17 UC/15 MSc, BSc(Hons)
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Template 3: UC Regulation Changes
Details
Title of qualification
Computational and Applied Mathematical Sciences (CAMS)
Year of introduction
2016
Department or School
School of Mathematics and Statistics
Faculty or College
College of Engineering / College of Science
Proposal Description
R
Purpose of the proposal
To change the prerequisites of the Computational and Applied Mathematics Sciences Honours and Masters programmes
to broaden the entry requirements into the programme so that students with a suitable background can participate.
Justification
This proposal is part of the School of Mathematics and Statistics strategic direction in supporting student pathways in
modern computational mathematical sciences. This is a fast moving, evolving area of mathematical sciences and we aim
to provide for students who have this as their interest. The School is investing in staff, and resources, in computational
mathematical sciences to better cater for this development.
Of the five key attributes for a graduate of the University of Canterbury, the concept of a graduate being employable,
innovative and enterprising is addressed directly with this proposed change in entry into CAMS. A graduate from the
CAMS programme will not only have experience with computation, they will communicate well with researchers in
other disciplines, and will understand the role of the mathematical sciences in the wider world of science, engineering,
medicine, and business (NRC 2013 report on The Mathematical Sciences in 20251)
The current prerequisites for entry into the postgraduate BSc(Hons) and MSc CAMS programme equate to a UC BSc or
BA in mathematics. With this it would be very difficult for a statistics graduate to enter the programme because they
would rarely have the designated 45 points from the MATH 200 courses or 60 points from the MATH 300 courses as
listed (prerequisite (1) and (2)). Statistics graduates are a pool of students who would benefit from CAMS. Therefore this
proposal is to specify a pathway for these students while maintaining the existing mathematics graduate pathway.
We also propose to simplify the wording of the entry pathway into the BSc(Hons) or MSc or by using the wording, “met
the majoring requirements for entry into a BSc(hons) in Mathematics, Statistics, or with HOS approval, the equivalent”.
The HoS approval option is for cases where a student has mathematics or statistics courses in engineering, or some
other programme. This wording is easier for a student to understand and has the added advantage that any changes in
undergraduate degree requirements are translated into the postgraduate pathway.
1
Committee on the Mathematical Sciences in 2025, Board on Mathematical Sciences and Their Applications, Division on
Engineering and Physical Sciences, 2013, National Research Council of the National Academies, The National Academies
Press, Washington, D.C.
Calendar Form
New Regulations
2015 UC Calendar Page
Pages 413 and 429
Under pre-requisites:
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17 UC/15 MSc, BSc(Hons)
Replace
P:
(1) 45 points from MATH 201, MATH 202, MATH 203, MATH 220, MATH 240 and MATH 270, including MATH 201 and at
least one of (MATH 202 or MATH 203); and
(2) 60 points from MATH 301–394; and
(3) an additional 30 points from MATH 301–394 and STAT 301–394, or other approved courses;
and
(4) 45 points from other approved courses at 200-level or above. Normally these would come from CHEM, COSC, MATH,
MSCI, PHYS, STAT or Engineering courses
With
(1) Met the majoring requirements for entry into a BSc(Hons) in Mathematics, or Statistics, or, with HOS approval, the
equivalent "
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