Students can earn both a computer science degree and a business degree in five years by enrolling in this double degree program. Students receive a Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS), Honours from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Honours from Wilfrid Laurier University and are invited to both universities' convocation ceremonies for graduation.
Students may apply to Waterloo, Laurier, or both. Students select their "home school" by accepting an admissions offer from one of the two universities. The home school provides most student support services, such as co-op, scholarships, and housing. The choice of home school also identifies the university from which students receive the co-operative designation on their degree. Students usually cannot change their home school without leaving the double degree program.
The double degree program cannot be combined with any other major except as described in the degree requirements' notes. The program requires the following:
- The degrees in the double degree program must be completed simultaneously.
- Direct entry admission. The double degree program is a restricted enrolment plan and Year 2 transfer to the program is not possible.
- Nine or more full-time academic study terms.
- Successful completion of a minimum of 52 one-term courses (26 units). Students take 24 specified courses (12 units) at Waterloo and 24 specified courses (12 units) at Laurier, and four elective courses (two units), which may be taken at either university.
- Students whose home school is Waterloo: Completion of four or five co-op work terms intermixed with study terms. The first work term occurs during the spring term of Year One. The co-op sequence for these students is listed in the Co-op Regulations section of this Calendar. Students in this program will be required to pay six co-op fees, which are usually assessed in the first three years of study.
- Students whose home school is Laurier: Completion of three or four co-op work terms intermixed with study terms. The first work term occurs during the winter term of Year Two. After this term, Laurier and Waterloo students have co-op terms at the same time.
Students can only change their co-op term sequence in their first three years if they have especially mitigating circumstances, and with the approval of both universities. This type of change may delay graduation.
Students admitted by Laurier to the Business Administration and Computer Science double degree program are not eligible to transfer to single degree programs at the University of Waterloo until completion of the first year of the Business Administration and Computer Science double degree program. Eligible students must be in good financial standing with Wilfrid Laurier University, be academically eligible to transfer, and meet the University of Waterloo admission standards. Admission to co-op at Waterloo is not guaranteed.
All double degree students must follow the policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements of both Waterloo and Laurier in regards to course registration, academic performance, and academic conduct. Students who fail to do so are normally required to withdraw from the double degree program. These students may be able to enrol in a (single degree) academic plan at Waterloo (Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) or BCS) or Laurier (BBA) depending upon their individual circumstances. Such students may not be eligible to continue in co-op in their new academic plan.
For details about the various Laurier Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements that apply to this double degree program, consult the Laurier Calendar and/or one of the program's academic advisors at Laurier.