Faculty of Mathematics

1. Averages for Math Students

All averages calculated for degree students enrolled in the Faculty of Mathematics include all relevant course grades, except for:
(a) courses explicitly excluded, either because they have failing grades or by request of the student, within the limits specified in Table I in "Degree Requirements";
(b) courses taken while the student was enrolled at another post-secondary institution; and
(c) any other courses that are ineligible for credit toward the student's degree (e.g., courses that may not be counted for degree credit by any Math student) or for credit in the student's particular academic plan (e.g., CS non-major courses for students enrolled in a CS major plan).

A passed course may normally be repeated at most once and both marks will be included in averages, unless excluded according to one of (a), (b), or (c) above. A passed course may only be repeated more than once with the prior approval of an academic advisor. 

The Faculty of Mathematics computes several averages.  In all cases, courses excluded earlier in this section are not included in averages.

Cumulative average (CAV): The average of all courses taken by the student while enrolled in the Faculty of Mathematics.

Term average (TAV): The average of all courses taken by the student in a particular term. A TAV is computed for each term in which a student is enrolled in the Faculty of Mathematics.

Faculty average (FAV): The average of all math courses taken by the student while enrolled in the Faculty of Mathematics.

Major average (MAV): The definition of this average varies according to the student's major (see section 2). 

Special major average (SMAV): Not all students in the Faculty will have a SMAV. Details on its definition, and when it applies, are in section 2.

A student's CAV and most recent TAV, along with failure count, are the primary factors in determining that student's "standing" in the Faculty (see section 3). The FAV does not formally contribute toward determining a student's standing, but is informally used by the Standings and Promotions Committee when a student petitions for an exception to Faculty policies.

2. Major Averages for Honours Students

Subject to the exclusion/inclusion provisions (stipulated in section 1, above) which apply to all average calculations in the Faculty, "major" averages (commonly identified as "MAV") for honours students are based upon all the student's 300/400-level math courses (including any course cross-listed with a 300- or 400-level math course), except for the specific plans listed below:

• For Computer Science major plans, the major average ("MAV") is based upon CS 134, 136, 145, all the student's subsequent CS major courses, as well as CS courses numbered 600 and higher, and courses CO 487/CM 432, CM 461/STAT 440, ECE 222 and 429, SE 112, 240, 382, 463, 464, and 465.
• For Actuarial Science major plans, the major average ("MAV") is based upon ACTSC 231, 232, STAT 230/240, 231/241, and all the student's 300/400 level math courses.
• The Mathematics/Business Administration, Mathematics/Chartered Accountancy, and Mathematics/Financial Risk Management plans, in addition to having a major average ("MAV") based upon all the student's 300/400-level math courses, also have a second ("special") major average ("SMAV") as described in Notes 1 and 2 of the plan requirement sections.
• The Honours Bioinformatics plans, in addition to having a first Computer Science major average ("MAV") as described above, also have a second ("special") Biology-related major average ("SMAV") which is based upon all the student's BIOL courses.
• The BCFM plan has a major average ("MAV") based on all math courses and a second ("special") major average ("SMAV") based on all courses from the Faculty of Arts.
• For all plans combining two major areas of study within the Faculty of Mathematics, each area of study has its own separate major ("MAV") average calculated as described above. In such situations, the major-average graduation requirements in Table I in Degree Requirements and the major-average continuation requirements described in section 4 (to follow) apply to both major averages respectively.

3. Academic Standing within the Faculty

This section specifies the basic rules that determine a student's academic standing. Students should consult sections 4, 5, and 6.4 below for additional rules that may affect their standing.

3.1 To remain in the Faculty of Mathematics, a student may not have more than 3.0 units of excluded courses. A student who exceeds this limit will be required to withdraw. Note that, in addition to passed courses excluded at the student's request, failed courses will be excluded automatically. Any student required to withdraw may be eligible to graduate with a general degree under the Honours Fallback Provision, if they meet the requirements for a general degree when they are required to withdraw.

