CAREER SPECIALIZATIONS
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT CAREER SPECIALIZATION
Build on core studies in accounting and explore financial reporting, assurance, taxation, cost management, and performance management at a more advanced level. The Professional Accountant Career Specialization fulfills the CPA prerequisite education requirements.
Total # of courses: 6
Pair the Professional Accountant Career Specialization with: Master of Accounting (MAcc) program to gain additional designation exemptions and jump start your career in public accounting.
Explore co-op as: a staff accountant at a regional or national accounting firm.
Get involved with: competitions to further enhance your skills and showcase your expertise including University of Waterloo’s Accounting Conference (UWAC), Young Tax Professionals, or the AFSA Tax Clinic.
ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET CAREER SPECIALIZATION
Develop an understanding of opportunity identification and evaluation. Explore strategy, business planning and execution, customer experience design, marketing, sales, and leadership – all from a new venture perspective. An entrepreneurial mindset is tremendously valuable for those working at large organizations, scale-ups or start-ups.
Total # of courses: 5
The Entrepreneurial Mindset Career Specialization pairs well with the Professional Accountant Career Specialization, Financial Markets Career Specialization or even the Sustainability Career Specialization.
Explore co-op as: an enterprise co-op student with a student start-up.
Get involved with: competitions to further enhance your skills and showcase your expertise including the Student Venture Fund, Concept $5K Grant, and the Entrepreneurship Society (UW Feds Club).
FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP CAREER SPECIALIZATION
The Financial Leadership Career Specialization is designed to develop leadership expertise and competencies in AFM students beyond degree required courses. Students will be exposed to a broad variety of topics in finance and will gain skills in negotiation and leadership, while also being exposed to sustainability concepts in a business setting.
Total # of courses: 6
The Financial Leadership Career Specialization is typically best suited to be paired with another specialization, so that you can begin thinking like a leader in whatever sector interests you the most and prepare you for wherever your career takes you.
Explore co-op as: a project analyst within a CFO office.
Get involved with: competitions to further enhance your skills and showcase your expertise including the Student Venture Fund, UW Finance Association, and the ACE Consulting Group.
FINANCIAL MARKETS CAREER SPECIALIZATION
The Financial Markets Career Specialization allows students to build their own pathway, with the objective of launching their career in the financial services sector. Students develop an understanding of capital markets and financial institutions, securities valuation, and corporate/personal financial advising. It also includes courses which cover the CFA body of knowledge.
Total # of courses: 6
The Financial Markets Career Specialization pairs well with the Professional Accountant Career Specialization or the Business Analytics Career Specialization.
Explore co-op as: a portfolio operations analyst with an insurance company.
Get involved with: competitions to further enhance your skills and showcase your expertise including, the InvestYoung Stock Pitch Competition and CFA Institute Research Challenge.
BUSINESS ANALYTICS CAREER SPECIALIZATION
The Business Analytics Career Specialization explores the powerful analytical tools to describe situations, spot opportunities and solve problems. Dive into descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics to learn how to manage, forecast, test, and optimize data in decision/policymaking.
Total # of courses: 5
The Business Analytics Career Specialization pairs well with the Professional Accountant Career Specialization and the Financial Markets Career Specialization.
Explore co-op as: a data analyst at a communications technology firm.
Get involved with: competitions to further enhance your skills and showcase your expertise including UWMCC – University of Waterloo Management Consulting Club, Student Investment Fund, and the Student Venture Fund.
SUSTAINABILITY CAREER SPECIALIZATION
Build a foundation in environmental issues and how they affect industries and business decision- and policymaking. Dig deeper into capital markets, government policy, or corporate sustainability to better our world and businesses.
Total # of courses: 4
The Sustainability Career Specialization pairs well with the Professional Accountant Career Specialization or the Financial Leadership Career Specialization.
Explore co-op as: a co-op student – environmental issues for a natural gas company.
Get involved with: competitions to further enhance your skills and showcase your expertise including the Sustainable Campus Initiative, University of Waterloo Model United Nations or Blueprint.