The Faculty of Science consists of four departments: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, and Physics and Astronomy and the Schools of Optometry and Pharmacy.
Since the first students were enrolled in Fall, 1959, the Faculty has grown to 3300 undergraduates and 375 graduate students pursuing full-time studies, and another 1400 undergraduate and graduate students in part-time studies.
Degrees
The degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) is awarded on the successful completion of the three-year General and four-year Honours programs. The degree Doctor of Optometry (OD) is awarded upon the successful completion of a four-year professional program. The degree Honours Co-Operative Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy (BScPhm) is awarded upon the successful completion of the professional program.
Academic Plans
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, and Physics Academic Plans are available in both the Regular and Co-operative system of study. In the Co-operative system, students alternate four-month study terms on campus with four-month work terms in industry, business or government, in an area related to their studies.
The Faculty of Science also offers Honours - Bioinformatics (Co-op), Biotechnology/Chartered Accountancy (Co-op), Biotechnology/Economics (Co-op), Computational Science (Co-op or Regular), Environmental Sciences/Ecology (Co-op or Regular), Science and Aviation (Regular), Science and Business (Co-op or Regular), and four-year Honours (Regular) and three-year General (Regular) non-specialized Academic Plans. In addition, an Honours BSc in Psychology is offered in co-ordination with the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts. A small number of students may be accepted into the BSc Psychology Academic Plan in the Co-operative system of study. Two professional plans in Optometry (Regular) and Pharmacy (Co-op) are also offered by the Faculty of Science.
Graduate Academic Plans leading to the degrees of MSc and PhD are discussed in the University of Waterloo Graduate Studies calendar.
International Joint Education Program
The Faculty of Science has partnered with several Chinese universities to offer a joint undergraduate program whereby students spend their first two years at their Chinese university and the final two years at the University of Waterloo. Students who complete the "2+2" program are awarded BSc degrees by both UW and the Chinese university. Current 2+2 programs in Science include: Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science and Physics. The 2+2 Program is currently available only to international students at the partner Chinese universities.
International Exchanges
The Faculty of Science strongly supports international competence and encourages co-op and academic exchanges abroad. Science students in the International Exchanges can study in a foreign country while working toward their degree at University of Waterloo. You can study for up to one year abroad at universities where exchange agreements exist.
These currently include the University of Sussex, England; the University of Coleraine, Northern Ireland; the Rhône-Alpes region France (Université Claude Bernard, Université Joseph Fourier, Université de Savoie Chambery, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, Institut Nationale des Science Appliquees, Ecole Nationale des Mines St. Etienne); the Baden-Württemberg region, Germany (universities at Freiberg, Heidelberg, Hohenheim, Karlsruhe, Konstanz, Stuttgart, Tubingen, and Ulm); the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; the University of Wales, Swansea, and the University of Lund, Sweden, University of Strathclyde, Scotland and the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) which includes Technical University of Wien, Austria; University of Liege, Belgium; University of Aahrus, Denmark; University of Oulu, Finland; Technical University of Berlin, Germany; Friedrich Schiller University, Germany; University of Padeborn, Germany; Panepistimio Ioanninon, Greece; Trinity College, Ireland; University degli Studi di Bologna, Italy; University degli Studi di Pavia, Italy; University of Aveiro, Portugal; University of Pais Vasco, Spain; University of Complutense de Madrid, Spain; University of Sanitago de Compostela, Spain; University of Sevilla, Spain; University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; University of Bristol, England; Lancaster University, England. Exchanges are also available with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. A co-operative work term exchange with Japan is available.
Students on an exchange meet people from other countries and are exposed to different cultures. Such contacts improve interpersonal skills and confidence in dealing with a variety of different people. The exchange program is an excellent opportunity to improve on language and budgeting skills, while learning to adapt to different environments and situations. Normally exchanges are for students who have completed at least two academic years in Science at Waterloo. The majority of students who participate in exchanges have a keen interest in other countries and cultures, enjoy a change of routine and are able to adapt easily to different circumstances.
To be acceptable for an exchange you must have at least a "B" overall average and be proficient in the language of instruction at the host university (French in the Rhône-Alpes exchanges and German in the Baden-Württemberg exchanges). Because of the limited number of places available each year, a selection process – primarily based on marks – is involved. For more information see the Faculty of Science web page.
Interdisciplinary Programs
Students can elect to take an Interdisciplinary Option which will be designated on the transcript and diploma.
Consult the Arts chapter of this Calendar for information on the following options:
Church Music and Worship
Cognitive Science
East Asian Studies
Environmental Economics
Fine and Performing Arts
Human Resources Management
International Studies
Jewish Studies
Legal Studies and Criminology
Management Studies
Mennonite Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Sexuality, Marriage, and the Family, Studies in
Speech Communication
Spirituality and Personal Development
Women's Studies
Consult the Engineering chapter of this Calendar for information on the following option:
Society, Technology and Values.