Computer Science Canada

Waterloo BMath/CS

Author:  z_cross_fire [ Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Waterloo BMath/CS

What's the difference between these?

- BMath/CS Joint Honours program.
- Honours BMath(CS) degree

I'm already admitted to BCS, but I would really love to use my electives towards courses in the Math faculty, rather than on other courses (based on personal interests). Is a minor in math possible, if I'm doing BCS?

Thanks Smile

Author:  Ultrahex [ Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterloo BMath/CS

This probably answers your question the best:
http://ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca/page/MATH-BCS-and-BMath-Acad-Plan-Comb-Conv-Dipl-Tran

Author:  z_cross_fire [ Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:10 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

More questions: Razz
Is it possible to do BCS(SE Option) + Pure Math Minor?
PMath requires six PMath courses.... these can be taken instead of Non-math electives, right?

Thanks

Author:  Tony [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:28 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

Non-math electives are not supposed to be stuff from MATH (presumably anything from the Faculty of Mathematics, but not sure). Though you _could_ try to arrange for a custom plan with your program advisor, and see if you could shuffle some of the elective requirements.

Author:  z_cross_fire [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:38 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

^ Ok, thanks. I will talk to an advisor when I reach campus. By the way, what plan are you involved in (minors, joints, etc) alongside BCS?

Author:  Tony [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 1:12 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

I'm doing just BCS

Author:  z_cross_fire [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:50 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

Any particular option (SE, Digital hardware, etc)? Just curious. Razz

Author:  A.J [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:58 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

I am doing a BCS and a BMATH in Pure Mathematics (i.e. a double major). So, I guess I could answer your question: yes, you should be able to mix and match your programs (as long as you give the CS advisors a sense of control, as they don't want any 'outliers'; speaking from some particularly bad experiences here >_>). If you're going be at Waterloo prior to school starting, then we could meet up to discuss this further.

Author:  Tony [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:01 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

Since I transfered from Mechatronics Engineering into BCS, those credits filled up quite a number of elective slots, so vanilla BCS is the fastest and most flexible way to finish. I'm halfway towards a PHIL minor though (will take 5 PHIL courses before graduation).

Author:  z_cross_fire [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:02 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

@A.J
Thanks for the reply. I will be in Waterloo on/after September 5.

@Tony
Ahh I see...are you in your fourth year?

P.S. Is P.Ragde the CS advisor?

Author:  Tony [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

Yup, will graduate in December.

Professor Ragde is... well... a Professor.

Author:  Brightguy [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

z_cross_fire @ Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:10 pm wrote:
PMath requires six PMath courses.... these can be taken instead of Non-math electives, right?

As far as I know there's no way to get around the 10 non-math courses you have to take. Those PMATH courses have to be taken as your general electives.

Tony @ Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:27 pm wrote:
Yup, will graduate in December.

Oh, for some reason I thought you graduated last term. I think you said you were considering graduate school?

Author:  Tony [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:07 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

I have this on-off relationship with thoughts of grad school. Grad school would be neat, but some days I just want to graduate and GTFO.

Author:  z_cross_fire [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterloo BMath/CS

@Brightguy
Quote:
The 5.0 non-math units must either be used to satisfy requirements for a minor or a joint honours plan outside the Faculty of Mathematics, or must satisfy the following elective breadth and depth requirements. (Alternate plans must be approved by a CS advisor.)
Source: http://ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca/page/MATH-Bachelor-of-Computer-Science

I will talk to an advisor about an "alternate" plan. Thanks for the reply!




I chose Co-op sequence 'A' today! Just wanted to know everybody's opinions, or experience with different co-op sequences. I know it's off-topic, but still.


p.s. Tony is old now! Laughing

Author:  Brightguy [ Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterloo BMath/CS

Quote:
The 5.0 non-math units must either be used to satisfy requirements for a minor or a joint honours plan outside the Faculty of Mathematics, or must satisfy the following elective breadth and depth requirements. (Alternate plans must be approved by a CS advisor.)

By my reading, that means a CS advisor can modify some of the non-math requirements that only CS imposes on its students. The 10 non-math minimum is a faculty-wide policy and is actually one of the very first listed requirements for a math degree. I would be very surprised (and jealous) if you could weasle your way out of that.

Author:  z_cross_fire [ Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:28 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

^ I will try hard to make you jealous. Laughing

Can you talk about any kind of good/bad things you hear about co-op sequences, as in Job-search difficulty during certain terms, etc.

Author:  Tony [ Sun Jul 17, 2011 11:26 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

Spring term is typically much more competitive, since the non-coop school are out for the summer. This stops being a problem once you get to upper years, but could be frustrating for your first/second job.

Author:  z_cross_fire [ Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

^ But wouldn't there be more jobs available during that time too?

Spring: More People = More Jobs available
Fall/Winter: Less People = Less Jobs available
Is it like this?

Author:  Tony [ Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Waterloo BMath/CS

For "more jobs available" to happen, you'd need jobs that happen only during the summer. I suppose some companies might be in a mentality of "lets hire an intern for the summer" (more people == cheaper wages?), but such seasonal work is not typically applicable to software jobs (that is, summer months don't require more code to be written).

To complicate things further, some entry level jobs go to a relative (student out for the summer) of some high ranking employee, instead of the best candidate. So those type of jobs are effectively off the market.


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