Choosing First Year CMPT Courses

We have many first year Computer Science courses to choose from, so if you are not sure which ones are for you, you are in the right place.

This page is intended to provide some guidance in the selection of courses, in the form of recommendations about CMPT courses, but should not be seen as describing requirements.  Complete program requirements are listed in detail here.

Also, this page does not completely define the prerequisites or restrictions on courses.  Please see this page for a complete list of prerequisites and restrictions.

If you know you want to complete a program in...

If you are in an Engineering program

Some Engineering programs require CMPT 116 and CMPT 117, in your second year.  You could also take CMPT 111 and CMPT 115 as substitutes.  Other Engineering programs require CMPT 113, also in second year. Your program will indicate what your requirements are.

If you want to learn advanced techniques for office software applications

Consider taking CMPT 120. This course is not as technical as CMPT 111, but will develop some technical skills in using advanced tools and techniques found in typical office software that is available on most computer systems.  This course does not lead directly into our majors programs.

If you need 3 credit units of Science

All students in the College of Arts and Science need to take some Science courses as part of their degree.  It's possible to take one or two CMPT classes to help meet those requirements.  Of course, there are other sciences too.

All Arts and Science students can use CMPT 111 and CMPT 115 as Science credits.  If you enjoy CMPT 111 and do well, you might consider our majors programs in Computer Science and Bioinformatics. 

Students in a non-science major can take CMPT 100, CMPT 105, or CMPT 120 as a Science credit (instead of CMPT 111), but science majors cannot use any of CMPT 100, CMPT 105 or CMPT 120 as a Science credit.  If you enjoy CMPT 105 and do well, you might consider our Interactive Systems Design program.

If you are a non-technical person

Consider taking CMPT 100, CMPT 105, CMPT 120, or CMPT 175.  These courses have less technical content than our other 100-level courses. If you enjoy them and do well, you can follow them up by taking CMPT 105 or CMPT 111.  However, if you've already passed CMPT 105 or CMPT 115, you can't take CMPT 100 or CMPT 175 for credit later.  Be aware that CMPT 100, CMPT 120, and CMPT 175 do not lead directly into any of our majors programs. 

If you need 6 credit units of Science

You can take any of the following combinations of courses.

  • CMPT 111, CMPT 115
    These courses are part of the Bioinformatics,  Computer Science, and Computing programs, and both count as Science credits for all degree types.
  • CMPT 105, CMPT 106
    This pair of courses is part of the Interactive Systems Design program, and they count as Science credits for Arts majors.
  • CMPT 111, and one of CMPT 100, CMPT 120, CMPT 175
    This combination has 6cu of Science for Arts majors.

If you still don't know

Talk to an advisor!