3.2 A student's standing is assessed after each term of registration. Subject to 3.1,

• if CAV >= 80%, a student is "In Excellent Standing";
• if CAV < 80% and CAV >= 60%, a student is "In Good Standing";
• if CAV <60%, a student is "On Academic Probation."

If, however, the preceding criteria indicate "Good" or "Excellent" standing (or indicate no standing because a student has no courses with grades that can be used to compute a CAV) but a student has excluded units exceeding one-half the passed and non-excluded units (not including external transfer credits), then the student is "In Marginal Standing."

3.4 Following the term in which a student reaches 2.0 excluded units, regardless of the academic standing for the term, the student will be blocked from enrolling in classes until the student has spoken to an advisor concerning his/her academic situation.

3.5 A student may be required to withdraw from the Faculty of Mathematics if, in the opinion of the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee, the student is unlikely to profit from further study in the Faculty or is not making satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements. In particular, any full-time student who does not pass at least two courses in his/her 1A term will be required to withdraw from the Mathematics Faculty, unless the one course passed is a math course with a mark of at least 60%, in which case the student may be allowed to continue at the discretion of the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee.

3.6 A "Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty" academic standing normally means that a student is no longer eligible for any subsequent degree studies in the Faculty of Mathematics. However, a student may submit a petition to the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee to enrol for one final term of non-degree studies, provided that term will follow an absence of at least two terms. Such petitions are likely to be granted only if the student is requesting a non-degree term of courses selected to enhance the chances for admission to a program of study outside the Faculty, either at the University of Waterloo or at some other post-secondary institution.

3.7 Students whose first enrolment in the Faculty of Mathematics was September 2004 or later may take full advantage of the revised rules for academic standing described above. Students whose first enrolment in the Faculty of Mathematics was prior to September 2004 may take advantage of the increased limits on excluded (previously, failed) units, by counting both failed and excluded courses against the new limit, but only courses taken in the fall 2004 term or later may be excluded. That is, grades for failed courses taken prior to fall 2004 will be included in averages, unless one of the exclusion provisions in the 2005/2006 Undergraduate Calendar applies.

4. Major Average Continuation Requirement for Honours Academic Plans

The major average will only take effect once it includes at least two course grades for Computer Science major plans, and once it includes at least three course grades for all other honours plans.

Honours students in Applied Mathematics, and Pure Mathematics major plans, as well as those enrolled in Mathematical Finance and Mathematical Physics, must normally have a cumulative major average (as defined in section 2 earlier) of at least 65% to remain eligible to continue in their plan. Students with a cumulative major average less than 65%, but at least 60%, may be allowed, at the discretion of their departments, to continue on a conditional basis in their plan in an attempt to raise their cumulative major average to 65%. Students who fail to do so after one full-time academic term (or the equivalent) will normally be required to withdraw from their major plan.

Honours students in Actuarial Science must have a cumulative major average (as defined in section 2 earlier) of at least 70% to remain eligible to continue in their plan. Honours students in other plans must normally have a cumulative major average (as defined in section 2 earlier) of at least 60% to remain eligible to continue in their plan. Students with a cumulative major average less than 60%, but at least 55%, may be allowed, at the discretion of their major Department(s) or the Dean's Office, as appropriate, to continue on a conditional basis in their plan in an attempt to raise their cumulative major average to 60%. Students who fail to do so after one full-time academic term (or the equivalent) will normally be required to withdraw from their plan. Students who are unable to satisfy the major average admission or continuation standard of any honours plan will normally be required to withdraw from the Math Faculty.

For all joint and double honours plans within the Faculty, the major average requirements of both majors must be satisfied.

5. Conditions for Remaining in Co-op

5.1 Students who are eligible to continue in their academic plan may remain in co-op, provided that they are making satisfactory progress towards meeting the Faculty's minimum requirements for work terms and work reports.

5.2 Students with a cumulative average (i.e., overall GPA) less than 60%, or for whom the total of their excluded course units exceeds one half the total of their passed (and not excluded) course units, will normally be suspended from the CECS employment process during their next academic term.

