The Faculty of Mathematics, in co-operation with the School of Accounting and Finance, offers the Honours Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy (CPA) plan which combines mathematics with accounting and business-oriented disciplines.
In addition to providing excellent background preparation for careers in industry, this plan can lead to post-graduate studies in business-oriented disciplines. In particular, the Mathematics/CPA plan is specifically designed to be a prelude to Waterloo's two-term Master of Accounting (MAcc) graduate degree plan in the Faculty of Arts.
The Honours Mathematics/CPA plan provides an opportunity for studies in areas of mathematics including actuarial science, computer science, optimization, and statistics combined with an extensive professionally-oriented sequence of accounting courses. Graduates are well prepared to play a leading role in the increasingly important development and utilization of computer-based accounting information systems, the analysis of the information provided by such systems and the subsequent decision-making processes, and allocation of resources so crucial to an organization's success in the modern business world.
This plan involves four co-op work terms, the first of which occurs in the winter term immediately following the fall 2A academic term (see Co-op Regulations). Students are exempted from paying co-op fees for their 1A and 1B terms.
Admissions
Students normally apply for direct admission from high school into the first year of the Mathematics/CPA plan. Upon successful completion of a provisional first year, students will formally proceed into the Mathematics/CPA plan in second year. Successful completion of the provisional year requires all of the following:
- Successful completion of the following courses: AFM 111; AFM 182; AFM 191;
COMM 103/ECON 100 or (one of ECON 101,
ECON 102);
one of CS 115, CS 135, CS 145; one of MATH 135, MATH 145; one of MATH 136, MATH 146; one of MATH 127, MATH 137, MATH 147; one of MATH 128, MATH 138, MATH 148; SPCOM 111.
These courses must be completed within 12 months of admission into the provisional year.
- A minimum cumulative average of 60% in all math courses taken to date.
- A minimum cumulative average of 70% in all AFM, COMM, and ECON courses taken to date.
- Be in Good or Excellent academic standing in the Faculty of Mathematics.
Mathematics/CPA is a restricted-enrolment plan, and admission into the plan for students not currently enrolled in the provisional year is not normally granted.