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Mathematics

The Department of Mathematics offers opportunities for study leading to doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees. For information on the Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, see Arts Mathematics. For information on advanced degrees, see graduate Mathematics.

Students should note that the first digit in the number of a course is intended to convey the level of mathematical maturity at which the course is conducted rather than the year in which it must be taken.

Co-operative Education

Detailed information is available from the Mathematics Department or Co-operative Education.

Major

The Department offers a large selection of courses in various areas of pure and applied mathematics and requiring various levels of mathematical sophistication. The student is advised to consult a Mathematics advisor during the second year or when considering a Major in Mathematics in order to design a coherent program of study suitable to the student's interests and abilities.

Major (0456): Mathematics (MATH)

First Year
Communication Requirement1 6
MATH 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 184)2,3 3
MATH 101 or 103 or 105 (or 121)3 3
PHYS 100-level4 3
CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)5 4
Electives6 11
Total Credits 30
Second Year
MATH 200 (or 226)7 3
MATH 2207 3
MATH 221 (or 223), 2158 6
CPSC 210 or MATH 210 3,9 3
Electives6 15
Total Credits 30
Third and Fourth Years
MATH courses numbered 300 or higher10 24
MATH, STAT, or CPSC courses numbered 300 or higher 6
Electives6 30
Total Credits 60
Total Credits for Degree 120
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
2 See UBC-SFU-UVIC-UNBC Calculus Examination Certificate. Also, MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified courses by decreasing the electives in any year by 3 credits.
3 A 4-credit course may substitute for a 3-credit course to satisfy a specified requirement by decreasing the electives in any year by 1 credit.
4 Chosen from 100-level PHYS courses, excluding PHYS 100. Students who do not have B.C. High School Physics 12 (or equivalent) must take PHYS 100 before taking other 100-level PHYS courses. Qualified students are encouraged to take PHYS 107.
5 A 6-credit combination of two courses may substitute for a 4-credit course to satisfy the specified requirement by decreasing the electives in any year by 2 credits.  
6 Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
7 Students obtaining 68% or higher in MATH 226 may replace MATH 220 with 3 credits of electives. In order to be promoted to third year, students must complete one of MATH 220, 226.
8 MATH 215 may be deferred until third year.
9 MATH 210 may not be offered every year.
10 STAT 302 can substitute for MATH 302.  

Recommendations

The Department makes the following recommendations:

  1. Mathematically able students are encouraged to take the honours stream MATH 120, 121, 223, 226, and 227.
  2. In second year, MATH 221 should be taken in Term 1. It is possible to take (with appropriate prerequisites) some of MATH 307, 308, 312, 317, 340, and MATH/STAT 302 (as well as MATH 300) in the second year.
  3. Students interested in pursuing statistics to some depth should take STAT 200 and MATH/STAT 302 in the second year. This will prepare them for more advanced statistics courses such as STAT 305, 306, and 404.
  4. Major students should consider taking some of MATH 300, 320, 322.
  5. MATH 302 and MATH 307 are courses which are useful in many areas of mathematics.
  6. Students interested in operations research should take MATH 340, 441, 442, and 443. They are also advised to take MATH 303, STAT 305, and 306, and some advanced computer science courses.
  7. Students interested in teaching are advised to take MATH 308, 309, 312, 313, 414, 446.
  8. Students interested in becoming actuaries can make substantial progress toward this career goal while majoring in mathematics or statistics. These students should consult the actuarial advisors in the Mathematics and/or Statistics Departments for detailed advice on course selection and advice on taking the Society of Actuaries' exams.
  9. Students interested in the physical sciences should take MATH 317 which is important for MATH 300, 316.
  10. Students interested in economics should consider taking ECON 420 and 421, and should consult an advisor in the Vancouver School of Economics for other appropriate economics courses. A joint Major in Mathematics and Economics is available. See below.
  11. In selecting electives, students should consider pursuing an area of application of mathematics in some depth. They should also ensure that they fulfill all the graduation requirements of the Faculty of Science.

Major in Mathematical Sciences

The Major in Mathematical Sciences is offered with Departments of Computer Science and Statistics.