In most instances (with the exception of students with a previously arranged two-work-term commitment), in order to administratively implement the suspension, students will have their system of study changed from co-op to regular, effective their first full-time academic term following the term that led to their suspension. Then, as regular students, they will not be required to pay co-op fees during the time they are suspended from co-op. Students who have been suspended from co-op will be permitted, and sometimes encouraged, to enrol in consecutive full-time academic terms.

If students have already secured employment for a co-op work term immediately following the academic term that led to their suspension, they will be expected to honour that employment commitment, and that work term will be eligible for official co-op work-term credit in the event that they are subsequently reinstated to co-op. In addition, students with a two-work-term commitment already in place will normally be expected to return to work for that same employer following their next scheduled academic term (during which they will normally remain enrolled in co-op and pay co-op fees). In other instances, however, employment secured for a term immediately following suspension from the CECS job-search employment process will not normally be recognized for official co-op work-term credit.

5.3 After one full-time academic term (or equivalent) in a regular plan, suspended students will be eligible to apply for reinstatement to co-op. Provided that students are otherwise eligible for co-op, requests for reinstatement will be approved for applicants who have attained "Good" or "Excellent" academic standing. In all cases, applications for reinstatement must be submitted no later than the end of the first complete week of the student's next scheduled academic term.

5.4 Normally, students who warrant suspension from the CECS employment process more than once will be permanently removed from co-op.

5.5 Students in co-op plans for which no corresponding regular plan exists will be dealt with following the principles in 5.4 to 5.6 as closely as possible, given the lack of a corresponding regular plan. Since removal from co-op is potentially more significant for such students, their individual circumstances will be considered in making decisions.

5.6  If a co-op student accumulates a combined total of four grades of NCR for PD courses and work reports, the student will be required to withdraw from the co-op system of study.

6. Course Drop Policy

This section applies to dropping individual courses, with one or more other courses remaining in the student's registration. For complete withdrawal from a term, see 10, below.

6.1 A student may drop courses without academic penalty during the "Drop, No Penalty" period.

6.2 A student may withdraw from one or more courses per term, subject to restrictions imposed by the Faculty, during the "Drop, Penalty 1" period. These courses will remain on a student's record and will be assigned grades of WD. Each WD grade will count as a course attempt but will not be included in the student's averages, units completed, or failure counts.

6.3 A student may withdraw from one or more courses during the "Drop, Penalty 2" period. A student should consult an academic advisor before withdrawing during this interval, because these courses will remain on a student's record with a grade of WF (withdrew/failure) and will count as failures.

6.4 A first-year student who has never previously been registered for a term of full-time study at a degree-granting post-secondary institution may withdraw from some or all of his/her core math courses after the tenth week of lectures until the last day of lectures and obtain a cleared grade of WD in each. Such withdrawals must be requested through the Mathematics Faculty; students should consult with a first-year advisor.

6.5 The Faculty's degree requirements stipulate that the difference between the number of units attempted and the number of units completed cannot exceed five. Thus, a student will be required to withdraw if the total unit value of excluded courses, WDs, and repetitions of (non-excluded) passed courses exceeds five units. Any student required to withdraw may be eligible to graduate with a general degree under the Honours Fallback Provision, if they meet the requirements for a general degree when they are required to withdraw.

7. Examinations

7.1 The Faculty of Mathematics constitutes the examining body for all examinations for courses in the Faculty and, through the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee, approves all decisions concerning grades and academic standing.

7.2 The Faculty of Mathematics does not grant Supplementary Examinations for students who fail courses, except for certain situations involving students in Engineering or Software Engineering.

Further details concerning University examination requirements may be found in the following PDF document University of Waterloo Examination Regulations and Related Matters.

8. Grades

8.1 Numerical grades in the range 0-100 are assigned in all courses in the Faculty of Mathematics except the Computer Science Honours Thesis, CS 499T. The minimum passing mark in all courses is 50.

8.2 If a student does not write a final examination and does not give a properly documented reason (e.g., illness), the instructor will either submit a grade of DNW (did not write) or submit a numerical grade based on the term work, with a grade of zero for the exam.

