Math/BASE (formerly ELAS)

If you have been admitted to a Math program, you will do 1 term of BASE (formerly called English Language for Academic Studies, or ELAS). Math/BASE (formerly ELAS) students are required to be enrolled in only 1 MATH course at the University of Waterloo. You will need to log into the course selection site to make your Math course selection in mid-June. 

For our new math students, including Math/BASE, course selection webinars will be taking place on Monday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 20 in preparation of Fall 2023 course selection. Course selection is from 9 am EDT on June 21, 2023 until 4:30 pm EDT on June 28, 2023.

Directions for credit course selection

  • You will select your Calculus course.
  • MATH 137 is the standard course for the majority of students. MATH 147 is an enriched version of the standard course. All of the students who were accepted to the Faculty of Mathematics at Waterloo are exceptional students and some of you may struggle with our regular offerings of MATH 135/137. We also know that some students will not feel challenged by the regular offering and this is why we have an enriched section of these courses. 
  • Note: if you receive transfer credit for MATH 137, contact Janessa Zheng to be enrolled into MATH 135 (Algebra).

You are automatically scheduled into your (BASE) Bridge to Academic Success in English courses, at Renison University College, which is located right on Waterloo's campus.

Your credit course, MATH 137 (or MATH 135 for students with a transfer credit for MATH 137) will count toward your degree.

Refer to the Undergraduate Calendar for descriptions of the courses you'll take.

BASE courses for Math programs - 1 term

Fall programs
MATH 137 Calculus 1 (or MATH 135 Classical Algebra for students with a MATH 137 transfer credit) (0.5 credit)
BASE 042 Extended Skills & Strategies for University
BASE 044 Extended Academic Writing & Research Skills
BASE 046 Effective Academic Speaking & Communication Strategies
Bi-weekly meetings with instructors
Weekly workshops and information sessions

What to expect in your credit course

In Math/BASE, you take 1 university credit course along with your BASE courses. Taking a Math course in addition to your BASE courses allows you to practice and apply speaking, writing and academic skills to help you build a strong foundation for Waterloo Math programs.

You will also earn .50 credit toward your degree when you successfully complete the Math course.

BASE 042

This course provides study skills support for the Math credit course and gives you the opportunity to practice the skills and strategies essential for academic success as an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Mathematics. 

BASE 042 – Extended Skills & Strategies for University

  • You learn language and academic skills such as lecture listening and note-taking skills, reading and test-taking strategies, and vocabulary development. 
  • You also develop your study skills through workshops about goal-setting, time management, and test preparation.
  • You demonstrate your understanding of important course content through a variety of written and spoken assignments.

BASE 044

BASE 044 emphasizes both the writing and research skills that are necessary to succeed in your future studies.

BASE 044 Extended Academic Writing & Research Skills

  • You are introduced to important grammar concepts and writing formats found in academic writing and within your discipline.
  • You explore writing and research topics related to your future discipline.
  • You engage in the research process to enable you to produce clearly structured texts supported by relevant academic research and that demonstrate your growing knowledge base.

BASE 046

This course familiarizes you with a variety of academic speaking environments commonly experienced by undergraduate students.

BASE 046 – Extended Academic Speaking & Communication Strategies

  • You have the opportunity to build your academic vocabulary while improving your pronunciation and speaking confidence.
  • You learn and apply academic communication strategies to become more effective in conversations, discussions and presentations, both in and out of the classroom.