Major (0185): Mathematical Sciences (MASC)

First Year
Communication Requirement1 6
CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)2 4
CPSC 121 4
DSCI 100 3
MATH 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 184)3,4 3
MATH 101 or 103 or 105 (or 121)4 3
PHYS 100-level5 3
Electives6 4
Total Credits 30
Second Year
CPSC 210, 213, 221 12
MATH 200 (or 2267), 221 (or 223) 6
MATH 2207 3
MATH/STAT 302 3
STAT 200, 201 6
Total Credits 30
Third and Fourth Years
Three courses from CPSC 302, 303, 320, 340, 402, 406, 420, 421 9
Three courses from MATH 215, 3038, 307, 340 9
STAT 305, 306 6
Two additional courses from CPSC 302, 303, 320, 340, 402, 406, 420, 421, MATH 215, 3038, 307, 340, STAT 404, 406, 443 6
Electives6 30
Total Credits 60
Total Credits for Degree 120
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
2 While CPSC 110 is the recommended route for students pursuing a specialization in Computer Science, CPSC 103, 107 may be taken in its place by decreasing the electives in any year by 2 credits.
3 See UBC-SFU-UVIC-UNBC Calculus Examination Certificate. Also, MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified courses by decreasing the electives in any year by 3 credits.
4 A 4-credit course may substitute for a 3-credit course to satisfy a specified requirement by decreasing the electives in any year by 1 credit.
5 Chosen from 100-level PHYS courses, excluding PHYS 100. Students who do not have B.C. High School Physics 12 (or equivalent) must take PHYS 100 before taking other 100-level PHYS courses. Qualified students are encouraged to take PHYS 107.
6 Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
7 Students obtaining 68% or higher in MATH 226 may replace MATH 220 with 3 credits of electives. In order to be promoted to third year, students must complete one of MATH 220, 226.
8 MATH 418 may be substituted for MATH 303.

Combined Major (1135): Mathematics and Economics (MATH, ECON)

Students interested in the Combined Major must be accepted to the specialization by both the Department of Mathematics and the Vancouver School of Economics. To enter the specialization, students first apply to be admitted as a major in mathematics for second year by using the online process administered by the Faculty of Science. Then they enrol in the courses for the Combined Major for second year. Near the end of second year, they apply in writing to the Vancouver School of Economics. The minimum requirements for admission are the same as those for the BA Major in Economics. (For details, and to explore the BA Major in Mathematics and Economics, see the listing under the Faculty of Arts.)

First Year
Communication requirement1 6
ECON 101, 1022 6
MATH 100 (or one of 102, 104, 110, 120, 180, 184)3,4 3
MATH 101 (or one of 103, 105, 121)4 3
PHYS 100-level5 3
CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)6 4
Electives7 5
Total Credits 30
Second Year
ECON 32510,12 3
ECON 200- or 300-level8 3
MATH 200 (or 2268), 215, 2208, 221 (or 223) 12
CPSC 210 or MATH 2104,9 3
Electives7 9
Total Credits 30
Third and Fourth Years
ECON 301, 302, 326, 490 12
ECON courses numbered 300 or higher 3
ECON courses numbered 400 or higher 3
MATH courses numbered 300 or higher11 18
Science courses numbered 300 or higher 12
Electives7,12 12
Total Credits 60
Total Credits for Degree 120
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
2 Students with third-year standing can satisfy this requirement by taking ECON 310 and ECON 311.
3 See UBC-SFU-UVIC-UNBC Calculus Examination Certificate.
4 The first 3 credits of the course selected here will be used to satisfy the requirement. Any remaining credits are treated as electives, and can be used in any year.
5 Chosen from 100-level PHYS courses, excluding PHYS 100. Students who do not have B.C. High School Physics 12 (or equivalent) must take PHYS 100 before taking other 100-level PHYS courses. Qualified students are encouraged to take PHYS 106.  
6 A 6-credit combination of two courses may substitute for a 4-credit course to satisfy the specified requirement by decreasing the elective in any year by 2 credits.  
7 Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
8 Students obtaining 68% in MATH 226 may replace MATH 220 with 3 credits of electives. In order to be promoted to third year, students must complete one of MATH 220, 226.
9 MATH 210 may not be offered every year.
10 Students can earn exemption from ECON 325 by completing one of the approved equivalents listed here.
11 Suitable electives include MATH 302, 303, 320, 321, 402, 403, 418, 419, 443. MATH 320 would be valuable for graduate study in economics. STAT 302 can substitute for MATH 302.  
12 The Combined Major requires 30 credits of ECON courses. Credits earned in approved non-ECON courses used to gain exemption from an ECON course do not count toward this requirement.  

Combined Major (1429): Computer Science and Mathematics

Students admitted to this specialization must satisfy the admission and continuation requirements for majors students in both the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Computer Science.