8.3 In exceptional circumstances, for example an examination missed due to illness (see 12.2 to follow), an instructor may assign a grade of INC (course incomplete). A grade of INC will not be assigned simply because a student is concerned that he/she will otherwise fail the course. A grade of INC which is not cleared by the deadline set by the instructor, which will normally be no later than eight months after the end of term, will be automatically converted to an FTC (failure to complete, no credit granted). Students should not register again in a course for which they have an outstanding INC grade and cannot use the course for prerequisite purposes for subsequent courses.

8.4 An AEG grade gives credit for a course, but no numerical mark for averaging purposes. This grade is rarely used, and only when a student has done outstanding work during the term but is unable to write the final exam due to documented illness of a serious nature.

8.5 The grade Under Review (UR) may be imposed by the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, while an alleged offence is under investigation or appeal. Once the discipline case is resolved, the UR grade will be replaced with the final grade. A student with an outstanding INC, IP, NMR, and/or UR on his/her record will be unable to graduate until the INC, IP, NMR, and/or UR has been replaced by a grade and the grade has been factored into the averages.

8.6 Grades are not official until the "fully graded" date when academic standings are released by the Registrar's Office. However, once the official examination period is over, unofficial grades will be available to students through Quest. Faculty policy does not permit instructors to release grades during the examination period.

8.7 Students in the Faculty of Mathematics may not register for official Audit (AUD) status in a course. This policy applies to all undergraduate students in Mathematics, including non-degree students and students on exchange programs from other universities. This policy does not apply to post-degree students, who are permitted to register for official AUD status.

 9. Voluntary Withdrawal from a Term/Inactive Status

A student may withdraw from all courses up to the last official day of lectures for the term, by submitting a completed Undergraduate Notice of Withdrawal form to the Registrar's Office. Such a student is considered to have "Voluntarily Withdrawn" from that term. If the form is submitted no later than the last day of the third week of lectures, which is typically also the end of the period for 100% tuition-fee refund, the term will not be recorded on the student's academic record. With the exception noted in the following paragraph, if a student withdraws after the end of the third week of lectures, all courses in which the student is currently enrolled will remain on his/her academic record, with WD or WF grades. The grade is assigned according to the date of withdrawal, using the same rules as for dropping individual courses (see 6.2 and 6.3 above).

A first-year student who has never been previously registered at a degree-granting post-secondary institution will normally be permitted to withdraw from all of his/her courses without academic penalty as late as the last official day of lectures for his/her first term. These courses, however, will continue to appear on their academic record with a grade of WD. Such students may resume their studies after an absence of two terms (eight months). Students wishing to pursue this option must inform the Registrar's Office.

A Mathematics student who has completed at least one term of study and who has been inactive (i.e., not been registered as a candidate for a degree offered through the Faculty of Mathematics, or on an approved Letter of Permission) for more than four consecutive academic terms must apply for re-admission by writing to the Assistant Registrar, Faculty of Mathematics. For example, a student whose last term of enrolment was spring 2010 would not need to apply for readmission if he or she returned to study in winter 2012 or earlier. However, if this student were to be inactive until spring 2012 or later, then he or she must apply for readmission. A resume covering the inactive period, including official transcripts from any post-secondary institutions attended in the interim, must be included. If the student is re-admitted, Faculty policies in effect at the time of re-admission will apply, unless stated otherwise by the Faculty when re-admission is approved.

10. Petitions and the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee

On occasion, due to illness or other circumstances beyond a student's control, it may be appropriate for a student to make a petition requesting that an exception be made to a Faculty or University regulation. All such petitions are considered by the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee, which consists of a representative from each department and each area of study, and is chaired by the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies. Petitions should be made on a Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations (Form 70A) form obtainable from the Mathematics Undergraduate Office, and should be submitted to the Registrar's Office together with supporting documents (e.g., a medical certificate). It is often useful to discuss the situation with an academic advisor before submitting a petition.

11. Illness

11.1 Illness During the Term

If a student becomes seriously ill during the term, it may be desirable for his/her course load to be reduced or for the student to withdraw completely from the academic term. If this occurs after the official course drop deadline, the student should submit a petition to the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee, supported by a medical certificate, requesting permission to drop one or more courses. It is essential for the student to assess the situation and take the appropriate action immediately. Petitions of this nature must be made before the end of the lecture period.

