University of Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics

Last updated
Faculty of Mathematics,
University of Waterloo
WaterlooMathBuilding.jpg
Mathematics and Computer Building
Type Faculty
EstablishedJanuary 1, 1967 (1967-01-01)
Affiliation University of Waterloo
Dean Mark Giesbrecht
Undergraduates 6,936 [1]
Postgraduates 420 [1]
337 [1]
Location
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
SymbolPink tie
Website uwaterloo.ca/math
Waterloo-Mathematics.svg

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]

Contents

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). [2] 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. [2] 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 2018 QS World University Rankings, the University of Waterloo was ranked 39th globally for Mathematics (and 3rd in Canada) and 31st 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

The Pink Tie UW-MathFaculty-PinkTie.jpg
The Pink Tie

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. [3]

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Waterloo</span> Public research university in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

The University of Waterloo is a public research university with a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on 404 hectares of land adjacent to "Uptown" Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also operates three satellite campuses and four affiliated university colleges. The university offers academic programs administered by six faculties and thirteen faculty-based schools. Waterloo operates the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world, with over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the university's co-op program. Waterloo is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorbonne University</span> Public university in Paris, France

Sorbonne University is a public research university located in Paris, France. The institution's legacy reaches back to 1257 when Sorbonne College was established by Robert de Sorbon as one of the first universities in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado School of Mines</span> Public university in Golden, Colorado, U.S.

The Colorado School of Mines, informally called Mines, is a public research university in Golden, Colorado, founded in 1874. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, and mathematics, with a focus on energy and the environment. While Mines does offer minor degrees in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, it only offers major degrees in STEM fields, with the exception of economics. In the Fall 2022 semester, the school had 7,408 students enrolled, with 5,733 in an undergraduate program and 1,675 in a graduate program. The school has been co-educational since its founding, however, enrollment remains predominantly male. In every QS World University Ranking from 2016 to 2022, the university was ranked as the top institution in the world for mineral and mining engineering. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Technical University of Munich</span> Public research university in Germany

The Technical University of Munich is a public research university in Munich, Germany. It specializes in engineering, technology, medicine, and applied and natural sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moscow State University</span> Public research university in Moscow, Russia

M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University is a public research university in Moscow, Russia, and the most prestigious university in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National University of Sciences & Technology</span> Public university in Islamabad, Pakistan

The National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) is a multi-campus public research university having its main campus in Islamabad, Pakistan.

A Bachelor of Mathematics is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for successfully completing a program of study in mathematics or related disciplines, such as applied mathematics, actuarial science, computational science, data analytics, financial mathematics, mathematical physics, pure mathematics, operations research or statistics. The Bachelor of Mathematics caters to high-achieving students seeking to develop a comprehensive specialised knowledge in a field of mathematics or a high level of sophistication in the applications of mathematics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences</span> Division of New York University, USA (founded 1935)

The Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences is the mathematics research school of New York University (NYU), and is among the most prestigious mathematics schools and mathematical sciences research centers in the world. Founded in 1935, it is named after Richard Courant, one of the founders of the Courant Institute and also a mathematics professor at New York University from 1936 to 1972, and serves as a center for research and advanced training in computer science and mathematics. It is located on Gould Plaza next to the Stern School of Business and the economics department of the College of Arts and Science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford</span> Department of the University of Oxford

The Department of Computer Science is the computer science department of the University of Oxford, England, which is part of the university's Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division. It was founded in 1957 as the Computing Laboratory. By 2014 the staff count was 52 members of academic staff and over 80 research staff. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 Times World University Subject Rankings places Oxford University 1st in the world for Computer Science. Oxford University is also the top university for computer science in the UK and Europe according to Business Insider. The 2020 QS University Subject Rankings places The University of Oxford 5th in the world for Computer Science.

The David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science is a professional school within the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. QS World University Rankings ranked the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science 24th in the world, 10th in North America and 2nd in Canada in Computer Science in 2014. U.S. News & World Report ranked the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science 42nd in world and second in Canada.

The School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) at University of Waterloo is a professional school within the Faculty of Arts. The School was established in 1980 under the name 'School of Accountancy'. Its name was changed in 2008 to better reflect its program offering. Today, more than 1,600 students are enrolled in the School's programs. In September 2009, a new 52,000 square feet (5,000 m2) building was officially opened to house the School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Rijeka</span>

The University of Rijeka is in the city of Rijeka, Croatia, with faculties in cities throughout the regions of Primorje, Istria and Lika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IIT Madras</span> Public engineering institution in India

Indian Institute of Technology Madras is a public technical university located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. As one of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), it is recognized as an Institute of National Importance Founded in 1959 with technical and financial assistance from the former government of West Germany, it was the third IIT established by the Government of India. IIT Madras is ranked the top engineering institute in India by the Ministry of Education's National Institutional Ranking Framework since its inception in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford</span>

The Mathematical Institute is the mathematics department at the University of Oxford in England. It is one of the nine departments of the university's Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division. The institute includes both pure and applied mathematics and is one of the largest mathematics departments in the United Kingdom with about 200 academic staff. It was ranked as the top mathematics department in the UK in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. Research at the Mathematical Institute covers all branches of mathematical sciences ranging from, for example, algebra, number theory, and geometry to the application of mathematics to a wide range of fields including industry, finance, networks, and the brain. It has more than 850 undergraduates and 550 doctoral or masters students. The institute inhabits a purpose-built building between Somerville College and Green Templeton College on Woodstock Road, next to the Faculty of Philosophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Toronto Department of Mathematics</span> Academic department at the University of Toronto

The University of Toronto Department of Mathematics is an academic department within the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. It is located at the university's main campus at the Bahen Centre for Information Technology.

Ralph Gordon Stanton was a Canadian mathematician, teacher, scholar, and pioneer in mathematics and computing education. As a researcher, he made important contributions in the area of discrete mathematics; and as an educator and administrator, was also instrumental in founding the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo, and for establishing its unofficial mascot of the pink tie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McGill University</span>

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is an academic department at McGill University. It is located in Burnside Hall at McGill's downtown campus in Montreal.

Ian P. Goulden is a Canadian and British mathematician. He works as a professor at the University of Waterloo in the department of Combinatorics and Optimization. He obtained his PhD from the University of Waterloo in 1979 under the supervision of David M. Jackson. His PhD thesis was titled Combinatorial Decompositions in the Theory of Algebraic Enumeration. Goulden is well known for his contributions in enumerative combinatorics such as the Goulden-Jackson cluster method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology</span>

The TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology (CIT) is a school of the Technical University of Munich, established in 2022 by the merger of three former departments. As of 2022, it is structured into the Department of Mathematics, the Department of Computer Engineering, the Department of Computer Science, and the Department of Electrical Engineering.

References

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

Coordinates: 43°28′20″N80°32′38″W / 43.4721°N 80.5439°W / 43.4721; -80.5439

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.