Faculty of Mathematics

Table I – Degree Requirements Common To All  BCS, BCFM, and BMath Academic Plans

The terms used in Table I are explained below.

Math courses – Courses with one of these prefixes: ACTSC (Actuarial Science), AMATH (Applied Mathematics), CO (Combinatorics and Optimization), CM (Computational Mathematics), CS (Computer Science), MATH (non-departmental Faculty courses), PMATH (Pure Mathematics), and STAT (Statistics). Any course that is cross-listed with a course having one of these prefixes is also considered a math course, regardless of the label under which it is taken. The following courses, with content very similar to courses offered in the Mathematics Faculty, are also considered to be math courses: ECE 222, 354, 428; SE 112, 240, 382, 463, 464, 465. Every math course is worth 0.5 units.

Non-math courses – Courses with the prefix COMM, MTHEL, and those courses offered by other faculties (excluding courses cross-listed with math courses and courses listed above as math courses). Work-term courses (COOP 1 to COOP 6) and professional development (PD) courses do not count as math or non-math courses.

Major Average – See sections 2 and 4 in "Faculty Policies."

Cumulative Average – See sections 1 and 3 in "Faculty Policies."

Course Attempt – Any course enrolment for which a student is assigned a final grade (including a grade of WD). Transfer credits from other institutions are also considered to be course attempts.

Excluded Course – A course which has been excluded is not included in any unit counts toward degree completion or in averages but is included in course attempts. Any failed course must be excluded, but a student may also choose to exclude a course with a passing grade below 60 (such a request must be made no more than six months after the grade appears in Quest). An excluded passed course normally cannot be used to meet any degree requirement or to meet the prerequisite requirements for another course.

Full-time Term – A term in which a student is enrolled in at least 1.5 course-attempt units.

Unit – The credit value associated with any course. All courses offered in the Faculty of Mathematics have a value of 0.5 units.

Co-op Requirements

As specified in Table I, co-op students are required to complete a minimum of five Professional Development courses. PD 1 must be taken in the term prior to the first work term and PD 2 must be taken during the first work term. At least one other Professional Development course must cover non-technical skills. With the exception of PD 1, these courses are normally taken during co-op work terms. Students are required to take a professional-development course each work term until the requirement is completed.

Co-op students must submit a work report following every work term until they have completed four acceptable work reports. Successful completion of PD 2 meets the requirement for a first work report.

First-Year English Writing Skills Requirement

• A grade of 60 or better on the UW English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE), or
• Successfully complete the study program offered by the UW Writing Centre, or
• Complete one of the following courses with a grade of at least 60%:

ENGL 109 Introduction to Academic Writing
ENGL 129R Introduction to Written English
ENGL 210E Genres of Technical Communication
ENGL 210F Genres of Business Communication
ESL 102R Introduction to Error Correction in Writing

1. Students who have written and failed ELPE should enrol in the Writing Centre or enrol in one of the above courses rather than attempt ELPE again.
2. Transfer credit for any of the above courses does not satisfy this requirement; the courses must be taken at the University of Waterloo.
3. Students who arrange a special sitting of the ELPE outside the scheduled dates will be assessed an administrative charge.
4. Students who have not completed the Writing Skills Requirement before enrolling in their 2B term will have their future registrations cancelled and will be allowed to proceed only after successful completion of this requirement.
   
5. A completed English Proficiency milestone on a student's academic record will indicate successful completion of this requirement.
6. Students in the Software Engineering program must satisfy this requirement as set down by the Faculty of Engineering.
7. Students in the Computing and Financial Management program must satisfy this requirement as set down by the Faculty of Arts.

No-Credit/Overlap Courses

There are some restrictions on course selection for obtaining credit toward a BCS, BCFM, or BMath degree. Before enrolling in a course, students should check the Faculty of Mathematics "No-Credit List" and "Course Overlap List", to determine whether or not the course will count towards their BCS, BCFM, or BMath degree. See section 13.4 in "Faculty Policies" for further details.