11.2 Illness During the Exam Period

11.3 Medical Certificates

The certificate should describe the nature of the illness, the degree of incapacity, and the precise period of absence or incapacitation. If an off-campus doctor is consulted, the Verification of Illness form should be completed.

12. Policies Concerning Courses

12.1 Course Load Policy

The standard course load for students in the Mathematics Faculty is five courses per term (2.5 units). The maximum load that may be taken without special permission is 2.75 units, allowing for five 0.5-unit courses and one 0.25-unit course. Exceptions to this normal load are as follows:

• Students who have a cumulative average of 80% or more may request permission from their advisor to enrol in a sixth course. The intention is to permit students to take additional courses beyond the 40 course (20 unit) degree requirement and thereby gain greater breadth in their education. However, honours co-op students should not enrol in six courses with a view to graduating in fewer than eight terms, since it is Faculty policy that co-op students must complete eight full-time terms in order to graduate with an honours degree.

• If a student has courses with INC grades on his/her record, the total unit weight of those INC courses and the courses enrolled for the current term may not normally exceed 3.25 units. A student may obtain permission from an academic advisor to exceed this limit, if an INC will not be completed in the current term because the course is not offered.

• If more than one of the preceding apply to a student, the maximum course load is the smallest of the limits specified.

Students may add new courses or change sections in already scheduled courses no later than the end of the second week of lectures. Students must complete their add or swap activity on Quest or submit a Course Override Form to the Mathematics Undergraduate Office by the published deadline.

12.2 Course Prerequisites

At any time prior to the completion of lectures, if it is discovered that a student is taking a course offered by the Faculty of Mathematics without having previously completed the course prerequisites stated in the University Undergraduate Calendar or having been granted a requisite override for the course, the student is subject to having his/her registration in that course purged from university records. Such purging may be done at the request of the course instructor, the department offering the course, and/or the Faculty of Mathematics, but not without the consent of the instructor. A course must have been passed to be used as a prerequisite. In particular, if the course grade is currently INC or UR, the course may not be used as a prerequisite.

12.3 No-Credit/Overlap Courses

Some courses offered within the University may not be taken for credit towards a degree offered through the Faculty of Mathematics, since they have been designed for students in faculties other than Mathematics. These courses are identified on the Course No-Credit List. Other courses offered by various departments throughout the University deal with similar subject matter. In these instances, at most one entry from a group of overlapping courses may count for credit towards their BCS, BCFM, or BMath degree. These courses are identified on the Course Overlap List. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of the contents of these lists.

12.4 Courses While on a Co-op Work Term

Co-op students on a work term are limited to one course (0.5 units), unless they have written support from their employer to take two courses (1.0 units).

12.5 Courses at Other Universities (Letters of Permission)

Students "In Good Standing" are normally permitted to take non-math courses at other universities on a part-time basis during terms off campus, provided the courses are not explicitly required for their particular plan. Students wishing to take courses at other universities must submit a completed Letter of Permission Form to the Registrar's Office before taking each course. The Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee will not approve courses taken elsewhere for BCS, BCFM, or BMath degree credit if prior approval has not been obtained.

Courses taken on a Letter of Permission will be recorded on a student's academic record as transfer credits (T) or transfer failures (TF) as appropriate. A grade of 60 or higher will be recorded as a credit and a grade of less than 50 will be recorded as a failure. Grades of 50-59 will result in the course not being recorded on a student’s record. Co-op students on work terms are limited to one course (0.5 units), unless they have written support from their employer to take two courses (1.0 units).

It will be the student's responsibility to ensure that an official transcript from the host institution is sent to the University of Waterloo Registrar's Office within two months of the completion of the course. Otherwise, a transfer failure will be automatically recorded. Any changes a student wishes to make to an authorized Letter of Permission must be approved in advance by the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee.

