Computer science at the University of Toronto

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Computer science at the University of Toronto has been a subject of teaching and research since 1945, beginning with the Committee on Computing Machines. Formed in 1945 by professors Sam Beatty, Bernard Griffith, and V. G. Smith, the committee created Canada’s first Computation Centre in a room inside the Physics Building in 1947. They developed the University of Toronto Electronic Computer (UTEC), the first computer in Canada and one of the first working electronic computer prototypes in the world.[1]

The first formal computer science department was established in 1964 and helped develop one of the earliest interactive computer animation systems in 1967. Computer Science faculty worked to expand Alan Turing’s theory of computability to include efficiency, and conducted early work on touchscreen technology in the 1980s.[2]

The Engineering and Computer Science Library in the Sandford Fleming Building, St. George campus.

Notable computer scientist faculty at the University of Toronto have included Stephen Cook, founder of the theory of NP-completeness which laid the groundwork for computational complexity theory,[3][4] and Geoffrey Hinton, the "Godfather of A.I."[5][6]

Due to the university's unique tri-campus structure, computer science teaching and research is decentralized and shared between departments and divisions. At the St. George campus in downtown Toronto, the Department of Computer Science is part of the Faculty of Arts and Science, and provides both undergraduate and graduate education in computer science and data science.[2] At the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses, a variety of undergraduate computer science programs are administered through the Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences,[7] and Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences respectively.[8]

Department of Computer Science

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Department of Computer Science
Bahen Centre, St. George campus
TypeAcademic department
Established1964; 61 years ago (1964)[2]
Parent institution
Faculty of Arts and Science
ChairEyal de Lara
Undergraduates2,500+[2]
Postgraduates450+[2]
Location
Toronto, Ontario
CampusSt. George
Websitecs.toronto.edu

The Department of Computer Science (DCS) is the university's original computer science department, formally established in 1964 and located on the St. George campus. It is the only University of Toronto department that offers graduate programs in computer science. It is based in the Bahen Centre for Information Technology.[2]

The department has hosted notable faculty known for their contributions to fields such as computational complexity theory and artificial intelligence.[9] Stephen Cook, University Professor Emeritus, is credited in his work in advanced understanding of computational complexity theory and NP-completeness, and introduced the unsolved problem of P versus NP in 1971.[10] Cook received the A.M. Turing Award in 1982.[3] University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton is credited for his work in advancing artificial neural networks, which has earned him the title of "the Godfather of AI."[5] Hinton was a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024.[6]

Programs

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DCS offers an undergraduate program in computer science with a choice of focuses, from artificial intelligence and computer vision to game design and quantitative finance. It also provides courses in data science and a specialist program.[11] It hosts three graduate programs: a Master of Science (MSc), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Master of Science in Applied Computing (MScAC) degree, the latter with concentrations in one of: Applied Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Computer Science, Data Science, Data Science for Biology, or Quantum Computing.[12]

Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences

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Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences
Deerfield Hall, Mississauga campus
TypeAcademic department
Established1971; 54 years ago (1971)
Parent institution
University of Toronto Mississauga
ChairIlia Binder
Location
Mississauga, Ontario
CampusMississauga
Websiteutm.utoronto.ca/math-cs-stats

The Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (MCS) covers computer science as well as mathematics and statistics on the Mississauga campus. Computer science courses at the campus (then known as Erindale College) were grouped under math until 1971 when the first program was created.[13] The MCS department today is based in Deerfield Hall, built in 2014 as part of the New North reconstruction alongside Maanjiwe nendamowinan.[7]

Research

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Research at UTM includes continuum robotics and computer vision in machine learning. Faculty member Sanja Fidler is the vice-president of artificial intelligence research at Nvidia and co-founded the Vector Institute.[14] The Continuum Robotics Lab is directed by roboticist Jessica Burgner-Kahrs, and researches flexible robotic arms for use in surgery and other areas where humans are limited by mobility and precision.[15]

