University of Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics explained

Faculty of Mathematics,
University of Waterloo
Type:Faculty
Affiliation:University of Waterloo
Location:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Dean:Mark Giesbrecht
Undergrad:6,936[1]
Postgrad:420
Doctoral:337
Free Label:Symbol
Free:Pink tie

The Faculty of Mathematics is one of six faculties of the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, offering more than 500 courses in mathematics, statistics and computer science. The faculty also houses the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, formerly the faculty's computer science department. There are more than 31,000 alumni.[2]

History

The faculty was founded on January 1, 1967, a successor to the University of Waterloo's Department of Mathematics, which had grown to be the largest department in the Faculty of Arts under the chairmanship of Ralph Stanton (and included such influential professors as W. T. Tutte). Initially located in the Physics building, the faculty was moved in May 1968 into the newly constructed Mathematics and Computing (MC) Building. Inspired by Stanton's famously gaudy ties, the students draped a large pink tie over the MC Building on the occasion of its opening, which later became a symbol of the faculty.[3]

At the time of its founding, the faculty included five departments: Applied Analysis and Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Combinatorics and Optimization, Pure Mathematics, and Statistics. In 1975 the Department of Applied Analysis and Computer Science became simply the Department of Computer Science; in 2005 it became the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. The Statistics Department also was later renamed the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. The Department of Combinatorics and Optimization is the only academic department in the world devoted to combinatorics.[4]

The second building occupied by the Mathematics faculty was the Davis Centre, which was completed in 1988. This building includes a plethora of offices, along with various lecture halls and meeting rooms. (The Davis Centre is also home to the library originally known as the Engineering, Math, and Science [EMS] Library, which was originally housed on the fourth floor of the MC building.)

The Faculty of Mathematics finished construction of a third building, Mathematics 3 (M3), in 2011. This building now houses the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science and a large lecture hall. An additional building, M4, has been proposed but has yet to be built.

Academics

Degrees

The Faculty of Mathematics grants the BMath (Bachelor of Mathematics) degree for most of its undergraduate programs. Computer Science undergraduates can generally choose between graduating with a BMath or a BCS (Bachelor of Computer Science) degree. The former requires more coursework in mathematics. Specialized degrees exist for the Software Engineering program (the BSE, or Bachelor of Software Engineering) and Computing and Financial Management (BCFM, or Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management). Postgraduate students are generally awarded an MMath (Master of Mathematics) or PhD.

Rankings

In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, the University of Waterloo was ranked 39th globally for Mathematics (and 3rd in Canada) and 21st globally for Computer Science (and 2nd in Canada).[5] [6] The University was ranked third in Canada for Mathematics and second in Canada for Computer Science in 2018 by the Maclean's University Rankings.[7] [8]

Student life

Students in the Faculty of Mathematics are represented by the Mathematics Society (MathSoc), which represents student interests to the university, operates the Math Coffee and Donut Shop, publishes the faculty newspaper mathNEWS, and runs student services including an exam bank and lounge space.[9]

Pi Day is celebrated by the department in each term: on 14 March (3/14), on 22 July (22/7, Pi Approximation Day), and on 10 November (the 314th day of the year). Typical activities include throwing pie at MathSoc executives and/or popular professors, viewing mathematics-related films, competing in pi recitation contests, and eating pie (on 22/7, cake is served instead, which is approximately pie).

Tie Guard

A yearly tradition at the University of Waterloo, a group of senior math students volunteer for the position of Tie Guard each year, and are selected by the University of Waterloo Federation of Students representatives from the Faculty of Mathematics. It is expected that the appointed Tie Guard volunteers will be on hand 24 hours a day for the duration of the orientation week, to guard the Faculty's mascot (a 40-foot pink tie which hangs off the side of the building) and to provide first aid and information to incoming students.

The Tie Guard was founded in 1994 after several previous attempts on the Pink Tie resulted in both damaged mascots and injuries to students, the most notorious of which was the Tie Liberation Organization (TLO) kidnapping in 1988. In more recent years the tie guard has expanded and now several students are appointed to the Tie Guard each year. A new pink tie was draped over the Mathematics 3 Building in 2011.

