The Focus in Law and History gives students the critical skill-set to interrogate the ‘force of law’, not only in the sense of law as enforced, but also as a vehicle of cultural, social, and economic knowledge. Importantly, it will ask students to interrogate assumptions of what counts as law across time and space. At the core of this Focus to the Major are fundamental questions of both law and society: Who has law? What does (or should) it look like? Who decides? What sorts of critical histories can be written from and about legal archives that span time, space, and language tradition?

The Focus in Law and History gives students the critical skill-set to interrogate the ‘force of law’, not only in the sense of law as enforced, but also as a vehicle of cultural, social, and economic knowledge. Importantly, it will ask students to interrogate assumptions of what counts as law across time and space. At the core of this Focus to the Major are fundamental questions of both law and society: Who has law? What does (or should) it look like? Who decides? What sorts of critical histories can be written from and about legal archives that span time, space, and language tradition?

This focus in Managing in Diverse Economies can be taken as part of any of the 3 specialists (Management, Accounting, and Finance & Economics) in the Rotman Commerce program. It requires taking 1.5 credits from the list of required courses (both foundational and capstone) and then allows students to choose 1.0 credit of complementary electives to support the region(s) of study of the capstone. The Managing in Diverse Economies focus offers undergraduate business students in Rotman Commerce an opportunity to learn about business paradigms beyond the western business ecosystem.

This focus enables students in the Anthropology Major (General) ASMAJ1775 to identify courses pertaining to Medical Anthropology across the discipline’s social science and science fields and receive formal acknowledgement for completing a suite of health-related anthropology courses.

This focus enables students in the Anthropology Major (Society, Culture and Language) ASMAJ2112 to identify courses pertaining to Medical Anthropology from a sociocultural perspective and receive formal acknowledgement for completing a suite of health-related anthropology courses.

This focus enables students in the Anthropology Specialist (Society, Culture, and Language) ASSPE2112, to identify courses pertaining to Medical Anthropology (Health) and receive formal acknowledgement for completing a suite of health-related anthropology courses.

The Planning Focus provides students with the opportunity to learn about how planning is a key component of the dynamic relations that exist between places, policy, power, and people. It focuses in on the conscious choices and decision made by various groups to shape the spatial organization of human activities. The Planning Focus will appeal to students who wish to develop an integrative understanding of the cultural, economic, political and social forces that shape the development and redevelopment of metropolitan and rural regions. Students are encouraged to explore the breadth of our courses that engage planning questions in relation to transportation, social segregation, health and housing, economic policy, environment change, and globalization.

The Planning Focus provides students with the opportunity to learn about how planning is a key component of the dynamic relations that exist between places, policy, power, and people. It focuses in on the conscious choices and decision made by various groups to shape the spatial organization of human activities. The Planning Focus will appeal to students who wish to develop an integrative understanding of the cultural, economic, political and social forces that shape the development and redevelopment of metropolitan and rural regions. Students are encouraged to explore the breadth of our courses that engage planning questions in relation to transportation, social segregation, health and housing, economic policy, environment change, and globalization.

Consult Professor D. Stone, Department of Chemistry.

The Focus in Practical Chemical Analysis provides students with the opportunity to emphasize chemical detection, identification, and measurement in a laboratory setting as part of any chemistry specialist or major program they are enrolled in. Having experience with and an understanding of methods for chemical analysis is of considerable value for both potential employers and students pursuing postgraduate research. Chemical analysis has wide application in fields as diverse as alternative energy and storage solutions; clinical medicine and research; drinking water quality and regulatory compliance; environmental monitoring and remediation; food quality and safety; pharmaceutical development, testing, and quality assurance; and product manufacturing and quality control.

The Quantitative Finance Focus combines the rigor of theoretical and methodological statistics with an in-depth exploration of the tools and techniques used in modern quantitative finance. Students in this focus will develop a deeper understanding of financial markets, derivative pricing, risk management, and the quantitative methods essential for addressing complex financial challenges.

The focus emphasizes the application of statistical models and methods to real-world financial data, equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in the growing field of finance. Topics include stochastic processes, time series analysis, portfolio optimization, and mathematical finance, among others.

Graduates of the Quantitative Finance Focus will be well-prepared for careers in fintech, investment banking, hedge funds, and risk management, as well as for graduate study in quantitative finance or related fields. The curriculum is designed to provide both a solid theoretical foundation and practical expertise, ensuring students are ready to tackle challenges using advanced quantitative methods.

