You must complete all departmental and faculty requirements listed below by the end of the current Winter Session for any specialization to which you apply.
What’s the difference between the specialization requirements listed in the Calendar and the specialization eligibility requirements below?
Specialization requirements are all the courses that must be completed to earn a degree in that specialization. The UBC Calendar shows how the specialization requirements can be completed over a four-year period (“Year 1” to “Year 4”). The courses listed as “Year 1 Requirements” in a specialization’s Calendar description do not all have to be completed your first year at UBC.
To be eligible to apply for admission to a specialization, you need to have completed the subset of Year 1 courses called the specialization admission or eligibility requirements. These requirements are listed below.
How should I prioritize my three choices?
Be sure that you are selecting only specializations for which you meet the eligibility requirements. Don't apply for an Honours specialization if you didn't meet the minimum credit and grade requirements. Select the specialization you really want as your first choice. Don't apply for three Honours specializations--they have the smallest enrolment and you're unduly limiting your options.
What is the difference between the Combined Major in Science and Integrated Sciences?
The Combined Major in Science (CMS) emphasizes breadth and includes a laboratory requirement and a mandatory course in science communication. It's ideal for students who wish to develop strong foundations in multiple scientific disciplines rather than specializing in a single science. Integrated Sciences emphasizes depth and interdisciplinarity. Students create their own specialization requirements (with faculty approval). It’s an ideal choice for students who want to explore a specific topic that crosses disciplines. While the CMS is more structured than Integrated Sciences, both offer students flexibility in their choice of courses and disciplines.
What’s the difference between the Major in Mathematics and the Major in Mathematical Sciences?
Mathematics is a powerful tool for solving practical problems and a highly creative field of study. It’s more than just numbers and rules for calculating with them. As a mathematics major, you’ll learn to reveal and explain patterns–whether the pattern appears as electrical impulses in an animal’s nervous system, as fluctuations in stock market prices, or as fine detail of an abstract geometric figure. The ability to simplify complex situations through abstraction and systematic reasoning is a great asset. Mathematics is applied in many fields including business, finance, industry, government, education and social sciences.
Mathematical Sciences integrates math, computer science, and statistics to provide you with a strong foundation of skills and knowledge. While maintaining a strong core in mathematics, the program allows you to emphasize mathematics, statistics, computer science, or any combination of the three.