Program Overview

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Science and Aviation Degree

The Science and Aviation degree at the University of Waterloo is a unique program that combines a Bachelor of Science degree with an Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence. This program is designed to equip students with the expertise needed to succeed in the aviation and aerospace industries.

Overview

The program provides a core science education supplemented with courses in cartography, climatology, geographic information systems, aerodynamics, and remote sensing. The curriculum emphasizes organizational and communication skills, as well as analytical and decision-making skills.

Courses

The program includes a range of courses, such as:

• AVIA 100 – Introduction to Aviation
• GEOG 181 – Designing Effective Maps
• MATH 127 – Calculus 1 for the Sciences
• Two of the following:
  • A 100- or 200-level Biology course and lab (excluding BIOL 225 and BIOL 280)
  • CHEM 120/CHEM 120L – General Chemistry 1/Lab
  • EARTH 121/EARTH 121L – Introductory Earth Sciences/Lab
  • PHYS 111/111L – Physics 1/Lab

First-Year Courses

In the first year, students take a combination of science and aviation courses, including:

September to December

• AVIA 100 – Introduction to Aviation
• GEOG 181 – Designing Effective Maps
• MATH 127 – Calculus 1 for the Sciences
• Two of the following:
  • A 100- or 200-level Biology course and lab (excluding BIOL 225 and BIOL 280)
  • CHEM 120/CHEM 120L – General Chemistry 1/Lab
  • EARTH 121/EARTH 121L – Introductory Earth Sciences/Lab
  • PHYS 111/111L – Physics 1/Lab

January to April

• COMMST 193 – Communication in the Sciences
• One of
  • MATH 128 – Calculus 2 for the Sciences
  • STAT 202 – Introductory Statistics for Scientists OR
  • another 0.5 unit Math elective from ACTSC, AMATH, CO, CS, MATH, PMATH, STAT (excluding MATH103 – Introductory Algebra for Arts and Social Science)
• Two of the following:
  • A 100- or 200-level Biology course and lab (excluding BIOL 225 and BIOL 280)
  • CHEM 123/CHEM 123L – General Chemistry 2/Lab
  • EARTH 122/EARTH 122L – Introductory Environmental Sciences/Lab
  • PHYS 112/112L – Physics 2/Lab

Flight Training

Students start their flight training with the Professional Pilot Program course I (AVIA 121) during the spring term (May to August) following the first year.

After First Year

About half of the classes will be Aviation courses, with the other half being mostly Science courses and some Math and Geography classes.

Sample Upper-Year Courses

Some sample upper-year courses include:

• AVIA 307 – Professional Pilot Program Course 7
• AVIA 310 – Human Factors in Aviation
• EARTH 221 – Introductory Geochemistry
• EARTH 238 – Introductory Structural Geology

Skills Developed

The program helps students develop skills such as:

• Time management
• Safety and risk management
• Public speaking
• Critical thinking
• Teamwork

Customize Your Degree

Students can add additional areas of expertise to their degree by including one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students.

Faculty and Degree

The program is offered by the Faculty of Science and leads to a Bachelor of Science in Science and Aviation.

Program Availability

The program is available as a regular program but not as a co-op program.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Science and Aviation program can pursue careers as pilots, flight instructors, and aerial surveyors.

Admission Requirements

Ontario students require 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, or Physics

The admission average is in the mid-80s.

Screening Process

Qualified applicants will undergo a screening process that includes a program briefing session, Transport Canada Category 1 Medical Certification, and an Aviation Language Proficiency Test (for Permanent Residents and visa students only).

Admitted Students

Admitted students should book a medical fitness appointment with an approved Civil Aviation Medical Examiner as soon as possible and not accept their Offer of Admission until they have the results of their medical exam.