Program | What you'll learn | Admissions | Co-op | Specializations | First year courses | Graduate studies
Program
Earn two degrees in five years in both computer science and business by enroling in this unique co-op only program. Receive a full Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and a full Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.
What you'll learn
Computer Science (Waterloo) — You will learn how software and computing systems work, and how they can be used to solve real problems. You will explore how to break down complex challenges into clear steps that computers can follow, combining both practical skills and conceptual understanding. You will also learn how large software systems are built and managed, and gain insight into what computers can do well, where their limits are, and how software and hardware work together. You will work individually and in teams to solve problems in fields such as business and finance while learning programming principles starting from the basics without and assumed previous exposure to computer science concepts.
Business Administration (Wilfrid Laurier) — You will develop a broad understanding of business by taking a variety of courses in all functional areas, including those in brand communication, accounting, human resource management, marketing, finance, financial planning, supply chain management, insurance and risk management,
and entrepreneurship. You can specialize in any of these areas to focus your studies.
Admissions
If you are interested in applying to this program, we recommend that you apply to both Waterloo and Laurier to maximize your chances of entry. The program is created identically at each school. You will select your "home school" by accepting your offer from either institution.
Your "home school" will provide you with support for services such as co-op, scholarships, and housing.
Co-op
You will be required to satisfy four to five work terms over the course of the BBA/BCS program. The co-op sequence below outlines when you will be studying and working.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | W | S | F | W | S | F | W | S | F | W | S | F | W | S |
| 1A | 1B | * | 2A | * | 2B | 3A | * | 3B |
4A |
4B |
* |
5A |
5B | |
| * | 4A | 4B | * | 5A | 5B | |||||||||
| 4A | * | 4B | * | 5A | 5B | |||||||||
F = Fall | W = Winter | S = Spring | * = Work term
Specializations
You can explore additional areas of interest in your studies by adding a specialization in second year to customize your degree. See our page on specializations for more information.
First year courses
| Course | Course code |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Computer Science/Designing Functional Programs | CS 115, CS 135 or CS 145 |
| Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction | CS 136 or CS 146 |
| Tools and Techniques for Software Development | CS 136L |
| Calculus 1 | MATH 127, MATH 137 or MATH 147 |
| Calculus 2 | MATH 128, MATH 138 or MATH 148 |
| Algebra | MATH 135 or MATH 145 |
| Linear Algebra | MATH 136 or MATH 146 |
| Business | BUS 111 and BUS 121 |
| Economics | EC 120 and EC 140 |
Course descriptions are available on our Undergraduate Calendar.
For more information on upper year classes, take a look at our suggested academic plans under our "current students" section.
Graduate studies
Following your undergraduate degree, you can continue your studies through our graduate studies program, or you can pursue your Charted Professional Accounting designation.
At Waterloo, you can pursue a Master of Mathematics (MMath) with a specialization in Computer Science and fast track your degree with our accelerated master's program. An Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) will allow you to try your hand at research before you apply.
Additional courses through Wilfrid Laurier can provide you with the tools to be successful in the world of accounting by earning your Chartered Professional Accounting designation (CPA).