Applied Computing (MAC)

• CP600: Practical Algorithm Design (required, in-person).
• Three additional courses.
• CP699: Master’s Thesis.

• CP600: Practical Algorithm Design (required, in-person).
• Five additional courses.
• An eight-month paid co-op.
• CP680: Capstone Project.

Students who select the Co-op Option will complete a total of six courses plus an eight-month paid cooperative education component in terms three and four.

Students will complete two terms of coursework prior to the co-op component. Following placement, students will return for one final academic term in which they will take CP680: Capstone Project, designed to help them connect their work and academic experiences.

Students in the full-time, co-op option will take five terms (20 months) to complete their degree.

Students who choose the coursework option will complete a total of 9 courses. It is anticipated that students in the full-time, coursework option will take four terms (16 months) to complete the degree.

• CP600 - Practical Algorithm Design (required, in-person)
• CP683 – Graduate Project (required)
• Seven additional courses at the 600 level from those offered by the program. 

The full-time coursework option will be offered at the Brantford campus, starting in fall 2024.

• CP600: Practical Algorithm Design (required, in-person)
• CP683: Graduate Project (required)
• Seven additional courses at the 600 level from those offered by the program

It is anticipated that students in the part-time coursework option allows you to take one to two courses per term and complete your degree in five to nine terms.

With the approval of the Graduate Co-ordinator and the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral studies, students may choose some of their electives from courses offered by other master's programs at Laurier. Part-time students will also be considered for CP680* - Capstone Project if they are interested in doing so; these decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Coordinator.

The part-time coursework option will be offered at the Brantford campus, starting in fall 2024.

• CP600: Practical Algorithm Design (required)
• CP683: Graduate Project (required)
• Seven additional courses at the 600 level from those offered by the program

It is anticipated that students in the part-time online coursework option will take one to two courses per term and complete the degree in five to nine terms.

With the approval of the Graduate Co-ordinator and the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral studies, students may choose some of their electives from courses offered by other master's programs at Laurier. Part-time students will also be considered for CP680* - Capstone Project if they are interested in doing so; these decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Coordinator.

To be as flexible as possible, in-person exams can be written at Laurier's Waterloo, Milton or brantford campuses. If you are located more than 100 kilometres from a Laurier campus, you can arrange for an in-person proctor closer to your location. More details can be found here. 

• A 4-year honours degree in Computer Science or a closely related area.
• Your degree must clearly include courses in data structures, object-oriented language, programming, and software engineering.
• A final year grade point average of at least B+.
• A cumulative average of at least B+ in all computer science courses.
• 2 letters of reference (may be professional and/or academic references)
• Applications are reviewed by the graduate program committee, which considers all prior university grades, a statement of your research interests, and letters of reference.

If you do not satisfy the above requirements, you have the option to complete our Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Computer Science. Students achieving an average grade of B+ in the certificate program and have a four-year honours degree will be considered for the Master of Applied Computing (MAC) program. 

After you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS).

Please note, the application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.

Legal Name(s):

• If you have only one name, please repeat it in both the "first" and "last name" field.
• If your name has changed, please provide a marriage certificate or name change certificate or passport.

An application for admission to our Master of Applied Computing program must include:

1. The Application Summary, which is generated after you complete your OUAC application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
2. Transcripts:
   • All postsecondary educational institutions must be declared on your OUAC application. This includes transcripts of all past and current degree(s), diploma(s), postsecondary studies for which academic credit was earned (including on letter of permission or exchange), in-progress courses, incomplete postsecondary education and transfer credit courses.
   • Documents must be dated within the past six months.
   • Ensure that each transcript indicates all courses, grades, credit hours, awarding of degree/diploma/degree certificate (if applicable), your full name, student ID number, and full name of the institution.
   • Include the degree certificate/provisional certificate for any completed degrees.
   • Include the grading scale/legend as part of your transcript upload.
   • Transcripts must be uploaded as one .pdf file per institution attended.
   • Transcripts must be in the original language and include a certified translation if the transcript is not in English.
   • We do not accept WES transcripts.
3. A completed statement of intent.
4. A resume of your academic and relevant work experience. Include a history of your publication and scholarly paper activity and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee.
5. Completed reference forms. Two academic or professional references are required. Note: Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.
6. A completed Authorization of Information Release (AIR) form is required if you have engaged the services of an education agent/agency. Upload it to your application checklist when you identify your agent in the OUAC application. Visit Step 2 for more information about the AIR.

Tuition Deposit: A tuition deposit is required from international candidates who accept offers of admission to the Master of Applied Computing (MAC) program.

Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.

Coursework Option

• Format: Full-time (in-person) or part-time (online)
• Campus: Brantford (full-time program)

Thesis and Coop Options

• Format: Full-time
• Campus: Waterloo only

Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. Results must be uploaded to LORIS.

Accepted English Proficiency Tests and scores for the Master of Applied Computing program include: 

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
  • TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition:  minimum score of 83, with minimum skill scores of 20 in each of the skills tests (speaking, writing, reading and listening).
  • Paper-based TOEFL: minimum of 560.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS, IELTS Online): Academic - minimum score of 6.5 with no band score below 6.0.
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online): minimum score of 59.
• Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL, CAEL Online): minimum score of 70.