Notable members

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Student Headcounts. Institutional Analysis and Planning. 2 June 2015. University of Waterloo. 3 November 2018.
  2. Web site: Our history. Faculty of Mathematics. 5 December 2014. University of Waterloo. 3 November 2018.
  3. Web site: Legend of the Pink Tie. 17 August 2011. Faculty of Mathematics. University of Waterloo. 3 November 2018.
  4. Enumerative and Algebraic Combinatorics in the 1960's and 1970's. 17 June 2021. 2105.07884. Stanley. Richard P.. math.HO .
  5. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018: Mathematics. QS World University Rankings. 3 November 2018.
  6. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018: Computer Science & Informational Systems. QS World University Rankings. 3 November 2018.
  7. News: Best mathematics universities in Canada: 2018 rankings. 30 November 2017. Maclean's.
  8. News: Best computer science universities in Canada: 2018 ranking. 30 November 2017. Maclean's.
  9. Web site: MathSoc Services. University of Waterloo Mathematics Society. 26 January 2016.
  10. Web site: Mark Giesbrecht. University of Waterloo. 9 July 2020.
  11. Web site: Senate . University of Waterloo . 5 December 2008. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100923201943/http://www.secretariat.uwaterloo.ca/governance/Honorary_Degrees/hd_degree_DMath.htm . 23 September 2010 . mdy-all .
  12. Book: Classical Geometries in Modern Contexts. Benz, Walter. Springer. 2005. 978-3-7643-7371-9.
  13. Web site: 5 December 2008. SFU Week. University of Waterloo. UW Gazette. Shore, Valerie. 1994-01-05.
  14. Web site: 14 April 2008. Timothy M. Chan. University of Waterloo.
  15. Web site: Recent Graduates . University of Waterloo . 5 December 2008.
  16. Web site: 14 April 2008. Board sets confidential session. University of Waterloo. 7 March 2001.
  17. Web site: 14 April 2008. History of Computer Science at Waterloo. University of Waterloo. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080420121525/http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/about/history/. 20 April 2008. mdy-all.
  18. Web site: 14 April 2008. Convocation focuses on arts today . University of Waterloo. 14 June 2007.
  19. Web site: 14 April 2008. Just about ready for Campus Day . University of Waterloo. 5 March 2001.
  20. Web site: 14 April 2008. Keith O Geddes. University of Waterloo.
  21. Web site: 14 April 2008. Faculty talk of unionization . University of Waterloo. 10 January 1996.
  22. Web site: 14 April 2008. Ian P. Goulden. University of Waterloo.
  23. Web site: Peter Ladislaw Hammer (1936-2006) . Rutgers University . 5 December 2008.
  24. Web site: 14 April 2008. An outward-looking perspective . University of Waterloo. 16 September 1997.
  25. Web site: 14 April 2008. A week filled with research, pioneers, donations and trick or eating at UW . University of Waterloo .
  26. Web site: 14 April 2008. David M. Jackson. University of Waterloo.
  27. Web site: 14 April 2008. Task force will look at wildlife . University of Waterloo. 27 November 2006.
  28. Award for Distinguished Service to Professor Murray Klamkin. American Mathematical Monthly. 95. 1. January 1988. 1, 3–4. 2323439. 10.1080/00029890.1988.11971959. Alexanderson. Gerald L..
  29. Web site: CACR: 1998 Seminars . University of Waterloo . 5 December 2008.
  30. Processes and their Frameworks. Management Science. 46. 1. January 2000. 110–125. 10.1287/mnsc.46.1.110.15126. MacKenzie. Kenneth D..
  31. Web site: 2008-04-14. This year's star lecturer named . University of Waterloo. 5 October 1999.
  32. Web site: 5 December 2008. Open letter. UW Gazette. 20 September 1995.
  33. Web site: Elve, Barbara . Grants help 'internationalize' courses . 9 August 2005 . University of Waterloo .
  34. Web site: 14 April 2008. Statement on Prof. Vladimir Platonov. University of Waterloo. 2001-02-07.
  35. Web site: Ronald Read . The Mathematics Genealogy Project . 5 December 2008.
  36. Web site: 14 April 2008. What's in the public interest? . University of Waterloo. 13 March 1998.
  37. Web site: 14 April 2008. Doug Stinson's Home Page. University of Waterloo.
  38. Web site: 21 September 2014. Biography of Professor Tutte. University of Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics .
  39. Web site: 14 April 2008. Farms and museums conference . University of Waterloo. 19 June 1998 .

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