First Year
Communication Requirement1 6
CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)2 4
CPSC 1213 4
MATH 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 184)4,5 3
MATH 101 or 103 or 105 (or 121)5 3
PHYS 100-level6 3
Electives7 7
Total Credits 30
Second Year
CPSC 2103 4
CPSC 213, 221 8
MATH 200 (or 2268) 3
MATH 2208 3
MATH 221 (or 223), 2159 6
Electives7,10 6
Total Credits 30
Third and Fourth Years
CPSC 310, 313, 320 10
CPSC 302 or 303 3
One of CPSC 402, 406, 420, 421, 44011 3
CPSC courses numbered 300 or higher12 3
CPSC courses numbered 400 or higher12 3
MATH courses numbered 300 or higher13 21
Electives7,10 17
Total Credits 60
Total Credits for Degree 120
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
2 While CPSC 110 is the recommended route for students pursuing a specialization in Computer Science, CPSC 103, 107 may be taken in its place by decreasing the electives in any year by 2 credits.
3 Students pursuing a Co-op option are advised to add CPSC 210 to their course selections in first year.
4 See UBC-SFU-UVIC-UNBC Calculus Examination Certificate. Also, MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified courses by decreasing the electives in any year by 3 credits.
5 A 4-credit course may substitute for a 3-credit course to satisfy a specified requirement by decreasing the electives in any year by 1 credit.
6 Chosen from 100-level PHYS courses, excluding PHYS 100. Students who do not have B.C. High School Physics 12 (or its equivalent) must take PHYS 100 before taking other 100-level PHYS courses. Qualified students are encouraged to take PHYS 107.
7 Students are permitted to move electives credits between years. Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
8 Students obtaining 68% or higher in MATH 226 may replace MATH 220 with 3 credits of electives. In order to be promoted to third year, students must complete one of MATH 220, 226.  
9 MATH 215 may be deferred until third year.
10 STAT 200 is recommended.
11 Students electing to take CPSC 440 should note that it has CPSC 340 as prerequisite.  
12 Credits gained from undergraduate Student-Directed Seminars (CPSC 490) cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.  
13 STAT 302 can be substituted for MATH 302.  

Dual Degree Program in Mathematics and Education

The Dual Degree program in Mathematics and Education offers qualified students the opportunity to earn a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics (Major) and a B.Ed. degree in Secondary Education, in five winter sessions with some academic requirements in Term 1 of the Summer sessions. After completing all the requirements, students are normally eligible for a British Columbia Professional Teaching Certificate. Admission to the Dual Degree program requires application in the fall of second year and successful completion of a teaching practicum at the end of second year. See the Dual Degree Program in Science and Education for more information on admission and continuation requirements.

Dual Degree Program: B.Sc. (Mathematics), B.Ed. (Secondary)

First Year (Winter)
Communication Requirement1,2 6
CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)3 4
MATH 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 184)4,5 3
MATH 101 or 103 or 105 (or 121)5 3
PHYS 100-level6 3
Electives3,4,5,7,8 11
Total Credits8 30
Second Year (Winter)
MATH 200 (or 226)9 3
MATH 2209 3
MATH 221 (or 223), 21510 6
CPSC 210 or MATH 2105,11 3
Electives3,4,5,7,8 15
Total Credits1,5 30
Second Year (Summer)
EDUC 31912 1
Total Credits 1
Third Year (Winter)
EDST 401 3
LLED 360 3
MATH courses numbered 300 or higher13 15
Electives3,4,5,7,8 9
Total Credits 30
Third Year (Summer)
EDUC 39912 1
Total Credits 1
Fourth Year (Winter)
EDCP 342 3
EPSE 308 4
EDCP 343 3
MATH courses numbered 300 or higher13 6
MATH, STAT, or CPSC courses numbered 300 or higher 6
Electives3,4,5,7,8 9
Total Credits 31
Fourth Year (Summer)
LLED 361 3
EPSE 317 3
EDST 403 1
EDST 404 1
EDUC 430 1
EDUC 440 3
Electives3,4,5,7,8,14 3
Total Credits 15
Fifth Year (Winter)15
EDUC 315 2
EDUC 421 12
EDUC 450 3
EDUC 451 3
EPSE 310 3
MATH courses numbered 300 or higher13 3
Electives3,4,5,7,8 3
Total Credits 29
Fifth Year (Summer)
EDUC 45216 3
Total Credits 3
Total Credits for Dual Degree 170
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
2 The Faculty of Education does not accept SCIE 113 or APSC 176 to meet their English requirement, but they do accept ASTU 100, ASTU 150, WRDS 150 to be equivalent to ENGL 112. However students are required to take a minimum of 3 credits of literature coursework from ENGL 100, 110, 111, 120, 121. Some of the acceptable courses are not available for students enrolled in the Faculty of Science but might have already been taken by students that transferred to the Faculty of Science.
3 A 6-credit combination of two courses may substitute for a 4-credit course to satisfy a specified requirement by decreasing the electives in any year by 2 credits.
4 See UBC-SFU-UVIC-UNBC Calculus Examination Certificate. Also, MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified courses by decreasing the electives in any year by 3 credits.
5 A 4-credit course may substitute for a 3-credit course to satisfy a specified requirement by decreasing the electives in any year by 1 credit.
6 Chosen from 100-level PHYS courses, excluding PHYS 100. Students without Physics 12 must take PHYS 100 before taking other 100-level PHYS courses. Qualified students are encouraged to take PHYS 107.
7 Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
8 Students who earn more than 30 credits in first year may reduce the number of unrestricted electives taken in later years.
9 Students obtaining 68% or higher in MATH 226 may replace MATH 220 with 3 credits of electives. In order to be promoted to third year, students must complete one of MATH 220, 226.
10 MATH 215 may be deferred until third year.
11 MATH 210 may not be offered every year.
12 EDUC 319 and EDUC 399 are one-week and two-week teaching practica respectively during the month of May in Year 2 and Year 3. Successful completion of EDUC 319 and EDUC 399 are normally required to continue the B.Ed. program.
13 Must fulfill Faculty of Education breadth requirements (MATH 308, 309, 312, 313, 446 recommended).
14 EDCP 441 is a recommended elective in Fourth Year (Summer).
15 Note that in fifth year, only Term 1 is available for non-education courses because Term 2 includes education courses that preclude time for other courses.
16 Note that Education may schedule EDUC 452 to Fifth Year Winter in order to meet the May convocation deadline.