13. Co-op Regulations

13.1 Co-op Degree Requirements

Co-operative mathematics students are expected to follow the normal alternating academic/work-term sequence appropriate to their plan from admission through to graduation (see Study/Work Sequence section). Students admitted at the 1A level, with the exception of those in the Mathematics/Chartered Accountancy and BBA/BMath Double Degree plans, will normally have eight academic terms and six work terms. Such students must successfully complete all academic degree requirements including five professional-development courses, write at least four satisfactory work reports, and follow an approved academic/work-term sequence, which will normally include at least five satisfactory work terms. Students may not end their academic/work-term sequence with a work term. Students must satisfy all honours degree course requirements within one calendar year after the termination of their approved academic/work-term sequence, or they will normally be eligible only for a regular honours degree.

• If a co-op student fails to submit a work report, he/she will receive a grade of NCR.
• If a co-op student accumulates two grades of NCR for work reports, he/she will be required to withdraw from the co-op system of study.
• If a co-op student accumulates three grades of NCR for PD courses, he/she will be required to withdraw from the co-op system of study.
• If a co-op student accumulates a combined total of four grades of NCR for PD courses and work reports, the student will be required to withdraw from the co-op system of study.

13.3 Re-arranging Academic/Work-term Sequences

Student requests to re-arrange academic/work-term sequences must be directed to the Standings and Promotions (S&P) Committee on the Academic/Work Term Sequence Change Form available from Co-operative Education and Career Service and the Mathematics Undergraduate Office. Such requests will normally be approved if all of the criteria listed on the form are met. Students who alter their academic/work-term sequence without first obtaining written approval may be required to withdraw from the co-op system. It is the student's responsibility to deal with any timetabling difficulties which may arise and select courses for subsequent terms.

14. Transfer Students

14.1 Residency/Registration Requirement

Students must normally complete at least 50% of the minimum number of math courses and at least 50% of the total number of units required for a degree offered through the Faculty of Mathematics while registered in the Faculty. Students transferring into a co-op system of study must complete at least five work terms (unless otherwise stipulated by plan requirements); at least three of these must be successfully completed while registered in the Mathematics Faculty. At least two of the required five PD courses and two of the four required work reports must be submitted while registered in the Faculty of Mathematics.

14.2 Transfer Credits

Transfer students will normally be given transfer credit for relevant courses taken previously if (i) a mark of at least 60% or equivalent has been obtained, (ii) a mark of at least 50% has been obtained in a University of Waterloo non-math course or in a University of Waterloo mathematics course specifically designated for mathematics students. Credit may not be granted for a course covering only part of the material contained in a corresponding required Waterloo course. Grades for transferred courses will not count in averages.

14.3 Transferring into a Co-op System of Study

Late transfers to the co-op system of study are considered once per term. Admission is very competitive and is a function of availability and demonstrated academic performance at the university level.

Regular students in the Faculty of Mathematics may apply to transfer to the co-op system of study in their 1B term. To be eligible, at the time of admission to co-op such students must have successfully completed between 4.0 and 6.0 units, including transfer credits.

Co-op students from other faculties at the University of Waterloo may apply to transfer to the co-op system in the Faculty of Mathematics at the end of any term provided they can satisfy the residency/registration requirement specified in 15.1.

Students external to the University of Waterloo who are not from a co-op program at their home university may apply to transfer to the co-op system of study in the Faculty of Mathematics. To be eligible, at the time of admission such students will have successfully completed no more than 3.0 units of math transfer credits and between 4.0 and 6.0 units of transfer credits in total.

Students external to the University of Waterloo who are  from a co-op program at their home university may apply to transfer to the co-op system of study in the Faculty of Mathematics. Such applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

14.4 Transfer into a Computer Science Major Plan

Please see the Computer Science admission requirements section.

15. Double Counting of Courses for BCS, BCFM, or BMath Degree Credit

With the exception of specially approved double degree plans (e.g., BBA/BMath Double Degree plan with Wilfrid Laurier University), the Faculty of Mathematics does not allow students to have more than 50% of the course units that they are counting for Mathematics Faculty degree credit be ones that have previously been used, or that are being used simultaneously, to obtain a second degree from another University of Waterloo faculty or from another university.