Programs

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The MCS department hosts undergraduate computer science and information security programs on the Mississauga campus.[16]

Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences

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Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences
Sam Ibrahim Building, Scarborough campus
TypeAcademic department
Parent institution
University of Toronto Scarborough
ChairMichael Molloy (interim)
Location
Toronto, Ontario
CampusScarborough
Websiteutsc.utoronto.ca/cms

The Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences (CMS) is located on the Scarborough campus, and offers unique degree programs with several streams. It is based in the newly constructed Sam Ibrahim Building.[8]

Programs

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The UTSC CMS department offers a program in computer science with options for experiential education and a unique program in management and information technology. Different streams of its computer science specialist include entrepreneurship, information systems, and software engineering.[17]

Rankings

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The University of Toronto was ranked 12th in the world and first in Canada for computer science and information systems by QS Top Universities' World University Ranking by Subject 2025.[18] It was ranked 23rd in the world and first in Canada for computer science in Times Higher Education's World University Rankings by Subject 2025.[19][20]

Notable faculty

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  • Stephen Cook – University Professor Emeritus, recipient of the A.M. Turing Award for formalizing the notion of NP-completeness through Cook's theorem, considered one of the forefathers of computational complexity theory.
  • Geoffrey Hinton – University Professor Emeritus, "Godfather of AI," Nobel Prize laureate, former researcher at Google, co-founder of the Vector Institute.
  • Raquel Urtasun – University Professor and researcher in the field of artificial intelligence and deep learning, co-founder of the Vector Institute.
  • Sanja Fidler – Associate Professor, vice-president of AI research at Nvidia, co-founder of the Vector Institute.
  • Allan Borodin – University Professor and former department chair from 1980 to 1985.
  • Charles Rackoff – University Professor Emeritus specializing in cryptography and security protocols.

Laboratories and research centres

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Computer Science faculty, including Hinton, founded the Vector Institute in 2017, a university-affiliated non-profit artificial intelligence research institute based in Toronto.[21]

Research centres affiliated with computer science faculty include:

References

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  1. ^ Chris Bateman (November 12, 2016). "The story behind the first computer in Canada". Spacing.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Our Department". Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Stephen Arthur Cook". A.M. Turing Award. Association for Computing Machinery. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  4. ^ Hosch, William L. (September 23, 2025). "Stephen Arthur Cook". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  5. ^ a b Rothman, Joshua (November 13, 2023). "Why the Godfather of A.I. Fears What He's Built". The New Yorker.
  6. ^ a b "'No idea whether we can stay in control': AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton receives Nobel Prize". Financial Post. December 11, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Why MCS?". Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "The Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences". Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  9. ^ "Vanguard and University of Toronto announce strategic artificial intelligence research partnership". Yahoo Finance. May 29, 2025.
  10. ^ Vega, Frank. "P versus NP" (PDF). Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  11. ^ "Undergraduate". University of Toronto Department of Computer Science. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  12. ^ "Master of Science in Applied Computing". University of Toronto Department of Computer Science. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  13. ^ Percy, John; Abbas, Sabeen (2007). "Celebrating 40 Years of History at the University of Toronto Mississauga". University of Toronto Mississauga.
  14. ^ Haikara, Nina (June 25, 2018). "How to train your robot: Research provides new approaches". Phys.org.
  15. ^ "How a slender, snake-like robot could give doctors new ways to save lives". Tech Explore. August 12, 2022.
  16. ^ "Programs". Department of Mathematical & Computational Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  17. ^ "Computer Science Overview". Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  18. ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Computer Science and Information Systems". QS Top Universities. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  19. ^ "World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Computer Science". Times Higher Education. 15 January 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  20. ^ "Best universities for computer science in Canada 2025". Times Higher Education. 20 March 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  21. ^ Kate McGillivray (Mar 29, 2017). "Canada 'lost the lead' on artificial intelligence. Here's how Toronto will get it back". CBC News.
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