Search this site for 'software engineering', 'computer science, 'se', 'cs' and you'll find a lot of debate about mcmaster's computing and software department. CS and SE are very similar programs at mcmaster.
Co-op is optional, but don't know about harder in terms of getting into the program. Getting co-op position on the other hand depends more on your experiences, skills and portfolio (and if you're in a good school, such as waterloo
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I'm sure old GeorgeLucas will come around soon enough and share some more information with you