-council awards are automatically provided a $5,000 top-up award by Queen’s.

Academic Prerequisites

Grades: We consider your last two years.

M.Sc.: Students come from such disciplines as Computing, the biomedical area, mathematics/ statistics, engineering, physics and life sciences. Some may need to take additional courses.

• Honours Bachelor degree
• Second class standing or higher (minimum A standing for international students)

Ph.D.:

• M.Sc. in Computing Science or a closelyrelated field
• Minimum A standing

Other Requirements

Statement of research interests.

Test Requirements

If required, International students TOEFL score of 580 (Paper based) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120. Applicants must have the minimum score in each test as well as the minimum overall score.

Program Profiles

• Dr Nicholas Graham & grad students - using video games to assist kids with CP get the exercise they need
• Mohamed Hefny - a unique research challenge a secret to success...
• Janice Glasgow (faculty) - Queen's is a forerunner in biomedical computing