Program overview
Our Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics Major encourages innovative thinking through the application of mathematical methods.
The first online program of its kind in Canada, Athabasca University’s program builds an understanding of mathematical theory, techniques and skills for their application to real-world problems, both in academic and the workplace settings.
Our applied mathematics program will help you develop skills that have direct applications in areas including the natural, medical, social and computer sciences, finance, engineering, and other quantitative disciplines.
Why take the Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics Major?
A Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics Major will prepare you for the science-based world of today and the increasingly quantitative and analytic driven world of the future.
AU’s Bachelor of Science program also allows you to complete courses that are transferrable to pre-medicine, pre-dentistry and pre-veterinary programs offered at other universities across Canada. Check with your desired school to be sure you’re taking the right courses for transfer.
Routes and options
The Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics Major is a 4-year online degree program. There are no set start dates – you can enrol at any time and register for courses right away.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics Major may also choose to include a minor or a second major from another area of study. For students wishing to combine 2 majors, all requirements of both majors must be fulfilled. The choice of major may restrict course selection or require the completion of more than 120 credits.
Available minors
Available minors include:
Post-diploma route
The post-diploma route is an option if you wish to pursue a university degree to further your academic studies.
If you hold a 2-or 3-year science related diploma from an accredited college you may receive a minimum block of 30 credits. Depending on the content of the diploma, up to a maximum of 60 credits may be transferred to the Bachelor of Science post-diploma program.
Completion times
Finish this program in as little as 4 years of full-time study, or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion.
Admission requirements
There are no formal admission requirements for this program. All you need is to be 16 or older. You can enrol anytime and start right away, regardless of your previous education.
How to apply
You can apply to AU online anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.
Make sure we get your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.
Transfer and advanced credit
Student holding a 2 or 3-year science or computing related diploma from an accredited college may receive a minimum block of 30 credits. Depending on the content of the diploma, up to a maximum of 60 credits may be transferred to the Bachelor of Science post-diploma program.
Program requirements
To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the requirements of the Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics Major.
The details of the courses-programs plans are provided in the following documents:
Contact your student support and program advisor to help you design your program to fit your interests and goals.
Required courses
Detailed information about courses in this program can be accessed using the following links:
Tuition and fees
Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.
You can estimate your total program cost by multiplying the cost of a 3-credit course by the number of courses you need to take for the program. Remember that tuition costs may increase each year.
Program learning outcomes
This degree is designed to enable students with a wide range of applied mathematical skills which have direct applications within fields of endeavor. Its specific learning objectives are aligned with the general learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Science degree program. Overall the program is intended:
- to foster an understanding of mathematical applications, theory and skills in research and the workplace;
- to encourage innovative and creative thinking to produce integrated thinkers who are able to solve both theoretical and real world problems.
Specific skills you will acquire include the ability to:
- mathematically analyze relatively sophisticated real-world problems;
- break down problem complexity into simpler components;
- model or express each of the components in mathematical terms;
- seek out possible ways of solving each component problem by being familiar with a body of existing techniques, proven theoretical methods, and known results;
- work theoretically and mathematically towards an accurate solution; and
- interpret the mathematical results in the context of the problem.
Possible career options
The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) has emphasized the need for applied mathematicians in existing and emerging fields such as Systems Biology, Data Mining and Data Privacy, Materials Science, Computer Animation and Digital Imaging, Finance and Economics, Ecology/Epidemiology, and Climatology.
Career options include, but are not limited to:
- Research
- Math Education
- Computing Science
- Statistics
- Finance
- Actuarial Mathematics
- Risk Management
- Project Management
- Operations Analysis
- Research Analysis
for employment in a wide variety of corporate organizations, educational institutions or government departments.
Continuing education
At Athabasca University:
Science and technology
Distance education
At other educational institutions*
- graduate studies
- engineering
- actuarial mathematics
- education: bachelor/master
* Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other universities.