Computer Science HL

Expert's Insight: DO NOT EXPECT TRANSFER CREDIT FOR IB COMPUTER SCIENCE HL (ENG / iBioMed / CS) Official Policy: McMaster Engineering states that no math or science courses are eligible for transfer credit for Engineering, iBioMed, and Computer Science students. IB Context: IB classifies Computer Science as a Group 4 science subject, so it likely falls under this restriction. What This Means: ❌ No exemption from required first-year CS courses (COMPSCI 1MD3, 1JC3, 1XC3, 1XD3, 1DM3). ❌ Do not plan on IB CS HL reducing your required course load. ❌ Do not assume early graduation or cost savings. ⚠️ If any elective credit is granted, treat it as exceptional and verify after admission via Mosaic. Your Real Advantage: IB CS HL doesn't give you shortcuts—it gives you academic preparation. You'll enter first-year CS courses with deeper programming knowledge, which translates to: Higher grades in mandatory courses. Better co-op placements (which actually save money & build experience). Stronger foundation for upper-year CS specializations. Bottom Line: Don't bank on transfer credit—bank on academic dominance. Use your IB background to earn a strong GPA in mandatory courses, which is worth far more than credit exemptions in the long run.

Expert's Insight: REAL CREDIT — CMPT 120 IS SPECIFIC, BUT PREP FOR THE NEXT STREAM The Good News: SFU grants 6 units for IB Computer Science HL: CMPT 120 (3) + CMPT 1XX (3). • The Threshold: Diploma students generally earn credit with 4+; Certificate/Partial students need 5+ (HL only). • The Specific Win: You receive specific credit for CMPT 120, SFU's intro programming course (commonly taught in Python). This allows you to skip the first standard coding requirement. The Reality Check: • The "Language & Systems" Jump: Many CS pathways move next into CMPT 125. Unlike the high-level Python you skipped, CMPT 125 is often taught in C++ and focuses on lower-level concepts like memory management and pointers. • The Gap: If you learned Java in IB, the logic transfers, but the toolchain does not. You will need to learn C++ syntax and manual memory management quickly to survive CMPT 125. Strategic Advice: • For CS Majors: TAKE THE CREDIT. CMPT 120 is often too basic for an HL student. Use the summer to learn basic C++ syntax so you aren't fighting the compiler while learning Data Structures. • For Non-Majors: This is a "Golden Ticket" elective. ◦ CMPT 120 is designated Quantitative (Q) and Breadth-Science (B-Sci). If CS is not your major, this single course can satisfy both requirements instantly. ◦ The remaining CMPT 1XX is a generic elective. Verdict: Green Light. Take the credit to save time and money, but treat the "C++ gap" seriously before starting your next course.