Overview
COMP 694: Advanced Topics in Information Systems is a three-credit, individualized study elective that is designed to provide graduate students in the School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) with a variety of learning opportunities.
This course serves to update, enrich, and diversify students' knowledge of information systems. It encourages students to engage with faculty members and prepare themselves in choosing a route, topic, and supervisor for their final research. COMP 694 provides opportunities for students to explore areas of interest not provided in the core curriculum or elective courses.
In this course, students will attend various online academic seminars on the latest research advancements and technology developments. Students will summarize and reflect upon the seminar topics that interest them the most. Students will also prepare a presentation that they will present to faculty and peers.
Eligibility
All MSc CIS program students are eligible to register for this three-credit, individualized study elective while ensuring that they meet the program requirements of the specific route of their program (i.e., in the Project and Thesis routes, only one elective is possible, and in the Essay route, three electives are possible).
Note, however, that all graduate students have access to COMP 694 and are encouraged to attend its seminars and complete the assignments for this course. If a student moves from a certificate program into the MSc CIS program, the assessments they have submitted will be counted towards credit for COMP 694.
Course Professor approval is required to register to take this course for credit. Students must first attend at least eight seminars and submit eight summaries of those seminars and two reflections on seminars before requesting permission to register for credit.
Students opting to receive credit for COMP 694 must complete the course within their graduate program time frame. After formally registering for credit in this course, students will be required to complete all coursework within their formal course contract period.
When this course’s credit is counted as a part of the total program credits (39 credits), the credit will be recorded on the student's transcript using the appropriate course number (COMP 694), along with the number of credits (3) and grade (Pass/Fail).
Outline
COMP 694 is an individualized study course in which all graduate SCIS students are automatically enrolled. This means that all graduate SCIS students have access to the course even if they do not want to receive credit for it.
All graduate SCIS students are encouraged to regularly attend and participate in the online seminars of this course, which are offered on the second Saturday of each month through the Microsoft Teams platform. All seminars are recorded and posted on the course site for later viewing for students who are unable to attend the live events. Seminar dates/times may be occasionally rescheduled.
Online seminars in this course focus on the latest research advancements and technology developments in Computing and Information Systems.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
- list current, hot topics in computing and information technology.
- diversify information and knowledge of the discipline.
- describe the dynamics of research and development in the field.
- identify and explain a topic that you are particularly interested in.
- exercise your oral communication and presentation skills.
- gain experience and skills in synchronized academic discussion.
Evaluation
In order to receive credit for COMP 694, you must attend eight seminars and complete eight summaries, two reflections and an online presentation and achieve an cumulative course grade of at least B- (70%).
| Activity | Weight | Complete by |
| 8 summaries | 40% | – |
| 2 reflections | 40% | – |
| Online presentation | 20% | The presentation must be completed at any point before or after registering for credit in this course and within your course contract (after registering for credit). |
| Total | 100% | |
Materials
There are no course materials for COMP 694 aside from an online course platform that promotes monthly seminars and houses a Course Orientation and the Assignment Drop Boxes for assessments.
Each seminar provides information on different topics of interest. Some presenters may provide further reading on their topic. It is expected that students will consult reference materials—including textbooks, journals, and online resources—for information related to each seminar topic.