UPEI launches a new school of math and computational sciences

The University of Prince Edward Island is launching a new school of mathematical and computational sciences.

Applications are being taken now for the program, which will begin this fall.

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Students will graduate with a Bachelor of Science, but will major in one of a number of specializations, including video game programing, statistics, actuarial science and financial mathematics.

School officials say there have been requests for this type of program from the business community and graduates will be well equipped for a number of different careers.

"Any student who does the research will realize that these are where the jobs are," said Gordon MacDonald, the interim associate dean of the new school.

"I'm very excited," said MacDonald. "I've been at UPEI now for about 20 years and this is the biggest advance we have made in the mathematical and computational areas since I've been here...there is lots of exciting stuff going on."

The university is billing the new school as "one of the region's most comprehensive undergraduate programming in mathematics, computer science and statistics."