To enrol in the Quantitative Finance Focus, students must be admitted to the Data Science Specialist program (ASSPE1687) as detailed in the Enrolment Requirements.

The Quantitative Finance Focus combines the rigor of theoretical and methodological statistics with an in-depth exploration of the tools and techniques used in modern quantitative finance. Students in this focus will develop a deeper understanding of financial markets, derivative pricing, risk management, and the quantitative methods essential for addressing complex financial challenges.

The focus emphasizes the application of statistical models and methods to real-world financial data, equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in the growing field of finance. Topics include stochastic processes, time series analysis, portfolio optimization, and mathematical finance, among others.

Graduates of the Quantitative Finance Focus will be well-prepared for careers in fintech, investment banking, hedge funds, and risk management, as well as for graduate study in quantitative finance or related fields. The curriculum is designed to provide both a solid theoretical foundation and practical expertise, ensuring students are ready to tackle challenges using advanced quantitative methods.

To enrol in the Quantitative Finance Focus, students must be admitted to the Specialist in Statistical Science: Theory and Methods program (ASSPE2290) as detailed in the Enrolment Requirements.

(3.5 credits)

The Focus in Scientific Computing (Major) has the same set of requirements as the Focus in Scientific Computing (Specialist).

Scientific computing studies the world around us. Known and unknown quantities are related through certain rules, e.g. physical laws, formulating mathematical problems. These problems are solved by numerical methods implemented as algorithms and run on computers. The numerical methods are analyzed and their performance (e.g. accuracy, efficiency) studied. Problems, such as choosing the optimal shape for an airplane (to achieve, for example, minimal fuel consumption), finding the fair price for derivative products of the market, or regulating the amount of radiation in medical scans, can be modelled by mathematical expressions and solved by numerical techniques.

Students wishing to study scientific computing should have a strong background in mathematics—in particular calculus of several variables, linear algebra, and statistics—be fluent in programming, and have a good understanding of data structures and algorithm design.

(3.5 credits)

Scientific computing studies the world around us. Known and unknown quantities are related through certain rules, e.g. physical laws, formulating mathematical problems. These problems are solved by numerical methods implemented as algorithms and run on computers. The numerical methods are analyzed and their performance (e.g. accuracy, efficiency) studied. Problems, such as choosing the optimal shape for an airplane (to achieve, for example, minimal fuel consumption), finding the fair price for derivative products of the market, or regulating the amount of radiation in medical scans, can be modelled by mathematical expressions and solved by numerical techniques.

Students wishing to study scientific computing should have a strong background in mathematics—in particular calculus of several variables, linear algebra, and statistics—be fluent in programming, and have a good understanding of data structures and algorithm design.

The Technology Leadership Focus combines the development of applied Computer Science skills with an exploration of the core aspects of leadership within the context of the technology sector.

Students who complete the Technology Leadership Focus will be well-prepared to step into leadership roles and navigate the complexities of the tech industry.

To enrol in the Technology Leadership Focus, you must meet eligibility requirements, apply and be admitted, as detailed in "Enrolment Requirements."

The Technology Leadership Focus combines the development of applied Computer Science skills with an exploration of the core aspects of leadership within the context of the technology sector.

Students who complete the Technology Leadership Focus will be well-prepared to step into leadership roles and navigate the complexities of the tech industry.

To enrol in the Technology Leadership Focus, you must meet eligibility requirements, apply and be admitted, as detailed in "Enrolment Requirements."

The Technology Leadership Focus combines the development of applied Computer Science skills with an exploration of the core aspects of leadership within the context of the technology sector.

Students who complete the Technology Leadership Focus will be well-prepared to step into leadership roles and navigate the complexities of the tech industry.

To enrol in the Technology Leadership Focus, you must meet eligibility requirements, apply and be admitted, as detailed in "Enrolment Requirements."

(3.5 credits)

Why is it easy to sort a list of numbers, but hard to break Internet encryption schemes? Is finding a solution to a problem harder than checking that a solution is correct? Can we find good approximate solutions, even when the exact solutions seem out of reach? Theory of Computation studies the inherent complexity of fundamental algorithmic problems. On one hand, we develop ground-breaking efficient data structures and algorithms. On the other, we have yet to develop good algorithms for many problems despite decades of effort, and for these problems we strive to prove no time- or space-efficient algorithms will ever solve them. While the field has seen some successful impossibility results, there are still many problems (such as those underlying modern cryptography and security) for which we do not know either efficient algorithms or strong lower bounds!

