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 1985 under the name 'School of Accountancy'. Its name was changed in 2008 to better reflect its program offering. The School has made important contributions to the development of the accounting profession in Canada. The faculty is a significant producer of accounting research and industry teaching material. Alumni hold leadership positions in public accounting, industry, government and academia. Today, nearly 1000 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.
The School of Accounting and Finance offers the largest accounting and finance undergraduate cooperative education (co-op) program in Canada. Most of the School's programs are uniquely accredited by Canadian industry associations. Access to exceptional faculty, advanced professional standing and the opportunity for paid work experience in between academic terms make admission to undergraduate programs administered by the School extremely competitive.
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Programs of study
The School of Accounting and Finance offers three undergraduate programs, one post-baccalaureate diploma, two graduate programs and one doctoral program. Additionally, the School jointly administers one undergraduate program and one graduate program with the Faculty of Mathematics and one undergraduate program with the Faculty of Science. These programs are: School of Accounting and Finance Programs: Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management (BAFM); Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management (BCFM), Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy; Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountantcy; Master of Accounting (MAcc), Master of Taxation (MTax) and PhD in Accounting.
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Undergraduate Education
Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management Co-op (BAFM):
- Students in the BAFM Program may customize a degree so long as the basic minimum requirements set out in the BAFM degree requirements are met. Graduates of the BAFM program typically aspire to a host of professional accounting and/or finance credentials such as the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). All School of Accounting and Finance program graduates are eligible to apply to the School's MAcc program.
Mathematics and Chartered Accountancy Co-op (Math/CPA):
- Students in the MathCPA program may customize a degree so long as the basic minimum requirements set out in Mathematics Chartered Accountancy Plan are met. Typically, students take math courses along with the accounting and finance courses. The work-term sequence in structured similar to the BAFM schedule. Students in the program may obtain co-op employment deemed by professional bodies to be qualifying practical experience for accreditation purposes.
- Graduates of the MathCPA program typically aspire to a CPA designation. In addition to preparation for CPA accreditation, three study options are offered that allow students to explore complimentary areas: finance, actuarial science, and operations research management. Students who complete the Finance Option are highly prepared to pursue the CFA curriculum and accreditation process. Students who complete the Actuarial Science Option are suited to explore professional actuary exams. Students who complete the Operations Research Management Option are suited for specialized roles in public accounting, business or research. MathCPA students/graduates are eligible to apply to the School's MAcc program. The Math/CA program was renamed to Math/CPA in 2013.
Biotechnology and Chartered Accountancy Co-op (Biotech/CPA):
- Students in the ScienceCPA program take science courses along with the accounting and finance courses. Students are especially well-prepared for work in public accounting or with biotechnology-intensive businesses. Student take two of four co-op terms during busy season (Jan-Apr). Students in the program may obtain co-op employment deemed by professional bodies to be qualifying practical experience for accreditation purposes. ScienceCPA students have access to the University's "Chartered Accounting" job posting and application cycle. ScienceCPA students/graduates are eligible to apply to the School's MAcc program. The Biotech/CA program was renamed to Biotech/CPA in 2013.
Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management (BCFM):
- This program is offered jointly with the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science in the Faculty of Mathematics. Students take computer science courses along with accounting and finance courses. Upon completion, these students will receive a unique degree in Canada, "Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management". Students in this program typically complete six co-op work terms, with the first commencing between semester two and three. The work term sequence is: May-Aug, Jan-Apr, Sep-Dec, May-Aug, Jan-Apr and Sep-Dec. CFM students/graduates are not eligible to apply to the School's MAcc program and take advantage of the CPA accreditation. However, they are well-suited to pursue other professional accreditation in finance, IT and/or advanced business or science degrees.
Postgraduate Education
Master of Accounting (MAcc):
- MAcc students can gain depth in career areas such as business valuations, forensic accounting, taxation, and finance. This program is accredited by Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) Canada, so students who successfully complete the program, including all CPA requirements, are exempt from all 6 modules of the CPA Professional Education Program and may proceed directly to the Common Final Examination (CFE).
Master of Taxation (MTax):
- The Master of Taxation (MTax) program is an innovative graduate program, that reaches across the learning spectrum connecting skills and knowledge from each course, the program as a whole, and work-related activities. It is designed using an exclusive learning model to foster the development of unique strengths and qualities that distinctly position our graduates as valued professionals in the Canadian tax community.
Master of Quantitative Finance (MQF):
- Focuses on the fundamental disciplines of mathematics, statistics, econometrics, computer science and finance. It provides the analytical tools to solve practical problems in the complex and rapidly evolving world of today's financial industry.
PhD in Accounting:
- Doctoral studies in accounting combine a substantive knowledge of an area of accounting (auditing and assurance, financial accounting, management accounting, and taxation) with in-depth knowledge of a base discipline and associated research methods. The University of Waterloo's School of Accounting and Finance can provide doctoral training in research that is based on economic theory, empirical economics, behavioural science, and other methodologies.
University Reputation
- According to Maclean's University Rankings, University of Waterloo ranks #1 in the following categories:
- Best Overall
- Most Innovative
- Best Source of Leaders of Tomorrow
- The Globe & Mail gave the University of Waterloo the followings grades in its 2007 annual report card.
- Reputation amongst employers = A+
- Academic reputation = A
- Quality of education = A-
- Libraries = A-
- The Mathematics & Chartered Accountancy and Biotechnology & Chartered Accountancy programs are some of the most competitive in Canada.
- The Mathematics program admission process is based on individual selection from students with a minimum fourth year high school average in the low-90's. In 2009, around 900 applicants applied for 80 spots.
- The Biotechnology program admission is based on individual selection from students with a fourth year high school average in the mid-90's. On average, 10 to 15 students are admitted to the program.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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