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 4400 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. An Honours degree can be earned through a departmental academic plan (e.g., Biology, Chemistry) as well as through a non-departmental academic plan (e.g., Science and Business) which is administered by the Dean of Science Office. The General Science degree is also administered through this office. 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), Environmental Sciences/Ecology or /Geoscience (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 the University of Waterloo 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.
Detailed information about exchange programs is available at the International Programs listing.
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 Minor which will be designated on the transcript and diploma.
Consult the Arts section of this Calendar for information on the following minors:
Applied Language Studies
Catholic Studies
Church Music and Worship
Cognitive Science
East Asian Studies
Environmental Economics
Human Resources Management
Human Sciences
International Studies
Islam, Studies in
Jewish Studies
Legal Studies
Management Studies
Mennonite Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies
Speech Communication
Women's Studies
Consult the Engineering section of this Calendar for information on the following option:
Society, Technology and Values