AFM 101Introduction to Financial Accounting
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course is an introduction to financial accounting. The preparation and use of financial statements is examined. The accounting cycle and assets and liabilities reporting, is discussed.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in:
- BUS127W
- BUS227W
- Not open to students enrolled in H-Accounting & Financial Management, Arts & Business, H-Computing & Financial Management, H-Environment & Business, Human Resources Management Diploma, Human Resources Management Minor, H-Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy, H-Science & Business, H-Science & Business - Biochemistry Specialization, H-Science & Business - Biology Specialization, H-Science & Business - Biotechnology Specialization, or H-Science & Financial Management
- Not open to students enrolled in H-Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3804 | 41 / 70 | M 14:30–15:50 W 14:30–15:50 |
| LEC 081 | 3234 | 195 / 200 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 082 | 8340 | 196 / 200 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 3840 | 18 / 35 | F 13:30–14:20 |
| TUT 102 | 3841 | 23 / 35 | F 14:30–15:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 081 | 3168 | 0 / 200 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 082 | 7712 | 0 / 200 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 1363 | 342 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
54% liked it66% easy81% useful
From 499 ratings and 109 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Non-SAF section is way easier. Make sure to know cash flows and bonds - they always show up on the exam.
Mar 2017 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I think this course would be hard for non-afm students because it started off very fast assuming you already know the basics of accounting. I recall my math friends got 50% in this course. If you want to learn about accounting, make sure you take this course in winter or spring to avoid the AFMers. If you take it with AFMers, the standard will be higher and exams will be harder to keep the targeted averages.
Sep 2014 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
concepts are pretty easy in general, can get tougher around units 4-6, but these are only tested on the midterm. you learn pretty much the entire foundation of all accounting principles its actually useful. super easy midterm. Final isn't fully cumulative (skips units 4-6) which made it a lot easier than i feared at first.
Nov 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Extremely boring but easy enough to get an 80+ in
Mar 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Don't take this course, it's useless, and if you don't have any prior knowledge it's pointless and will be very demanding. For me, it makes no sense.
Nov 2022 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
649 posts and comments in 442 threads mention AFM 101, December 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
Fucked Up Real Bad on my (1a) 17 points, 8 comments
u/masqured: “… You need to retake AFM 101 if it’s a prerequisite for something else and you might also need to retake MATH 135 if you need a mark above 60% for some future courses. Other than that I would actually not call it fucked up real bad. …”
u/amsyed10385: “I see hes in CS so AFM 101 isnt needed for anything. I guess benefit of retaking is that you dont have to learn a whole course worth of new contents next time around. But i feel like theres also easier electives out there”
u/bigstain888: “Bro why would you take AFM 101 😭 If you wanna be in classes with someone who is in afm maybe do like 132 or some shit. 101 is a challenging course esp if you don’t have accounting experience from Highschool. …”
u/Interesting_Bed6243: “… Maybe take 4 courses also econ101 is option instead of AFM101! You need to make notes and memorize the formulas. …”
u/YukiMang0919: “If you need to take math 136 and later on math 235, just take math 106. you just need over a 70% (I think; you should double check on the academic calendars) in math 106 to go into math 235 and you’ll be fine. for afm 101 just retake it online next term it’s so easy online”
u/chaneltulip: “unless you need afm for a future course u should retake math135 to minimize course repeats. there is a maximum number of unusable course attempts in cs”
u/Adorable-Bug768: “So since i need a 1.0 credits in Social Sciences (SS). Would you recommend I don't retake AFM 101, and take ECON 101 and BET 320? Both of these courses are a 0.5 cred in Social Sciences.”
Is it possible to get an override into an online class that's already full? 4 points, 9 comments
u/Active-Dog6145: “I want to take afm101 next semester but its already full. Any possible way they would let me in the class? My biggest case is that its a prerequisite for declaring a mathematical finance major.”
u/_Andoroid_: “lol what I declared math fin without taking afm101”
AFM 101 2 points, 5 comments
u/JayXo_Papi: “Hey everyone, I really appreciate if someone can direct me to past afm 101 final exams or if you have any; Or even you have taken the course and give a brief overview of what normally comes compared to the content covered throughout the course. …”
Transferring to Waterloo Math from McMaster 4 points, 3 comments
“Hi! I'm a first year math & stats student at McMaster and was wondering how hard it would be to transfer into a Waterloo math program (not CS). …”
u/whore_for_coop: “I transferred with one of my friends from math and stats to Waterloo math in my first year, my mac gpa was a 11.7/12 but my friend did it with a 11.6/12”
u/surker512: “… MATH 1X03/1XX3 transfers to MATH 137/138 MATH 1B03/1C03 transfers to MATH 136/135 ECON 1B03/1BB3 transfers to ECON 101/102 COMMERCE 1AA3 transfers to AFM 101 Note that MATH 1MP3 will not transfer to a UW CS course. …”
GPA boosters 9 points, 14 comments
“Basically the title. Looking for some super easy/"common sense" courses to take. I've heard about the CLAS courses and any other suggestions would be appreciated!”
u/Ok_Lawyer_2736: “afm101”
MGMT 244 anyone? 1 point, 0 comments
“Did anyone take MGMT244 before? If yes, can I take a look at your project? Or any ideas are fine too, thanks! …”
u/Snoo-34538: “This is unrelated but did you like it? I have a choice between taking MGMT 244 or AFM 101 for my requirements and I'm trying to figure out which is better.”
Spring 2024
easy online courses at uw 11 points, 15 comments
“i'm a math major and I was planning out my courses for the rest of my undergrad, and I need 2 easy online courses that I can take over a co-op. …”
u/Interesting_Bed6243: “AFM 101 (High school review). Mthel 131 if you are decent at writing and memorizing.”
1A course recommendations and Co-Op 1 point, 12 comments
“I am an incoming math students and would like to know what you recommend for 1A. I am leaning towards MATH 135, MATH 136, CS 135 and still deciding my communication and non-math elective. …”
u/Icy_Environment9241: “… Mthel131, econ101, phys, afm101 are some common choices, but again, pick something you find interesting - in 1B you’ll probably take math136, math138, cs136, and two electives - coop sequence doesn’t really matter. …”
AFM101, AFM131, or ECON 101? 2 points, 2 comments
u/randomotter201: “I am going to waterloo honours math and choosing my first year courses soon. I want to try transferring to CFM next year (not relying on it happening or anything). …”
Question about 1A Math Courses. 3 points, 4 comments
“Incoming freshman at University of Waterloo for CS. A couple of questions about the math courses. Do we need to take both the advanced courses, Advanced Algebra (MATH 145) and Calculus (MATH 147), or …”
u/Interesting_Bed6243: “AFM 101 or ECON 101, I mean only if you want something easy.”
AFM 101 vs AFM 231 1 point, 2 comments
u/planarsimplex: “Which of these is more useful in general? Both have very similar ratings on Uwflow”
u/peepeehunger: “Well, AFM 101 = 1 + 0 + 1 = 2 AFM 231 = 2 + 3 +1 = 6 6>2 Therefor, 231 is better.”
u/horseradishvillain: “IMO AFM 101. You’ll learn about basic accounting principles, with a focus on how to create/analyze financial statements. …”
Does AFM 101 / AFM 102 count as "math course" 1 point, 0 comments
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
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