Program Overview

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Environmental Sciences Degree

The Environmental Sciences degree program provides students with a solid grounding in earth science and biology, as well as the opportunity to explore environment-related courses in ecology, aquatic ecosystems, geology, hydrology, and more. Students will learn about climate change, groundwater flow and contamination, responsible extraction of Earth resources, waste disposal, human engineering of Earth processes, and the impacts of and methods to treat pollution.

Focus Your Degree with a Specialization

Students can specialize in one of three areas:

• Ecology: Address ecological sustainability and biodiversity while learning about the fundamental science of life on Earth.
• Geoscience: Focus on the interactions among the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, as well as human activities that encompass the complex and dynamic Earth System.
• Water Science: Investigate the unique properties of water, the distribution and movement of fresh and salt water above, on, and within the Earth, and the quality and quantity of water that humans depend upon to survive and thrive.

First-Year Courses

In the first year, students will take a combination of core courses, including:

• BIOL 110 – Biodiversity, Biomes, and Evolution
• EARTH 121/121L – Introductory Earth Sciences/Laboratory
• CHEM 120/120L – General Chemistry 1/Laboratory
• PHYS 111 – Physics 1
• EARTH 123 – Introductory Hydrology
• EARTH 122/122L – Introductory Environmental Sciences/Laboratory
• CHEM 123/123L – General Chemistry 2/Laboratory
• MATH 127 – Calculus 1 for the Sciences
• ENGL 193/COMMST 193 – Communication in the Sciences
• One elective

After First Year

After the first year, students can switch between the three specializations. The courses for each specialization are:

1. Water Science: Most classes will be Earth Science and Biology courses.
2. Geoscience: Most classes will be Earth Science with some Biology and Chemistry courses.
3. Ecology: Most classes will be Biology with some Earth Science courses.

Sample Upper-Year Courses

Some sample upper-year courses include:

• EARTH 342 – Geomorphology and GIS Applications
• EARTH 440 – Quaternary Geology
• EARTH 444 – Applied Wetland Science
• EARTH 458 – Physical Hydrogeology

Skills You'll Develop

With this major, students will develop skills such as:

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Communication
• Fieldwork capabilities, including skills such as groundwater and surface water sampling, as well as geological mapping

Customize Your Degree

Students can add additional areas of expertise to their degree by including one of the minors or diplomas available to all Waterloo students. Popular areas of focus for Environmental Sciences students include:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Environment, Resources, and Sustainability

Faculty and Degree

The Environmental Sciences degree is offered by the Faculty of Science, and students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences. The program is available as a co-op program and a regular program.

Co-op Program

The co-op program provides students with relevant paid work experience. Sample co-op job titles include:

• Environmental field technician
• Wetland soils laboratory assistant
• Source water protection assistant
• Environmental analyst
• Tides and levels assistant
• Agroecosystems student technician
• Energy conservation intern
• Great Lakes research assistant

The co-op work-study sequence typically starts in the second year, with students alternating between school and work every four months.

Career Paths

Graduates of the Environmental Sciences program can pursue careers in fields such as environmental or ecological consulting, industry, government research, and not-for-profits. Some potential career areas include:

• Management of resources, particularly water
• Policy and legislation
• Environmental conservation and remediation
• Environmental monitoring

Admission Requirements

Ontario students must have six Grade 12 U and/or M courses, including:

• English (ENG4U) with a minimum final grade of 70%
• Advanced Functions with a minimum final grade of 70%
• Calculus and Vectors with a minimum final grade of 70%
• Two of: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, Physics

Admission averages are typically in the low 80s.

How to Apply

Students can apply to this program directly on their application.

Related Programs

Related programs include:

• Biology
• Earth Sciences
• Environment, Resources, and Sustainability
• Environmental Engineering

Comparison to Other Programs

The Environmental Sciences program in the Faculty of Science takes an analytical and science-based approach to understanding systems and interactions in the environment. In contrast, programs in the Faculty of Environment focus more on social science and impacts to people and communities. The Environmental Sciences program is ideally suited for students interested in environmental processes and the impact of human-related activities on the natural environment.