Table II – Required Faculty Core Courses – Honours BMath Plans except Mathematical Studies and Mathematics/Chartered Accountancy

MATH 106 Applied Linear Algebra 1 or MATH 136 Linear Algebra 1 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 146 Linear Algebra 1 (Advanced Level)
MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences or MATH 137 Calculus 1 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 147 Calculus 1 (Advanced Level)
MATH 128 Calculus 2 for the Sciences or MATH 138 Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 148 Calculus 2 (Advanced Level)
MATH 135 Algebra for Honours Mathematics or MATH 145 Algebra (Advanced Level)
MATH 235 Linear Algebra 2 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 245 Linear Algebra 2 (Advanced Level)
STAT 230 Probability or STAT 240 Probability (Advanced Level)
STAT 231 Statistics or STAT 241 Statistics (Advanced Level)

CS 115 Introduction to Computer Science 1
CS 135 Designing Functional Programs
CS 230 Introduction to Computers and Computer Systems
CS 234 Data Types and Structures
CS 241 Foundations of Sequential Programs

CS 116 Introduction to Computer Science 2
CS 136 Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction
CS 145 Design, Abstraction, and Implementation

MATH 237 Calculus 3 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 247 Calculus 3 (Advanced Level)
MATH 239 Introduction to Combinatorics or MATH 249 Introduction to Combinatorics (Advanced Level)

Notes

1. Refer to individual plan requirements to determine which of MATH 237 (or MATH 247) or MATH 239 (or MATH 249) is required for your plan. Some plans require both courses.
2. The MATH and STAT core courses are offered at two levels: advanced and honours. The advanced courses are more challenging than the honours courses. The advanced course numbers are listed in parentheses in Table II above.
3. CS majors normally start in CS 135. Students with strong aptitude may take CS 145 followed by one of CS 230, 234, or 241. Students starting with CS 115 who wish access to CS major courses must take CS 136 after CS 116.
   
4. The three algebra and three calculus courses are normally taken in sequence in the 1A, 1B, and 2A terms. The two STAT courses are normally taken in the 2A and 2B terms.
5. Table II applies only to students enrolled in plans leading to the BMath degree, not any other degrees offered through the Faculty of Mathematics. Most requirements in Table II apply to Mathematics/Chartered Accountancy (MATH 235/245 is an exception). A full set of course requirements is given with the Chartered Accountancy plan.

Responsibility For Meeting Degree Requirements

Students are responsible for being aware of all regulations pertaining to their academic plans. This responsibility includes submitting a completed "Intention to Graduate - Undergraduate Studies" form to the Registrar's Office (by the designated date for submission of such forms) during their last academic study term (i.e., the term in which they anticipate completing the requirements for their degree).

Incompatibility of Full-time Study with Full-time Employment

Students who by choice or necessity work on non-academic activities more than 10 hours per week should, where possible, structure their course/work load so that they can attend fully to their academic obligations. The Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee will not normally grant petitions based on time pressure resulting from employment.

Honours Fallback Provision

Students who satisfy all of the following conditions may elect to graduate with a three-year BMath General Regular degree:

a) Minimum of 15.0 total units passed
b) Minimum of 5.0 non-math units passed
c) Maximum of 25.0 units of course attempts
d) Maximum of 4.0 units excluded
e) A minimum cumulative average (CAV) of 60%
f) Minimum 8.0 math units including the following courses passed

One of     

CS 115 Introduction to Computer Science 1
CS 135 Designing Functional Programs
CS 230 Introduction to Computers and Computer Systems
CS 234 Data Types and Structures
CS 241 Foundations of Sequential Programs

One of     

CS 116 Introduction to Computer Science 2
CS 136 Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction
CS 145 Design, Abstraction, and Implementation

All of

MATH 106 Applied Linear Algebra 1 or MATH 136 Linear Algebra 1 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 146 Linear Algebra 1 (Advanced Level)
MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences or MATH 137 Calculus 1 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 147 Calculus 1 (Advanced Level)
MATH 128 Calculus 2 for the Sciences or MATH 138 Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 148 Calculus 2 (Advanced Level)
MATH 135 Algebra for Honours Mathematics or MATH 145 Algebra (Advanced Level)
MATH 225 Applied Linear Algebra 2 or MATH 235 Linear Algebra 2 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 245 Linear Algebra 2 (Advanced Level)
STAT 220 Probability (Non-Specialist Level) or STAT 230 Probability or STAT 240 Probability (Advanced Level)
STAT 221 Statistics (Non-Specialist Level) or STAT 231 Statistics or STAT 241 Statistics (Advanced Level)

One of  

MATH 207 Calculus 3 (Non-Specialist Level) or MATH 237 Calculus 3 for Honours Mathematics or MATH 247 Calculus 3 (Advanced Level)
MATH 229 Introduction to Combinatorics (Non-Specialist Level) or MATH 239 Introduction to Combinatorics or MATH 249 Introduction to Combinatorics (Advanced Level)

Note
As a general practice, it is not intended that a student be awarded a General BMath degree, and then subsequently be awarded an Honours BMath degree. Students who request, and are granted, a general degree will be deemed to have withdrawn from the Math Faculty, and thus are ineligible for further BMath degree studies. Such students may petition to the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee for re-admission to an honours plan, but such petitions will normally be considered only after an absence from the Faculty of several terms.