Major vs. Honours - School of Computer Science

Here in the School of Computer Science, we offer both an Honours degree and a Major degree. Both are 20.0 credit degree programs in which you obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. You may wonder how these two degrees differ.

The Honours degree requires a student to take:

COMP 3804 – teaches valuable advanced problem-solving techniques that will remain useful for your entire career.

Either COMP 4905* or COMP 4906* – gives you experience in doing independent work, and the required written report is valuable, especially if you want to advance in a software career. *Optional as of Fall 2022. See Honours Project/Thesis and Directed Studies – School of Computer Science (carleton.ca) for more details.

In addition, you may not choose a stream designation unless you are in the Honours program. Also, the Honours program has higher CGPA requirements for graduation. See section 3.4.6 Minimum CGPA Requirements for Graduation in the Undergraduate Calendar.

How Are These Degrees Viewed by Prospective Employers?: The Honours degree is generally recognized as a more distinguished degree than the Major degree. However, employers are usually more concerned about your academic grades and the kinds of projects that you have been working on, as opposed to the exact title of your degree. Keep in mind that an Honours Project that has been well done, may help to convince an employer of your ability to work independently, perform analysis and write well-written reports … which are valuable skills in industry.

Will a Major Degree Prevent Me From Going On to Do Graduate Studies?: Not necessarily. Many universities indicate that they require an Honours degree or equivalent to get into a Master’s program, so the Honours degree is better if you intend to apply for a Masters or Ph.D. in computer science. However, a student with high grades from a Major degree will likely be considered for graduate work.

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