Business Administration and Computer Science Double Degree

What is the Business Administration and Computer Science Double Degree?

Combine the society-changing power of computer science with the world of business in this co-op only program. In just five years, you will earn two degrees — a full honours computer science degree from the University of Waterloo (BCS) and a full honours business administration degree (BBA) from nearby Wilfrid Laurier University. Learn about software, algorithms, programming, and the limits of computation while also studying brand communication, accounting, human resources, marketing, and finance.

• Available as a co-op program
• There are 52 courses for this degree
• Graduate with two degrees: a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of Waterloo
• Choose from one of ten business concentrations through Laurier: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Marketing, Risk Management, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Management or Sustainability 
• Specializations in computer science through Waterloo: Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics, Business, Computational Fine Arts, Digital Hardware, Human-Computer Interaction and Software Engineering 

How does the BBA/BCS program work?

As a BBA/BCS student, you will pursue two degrees in roughly the same amount of time as a student pursuing a single degree program. To do this, you will spend time learning business and economics by taking courses on the Laurier campus and then math and computer science by taking courses at the Waterloo campus. The program is designed for you to learn all of the same business and economics concepts as a student studying only Business Administration and the same math and computer science concepts as a student only studying Computer Science. At the end of your studies, you will attend two graduations and earn two degrees from two internationally-recognized universities. BBA/BCS students have one less co-op requirement than most other programs allowing you to fit in your additional courses. To complete 52 courses, however, you'll have additional courses per term to complete than a traditional student that studies only 40 courses, taking 5 classes a term, to earn their degree.

Laurier and Waterloo work as a partnership to offer the BBA/BCS program but they manage admissions separately. Since it is competitive for entry, it is recommended that you apply to both universities. Regardless of the university that you apply to, the program is identical: the courses are the same, the schedule is the same, and students take classes at each campus. What is different is the university that you might call "home". If admitted at Waterloo for BBA/BCS, you will use the residence, co-op and scholarships offered by Waterloo and it will be known as your "home" institution. You will not have access to these options through Laurier. The same is true for students admitted through Laurier, they will access the residence, co-op and scholarship opportunities offered by this school, but not at Waterloo.