First Year: The BSc in Mathematics shares a point of entry with the BSc programs in Biology, Chemistry, Contemporary Science and Medical Physics through which all new science students at Ryerson complete a common first year. This allows students to explore various science-based routes to degree completion before they commit to the Mathematics program. In addition to the BSc foundational courses, the first year of studies will include an introduction to the use of computers as scientific tools and an orientation course (SCI 180) that will support students in making a successful transition to university and planning their steps to degree completion. All students in science programs must enroll in SCI 180 in their first semester of studies.

Upper Years: For those students with a particular interest in the interrelationship between mathematics and computer science, we offer an Option in Computer Science which provides the opportunity to take many more courses in that subject. For those who wish to explore the relationship between mathematics and economics we offer an Option in Economics.

Students not taking one of the above Options will be enrolled in the Regular program and will select an area of specialization by the beginning of the fourth semester. Six of the total elective courses must be from the specialization chosen. The areas of specialization are: Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Finance or Physics. Six of the elective courses must be chosen from any one of the specializations. Furthermore, students must take four upper level mathematics electives. Students who opt to take specializations in Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, or Finance would be ideally situated to obtain a minor in their chosen area.

Faculty members of the Department of Mathematics have expertise in applied and pure mathematics. The topics include: Computer Security, Financial Mathematics, Applied Statistics, Biomathematics, Software Testing, Graph Theory, Fluid Mechanics, Differential Equations and Operator Theory. Students will have the opportunity to work on a supervised thesis project that draws on faculty research in combination with your research interests. After graduation, students can go on to graduate studies in mathematics, as well as to work in industry.

All students enrolled in Mathematics and its Applications have the option to enroll in the Management Science Specialization.

Co-operative Program

An optional co-operative program is available for students who wish to obtain work experience and receive a salary from an employer while studying at Ryerson. The program leads to a BSc degree. In this option school terms alternate with four or five paid work terms starting from the second year (see the Table below). This schedule is the same as that used by the rest of the science programs at Ryerson and is designed to ensure that students attend winter and fall semesters in the correct order.

Although neither the Department nor the Office of Co-operative Education can guarantee a placement, they provide major assistance in locating suitable positions and counseling of students in their search for suitable jobs. This co-operative program enables students to earn competitive wages to offset the costs of a university education.

Students who have completed the first year of the program must apply through the Mathematics Department for admission to the co-op program prior to the beginning of the second year. Enrollment in the co-op program is limited and the department retains the right to deny access to the co-op program based on the number of available placements and student's grade point average. Once in the co-op program, the terms alternate between four months of study and four months of on the job experience. The co-op program usually takes an additional year to complete. The graduation requirements for the co-op program are the same as those for the BSc in Mathematics.

The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:

Students must successfully complete a minimum of four work terms in order to graduate from the co-op program.

The co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Mathematics and its Applications. The regular program can be completed in four years.

All co-op placements must be approved by the Office of Co-operative Education and the Dean's designate responsible for administering science programs.

Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OSMS)

Students who opt for this specialization will gain a solid foundation in management science courses, specifically tailored to better prepare them for a career in engineering or applied science management or for graduate studies in management related specializations (e.g. MBA). Students must complete all first year courses and obtain a CLEAR Standing to be eligible to enroll in this specialization.

Furthermore, in order to continue taking courses within the specialization, students must maintain their CLEAR Standing. Students' CGPAs will continue to be calculated based only on their required program courses and separate CGPAs will be computed for courses in the specialization. In order to have the specialization designation reflected on their degrees, students must successfully complete all six courses in the specialization and achieve a CGPA of 2.00 or more before graduation.

Courses within the optional specialization cover four major areas in management science: Strategic Engineering Management, Operations Management/Operations Research, Financial Sciences, and Organizational Sciences. Each area will have one required course and at least one elective. Required courses include: Managerial Accounting, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Operations Management, and Organization Design and Dynamics. Elective courses span the following: Investment Analysis, Management Information Systems, Operations Research, and Project Management.

Required courses: EMS 201, EMS 202, EMS 204, EMS 303, ECN 801.

Elective courses (select one): EMS 203, EMS 301, EMS 302, EMS 304.

Courses are offered in the Spring/Summer term. All required courses are prerequisite to the corresponding elective courses. For example, EMS 201 is a prerequisite to EMS 301. Additional prerequisites may be required. See the course description pages for details.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a Bachelor degree in Mathematics, whether it is a single subject or in combinations with some other discipline, will have a wide range of prospective careers, ranging from finance to computer security to medical research to name a few. Mathematics graduates work for industry, business and governments, where they are involved in a wide variety of tasks such as biological and environmental studies (for ministries of the environment), market research (for finance institutions), software development (for the security and coding of data), statistical analysis (polling agencies, financial institutions, Statistics Canada), market analysis (for financial institutions) and others. It is universally recognized that training in mathematics develops strong problem-solving skills and the ability to reason analytically. Aptitude in problem solving and analytical reasoning is important and highly valued in all areas of industry. Graduates of the program will thus satisfy a current and growing demand for mathematically trained individuals who are able to move into business and industry. There is a consistent demand for students who are able to combine mathematics with another discipline. Students who are able to combine knowledge from mathematics with another area of expertise have a greater chance of employment in a variety of jobs. Science students with a mathematical background also have more flexibility and are better prepared when pursuing graduate studies in science. We note that graduates taking the Computer Science Option would be particularly well suited for careers as Systems Analysts and Computer Programmers. Those pursuing the Economics option would be well suited to work as Auditors, Accountants, Investment Professionals, Finance and Insurance Clerks. All graduates of the program would be eligible for the most common occupation: Mathematicians, Systems Analysts and Computer Programmers.

We would like to direct students to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). Specifically, Job Futures (www.jobfutures.ca), a Government of Canada web-site that provides overviews of the labour market and general economic trends, detailed information on all occupational groups and post-secondary fields of study, current and future labour market conditions and prospects for finding work in the Canadian workforce. The site has an entry for those studying undergraduate mathematics, and this category includes applied mathematics, actuarial mathematics, and statistics. Graduates usually find work as mathematicians, statisticians, systems analysts, accountants, financial auditors in finance and insurance.

Liberal Studies

Students must take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate.

Minors

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Ryerson (with exceptions), and are eligible for only one Minor. Please refer to the Minors Policy section of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and restrictions.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible restrictions. Please refer to the Curriculum Advising website at www.ryerson.ca/curriculumadvising for complete details.