This focus takes a rigorous, mathematical approach to computational problem-solving: students will gain a deep understanding of algorithm paradigms and measures of problem complexity, and develop the skills necessary to convey abstract ideas with precision and clarity. Many of our students go on to graduate studies and sophisticated algorithmic work in industry. This focus has natural ties with many branches of mathematics and is the foundation of many computer science fields. Consequently, our students often apply their theoretical knowledge to other fields of interest.

We advise you to take CSC240H1 and CSC265H1, the enriched versions of CSC236H1 and CSC263H1, because these courses are particularly well-aligned with the goals of this focus and will best prepare you for advanced theory courses. However, students who have already taken CSC236H1/​ CSC236H5/​ CSCB36H3 or CSC263H1/​ CSC263H5/​ CSCB63H3 are also welcome to enrol in the focus.

(3.5 credits)

Why is it easy to sort a list of numbers, but hard to break Internet encryption schemes? Is finding a solution to a problem harder than checking that a solution is correct? Can we find good approximate solutions, even when the exact solutions seem out of reach? Theory of Computation studies the inherent complexity of fundamental algorithmic problems. On one hand, we develop ground-breaking efficient data structures and algorithms. On the other, we have yet to develop good algorithms for many problems despite decades of effort, and for these problems we strive to prove no time- or space-efficient algorithms will ever solve them. While the field has seen some successful impossibility results, there are still many problems (such as those underlying modern cryptography and security) for which we do not know either efficient algorithms or strong lower bounds!

This focus takes a rigorous, mathematical approach to computational problem-solving: students will gain a deep understanding of algorithm paradigms and measures of problem complexity, and develop the skills necessary to convey abstract ideas with precision and clarity. Many of our students go on to graduate studies and sophisticated algorithmic work in industry. This focus has natural ties with many branches of mathematics and is the foundation of many computer science fields. Consequently, our students often apply their theoretical knowledge to other fields of interest.

We advise you to take CSC240H1 and CSC265H1, the enriched versions of CSC236H1 and CSC263H1, because these courses are particularly well-aligned with the goals of this focus and will best prepare you for advanced theory courses. However, students who have already taken CSC236H1/​ CSC236H5/​ CSCB36H3 or CSC263H1/​ CSC263H5/​ CSCB63H3 are also welcome to enrol in the focus.

The Focus in Urban Geography provides students with the opportunity to emphasize urban geography as part of their Human Geography specialist or major. Urban geography focuses on the political, social, cultural and economic processes that shape city life, development and policy. This focus will appeal to students registered in the Human Geography specialist or major program who wish to develop an integrative understanding of the dynamics that shape the urban realm. Students are encouraged to explore the breadth of our course offerings in housing, historical, political and transportation.

The Focus in Urban Geography provides students with the opportunity to emphasize urban geography as part of their Human Geography specialist or major. Urban geography focuses on the political, social, cultural and economic processes that shape city life, development and policy. This focus will appeal to students registered in the Human Geography specialist or major program who wish to develop an integrative understanding of the dynamics that shape the urban realm. Students are encouraged to explore the breadth of our course offerings in housing, historical, political and transportation.

(3.0 credits)

The Web and Internet Technologies focus introduces students to the systems and algorithms that power today's large-scale web and Internet applications such as search engines, social networking applications, web data mining applications, and content distribution networks. The focus covers the architecture of the systems, algorithms and protocols, and machine learning techniques underlying these applications.

Students who wish to pursue the Focus in Web and Internet Technologies should have a solid understanding of statistics, be good programmers, and have a good understanding of data structures and algorithm design.

To get practical experience, students pursuing the web and Internet technologies focus are encouraged to do either a CSC494H1/​ CSC495H1: Computer Science Project course or a summer USRA/UTEA project in web and internet technologies.

(3.0 credits)

The Web and Internet Technologies focus introduces students to the systems and algorithms that power today's large-scale web and Internet applications such as search engines, social networking applications, web data mining applications, and content distribution networks. The focus covers the architecture of the systems, algorithms and protocols, and machine learning techniques underlying these applications.

Students who wish to pursue the Focus in Web and Internet Technologies should have a solid understanding of statistics, be good programmers, and have a good understanding of data structures and algorithm design.

To get practical experience, students pursuing the web and Internet technologies focus are encouraged to do either a CSC494H1/​ CSC495H1: Computer Science Project course or a summer USRA/UTEA project in web and internet technologies.