Honours

Students planning to take a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Mathematics, or in Mathematics combined with another subject, should note the following:

  1. To be admitted into an Honours Mathematics specialization, a student must obtain at least 68% in MATH 121 or average at least 80% in 6 credits of 100-level MATH courses. In addition, honours students must comply with the Faculty of Science's honours requirements.
  2. The courses MATH 120, 121, 223, 226, and 227 provide a firmer foundation for advanced study than the alternatives shown in parentheses.
  3. Students are encouraged to choose electives that result in studying another subject to substantial depth.
  4. For students who plan to work in mathematics, study in French, German, or Russian is recommended.

Honours (0166): Mathematics (MATH)

First Year
Communication Requirement1 6
MATH 120 (or 100 or 102 or 104 or 180 or 184)2,3 4
MATH 121 (or 101 or 103 or 105)3 4
PHYS 106 (or 107 or 117 or 101 or 131)4 3
CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)5 4
Electives6 12
Total Credits7 33
Second Year
MATH 223 (or 221) 3
MATH 226 (or 200) 8 3
MATH 227 (or 317) 3
MATH 2159 3
CPSC 210 or MATH 2103,10 4
Electives6 17
Total Credits7 33
Third and Fourth Years
MATH 300, 320, 321, 322, 323 15
15 credits from MATH 400-406, 412, 418-428, 433-440, 443, 449, 450 15
MATH courses numbered 300 or higher11 9
Electives6 27
Total Credits7 66
Total Credits for Degree 132
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
2 See UBC-SFU-UVIC-UNBC Calculus Examination Certificate. Also, MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified courses by decreasing the electives in any year by 2 credits.
3 If any 3-credit MATH course is taken in place of a 4-credit course, the missing credit must be made up as electives.
4 Students who do not have B.C. High School Physics 12 (or its equivalent) must take PHYS 100 in addition to any PHYS course(s) taken to satisfy the Science Breadth Requirement.
5 A 6-credit combination of two courses may substitute for a 4-credit course to satisfy the specified requirement by decreasing the electives in any year by 2 credits.
6 Students are permitted to move extra electives credits between years. Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
7 Honours students must comply with the Faculty of Science's honours requirements.
8 Students who take MATH 200 or who obtain less than 68% in MATH 226 must take MATH 220 and obtain 80% or higher in order to take the required course MATH 320.
9 MATH 215 may be deferred until third year.
10 MATH 210 may not be offered every year.
11 STAT 302 can substitute for MATH 302.  

Combined Honours (0206): Chemistry and Mathematics

See Chemistry.

Combined Honours (0021): Computer Science and Mathematics

See Computer Science.

Combined Honours (0014): Physics and Mathematics

See Physics.

Combined Honours (0550): Mathematics and Statistics

See Statistics.

Combined Honours: Mathematics (MATH) with Another Subject

First Year
Same as Mathematics Honours.  
Second Year
Same as Mathematics Honours.  
Third and Fourth Years
MATH 320, 321 6
9 credits from MATH 300, 301, 316, 322, 323, 331 9
12 credits from MATH 400-406, 412, 418-428, 433-440, 443, 449, 450 12
Electives1 39
Total Credits2 66
Total Credits for Degree 132
1 Including courses as specified by the other department, but not exceeding 30 credits in third and fourth year.
2 Honours students must comply with the Faculty of Science's honours requirements.

 


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