Mathematics (BSc) at UBC's Okanagan campus | UBC Undergraduate Programs and Admissions

Learn to reveal and explain patterns in everyday life, from electrical impulses in an animal’s nervous system to fluctuations in stock market prices, or the fine detail in an abstract geometrical object.

This program is also offered at UBC's Vancouver Campus

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Why this program?

Gain a firm foundation in pure mathematics that you can apply in areas where it is of vital importance such as finance, computer science, and cryptography.
Select a concentration in Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, or Statistics.
Learn from renowned faculty researchers studying graphics and visualization, artificial intelligence, system architecture, databases, and more.

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Program information

Campus: Okanagan
Faculty: Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
Degree: Bachelor of Science

Length 4 yrs
Co-op Yes
You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
Honours Yes
You can study intense specialization in a single field.

By pursuing a Mathematics degree from UBC, you’ll acquire powerful tools for solving practical problems in a highly creative environment that demands logic, precision, intuition, and imagination. The curriculum emphasizes powerful and versatile modes of thought including abstraction, critical thinking, and logical analysis.

You can select a concentration in Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, or Statistics. Graduates of the Mathematics program are prepared for direct entry into careers in actuarial science, government, or finance. Many graduates go on to graduate studies, professional secondary teaching programs, or other professional programs.

Experiential learning and research

You’ll participate in original research – either your own or a professor’s in your field. The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science supports student research through the Undergraduate Research Awards, which allow students to carry out their own projects over the summer months, while other awards provide opportunities to work with professors on their work.

You also have the opportunity to take your studies abroad with the Go Global program and the Exchange and Research Abroad program

Campus features

The Centre for Optimization, Convex Analysis and Non-Smooth Analysis (COCANA) houses one of the most unique concentrations of optimization researchers in Canada. For example, recently discovered algorithms by the OCANA research group make it possible to solve problems that were previously considered computationally impossible.

The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science holds an annual undergraduate research conference on UBC’s Okanagan campus to showcase student research projects.

You can also connect with peers through the Quantitative Sciences Course Union and the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) mentoring program.

MATH 100 - Differential Calculus with Applications to Physical Sciences and Engineering
Derivatives of elementary functions, limits. Covers applications and modelling: graphing and optimization.
MATH 101 - Integral Calculus with Applications to Physical Sciences and Engineering
Definite integral, integration techniques, applications, modelling, linear ODE's.
COSC 111 - Computer Programming I
Introduction to the design, implementation, and understanding of computer programs. Topics include problem solving, algorithm design, and data and procedural abstraction, with emphasis on the development of working programs. This course should be followed by COSC 121.
COSC 121 - Computer Programming II
Advanced programming in the application of software engineering techniques to the design and implementation of programs manipulating complex data structures.
CHEM 111 - Principles of Chemistry I
Stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, chemical periodicity, gases, liquids, solids, and solutions. Not open to students with Chemistry 12.

MATH 200 - Calculus III
Analytic geometry in two and three dimensions, partial and directional derivatives, chain rule, maxima and minima, second derivative test, Lagrange multipliers, multiple integrals with applications.
MATH 220 - Mathematical Proof
Sets and functions; induction; cardinality; properties of the real numbers; sequences, series, and limits. Logic, structure, style, and clarity of proofs emphasized throughout.
STAT 230 - Introductory Statistics
Applied statistics for students with a first-year calculus background. Estimation and testing of hypotheses, problem formulation, models and basic methods in analysis of variance, linear regression, and non-parametrics. Descriptive statistics and probability are presented as a basis for such procedures.
MATH 225 - Introduction to Differential Equations
First-order equations, initial value problems, existence and uniqueness theorems, second-order linear equations, superposition of solutions, independence, general solutions, non-homogeneous equations, phaseplane analysis, numerical methods, matrix methods for linear systems, and applications of differential equations to the physical, biological, and social sciences.
COSC 221 - Introduction to Discrete Structures
Introduction to sets, logic, combinatorics, and graph theory, as applied in computing: sets and propositions, permutations and combinations, graphs and trees, Boolean algebra, algorithms, and applications.

MATH 307 - Applied Linear Algebra
Dependence/independence, bases and orthogonality; linear transformations from Rⁿ to R^m; change of basis; triangularization; quadratic forms in variables.
MATH 311 - Abstract Algebra I
Properties of integers, the integers modulo n, groups, subgroups, cyclic groups, permutation groups, linear groups, quotient groups and homomorphisms, isomorphism theorems, direct products, and an introduction to rings and fields.
MATH 319 - Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
Methods of separation of variable, Fourier series, heat, wave and Laplace's equations, boundary value problems, eigenfunction expansions, and Sturm-Liouville problems.
MATH 327 - Analysis I
Provides a rigorous foundation of calculus. Real numbers; limits and continuous functions; differentiation; elementary functions; the elementary real integral; normed vector spaces.
STAT 303 - Introduction to Probability
Basic notions of probability, random variables, expectation and conditional expectation and limit theorems.

MATH 459 - Mathematical Biology
Mathematical modelling in biological disciplines such as population dynamics, ecology, pattern formation, tumour growth, immune response, biomechanics, and epidemiology. Theory of such models formulated as difference equations, ordinary differential equations, and partial differential equations.
MATH 442 - Optimization in Graphs and Networks
Basic graph theory, emphasizing trees, tree growing algorithms, and proof techniques. Problems chosen from: shortest paths, maximum flows, minimum cost flows, matchings, graph colouring. Linear programming duality will be an important tool.
DATA 407 - Sampling and Design
Planning and practice of data collection. Pros and cons of both observational and experimental data. Survey samples: random sampling; bias and variance; unequal probability sampling; systematic, multistage, and stratified sampling; ratio and regression estimators. Experimental design: simple one-way comparisons; designs with randomization restrictions including blocking, split-plots, nested and repeated measures designs.
STAT 401 - Probability and Statistical Inference
Formal introduction to the theory of statistical modeling with a focus on distributions of data, likelihood based inference for learning unknown parameters, construction of confidence intervals and development of tests. Bayesian methods will be used to contrast standard statistical procedures.
MATH 461 - Continuous Optimization
Convex analysis, non-smooth optimization, Karush-Kuhn-Tucker theorem, iterative methods.

Life at UBC's Okanagan campus

On UBC’s Okanagan campus, you'll gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community. Modern on-campus residences are close to academic supports, and surrounded by hiking and biking trails, sandy beaches, and vast lakes. Take part in on-campus events, volunteer in the community, or explore the outdoors.

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Your future

As a graduate of Mathematics, you’ll be prepared for further study in the field, or to enter into a career in business, education, government, industry, or financial institutions.

Program requirements

Canadian high schools
International high schools
International baccalaureate

English-language requirements

English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.

General admission requirements

IB Diploma Programme

Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.

IB Certificate Courses

IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.

IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.

Degree-specific requirements: Science

IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL or HL, or IB Math Applications and Interpretations HL (IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, are not acceptable)
One of IB Biology, IB Chemistry, or IB Physics
Grade 11 or equivalent Chemistry
Grade 11 or equivalent Physics is strongly recommended

Note: Grade 11 Chemistry and Physics requirements listed are only relevant to students who are not completing the equivalent IB Diploma Chemistry and/or Physics courses.

For students studying outside of Canada, some examples of courses that may be accepted as Grade 11 equivalents are junior-level courses for American students, and IGCSE and O Level for those following British-patterned curricula.

Related courses

The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.

Language Arts
Mathematics and Computation
Sciences